Delineating Reapers from Sowers

Scripture: The reapers will be paid good wages and will be gathering eternal souls into the granaries of heaven! What joys await the sower and the reaper, both together! For it is true that one sows and someone else reaps. I sent you to reap where you didn’t sow; others did the work, and you received the harvest. John 4: 36-38

Observation: Jesus has spoken to the Samaritan woman the well, who has returned to the town to state she has found Messiah. As the townspeople come out to see, Jesus tells this to his disciples ... that there is a great harvest coming, and he is preparing them to reap that harvest, for others have sown the seeds. This seems to beg a question ... who has done the sowing? In this example alone, there are at least four possibilities:

1) The prophets, who have provided context for the good news of salvation from the promised Messiah

2) Jesus himself, who has made himself known and continues to do so through the Holy Spirit

3) Circumstances created by God, which have made people hunger for peace, mercy, and clarity

4) The woman, who has now gone into the city to raise curiosity among the people, and who even at that moment are coming to seek the truth

For many Jews at that time, it seems they would only care about the first two sources of the message, and even then, in combination. They believed the prophets declared a coming Messiah, and when Messiah came it would be obvious by his nature. However, Jesus seemed to be telling the disciples to pay attention to the second two types of "reapers". Circumstances has created conflict with the Samaritans, to the point they questioned Jewish rules and authority, and yet they hoped for salvation and truth; The woman, sinful and outcast as she was, went into the city declaring a question so provocative - is this the one? - that everyone came out to see.

Application: When it comes to telling others about Christ, we may think about how to tell others about Jesus, point to prophetic words and the connection of his actions, etc. However, it may be more effective to lean into the situations of the modern day, and simply wonder if ... perhaps ... there is a God with a promise of love who may improve these situations.

Would we dare to simply talk about today's circumstances - the division, hate, and fear around us - and then ask people 'is it possible that Jesus could provide the hope and peace you desire?' Or could we even tell one person this, and allow them to go collect others whom they know feel the same, and say 'let's check it out'?

Can the fear, anger, and trepidation in the hearts of so many become the source of sowing?

Prayer: Lord, I am full of confidence in your ability and desire to use everything going on in the world right now as a source of your truth, your love, and your message of promised salvation. May some strong seekers begin wondering, and asking others to 'come and see'. May we help connect up the circumstances to a desire to find a different outcome that is born from you, and not from this evil world. Amen.