2. Harvest Time
John 4:27-42

3. Review Jesus met a Samaritan woman by a well
His disciples were in town buying food
He offered her living water
Words of God leading to eternal life
Which could be a spring of living water within
Leading others to eternal life
Later He confronted her with the fact He was the Messiah
After proving to her that He was a prophet
Now she had the essential knowledge, but what would happen . . .

4. The disciples return John 4:27
They find Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman
They are surprised
Don’t know if she asked something of Him
Or did He speak to her first
But know enough to know not to interrupt
Perhaps didn’t even get close enough to hear

5. The woman’s testimony John 4:28-30
So excited at hearing the news that He was the Christ that she didn’t finish her errand
Left her water pot
Told the people of town the two essential elements of her conversation
There was a prophet at the well
Told her everything she had done
Her marriages and non-marriage
And He is perhaps the Christ
Asks people to consider the possibility
She already knew He was Christ

6. Jesus and His disciples
John 4:31-33
When they left Jesus He was tired and they went to get some food
It is now afternoon, so after the woman leaves they decide it’s time to eat
Jesus says, He has had food to eat
The disciples think someone must have brought Him some food
But as with His discussion of living water, they are being too literal

7. Spiritual food
John 4:34
Jesus said His food was doing the will of the Father and completing His work
Have you ever been so involved in an activity that the thought of food left you?
Has it ever been a Bible study or discussion or an activity based in scripture (a singing, etc)?
That’s what Jesus was telling His disciples
Doing the will of the Father was what kept Him going
And of course, He was already looking forward to the completion of that activity

8. Harvest time John 4:35 Jesus explains with an analogy
Most people think it takes 4 months from planting to harvest
The approximate time for grain to ripen
But when doing God’s planting the harvest may not be so slow
Jesus just minutes ago had planted a seed in the woman’s heart
Now He says, ‘Look, the harvest is ready’
When barley ripens it turns white
The Samaritans traditionally wore light colored garments
The people coming out in a huge crowd walking to the well probably looked like a white barley field

9. Sowing and Reaping John 4:36-38
Soul-winning is like farming: needs sowing and reaping
The process of sowing
In agriculture, sowing involves preparing the soil and planting the seed
In winning souls to Christ, sowing likewise involves preparation and planting (Lk 8:4-15)
Hearts are being prepared to receive the gospel
Hearts are first introduced to the gospel
A process involving time and effort (teaching and influence) often with little visible results

10. Sowing and Reaping The process of reaping
In agriculture, reaping is the harvesting of what has been sown
A time of joy and thanksgiving
In winning souls to Christ, reaping involves a similar harvest
Involving souls who have already heard the Word
Involving souls who decide to obey the Word
A process involving conversion, with great joy and excitement over the results

11. Reaping where others have sown
As the crowd moved closer, Jesus tells His disciples they will reap what another planted
Jesus had planted the seed in the woman
The woman had scattered seed in town
Sometimes this happens today
Perhaps someone has shared the gospel or just demonstrated a Christian life
They bring someone who is ‘ripe’ for harvesting
Sometimes we misunderstand and glorify the reaper as a great soul-winner
Forgetting all the hard labor of the sower

12. Sowing for others to reap
John 4:39-42
Though the sowing and reaping occurred close in time, they were separate activities
More often there is time between planting and harvesting
Might be hard to put in a lot of effort and not see the end result
Sometimes misinterpreted as being unproductive
But consider the words of Anne Stevens song, “The Apples in a Seed”

13. “The Apples in a Seed”
In the fruitful tree there is an apple, Deep within the apple, many seeds, So the Father set all things in order, Knowing what everything would need.
You may count the seeds within the apple, You may count the apples on the tree, You may count the trees within the orchard, Who can count the apples in a seed?
Who can count the apples in a seed? Who can say how much the fruit will grow? Who can know the harvest of tomorrow? Who can count the apples in a seed?

14. “The Apples in a Seed”
From the mind of God before creation, From the heart of heaven, mercy’s plan, Bringing peace to every tribe and nation, Heaven’s hope for lost and dying man.
God would take the brightest Star of Heaven, Send Him down to hang upon a tree, Tell the world that Jesus is redemption, Say He came to pardon you and me.
Who can count the apples in a seed? Who can say how far the Word will go? Who can know the harvest of tomorrow? Who can count the apples in a seed?

15. “The Apples in a Seed”
Do not doubt that someone will believe it, Though a hundred hear and turn away, For if only one heart will receive it, Through the one, a thousand may obey.
It may be a gentleman of ninety, It may be a child of only ten, Sow the precious seed for the Almighty, You can watch it multiply again!
Who can count the apples in a seed? Who can say how far the Word will go? Who can know the harvest of tomorrow? Who can count the apples in a seed?

16. Conclusion
A simple conversation by a well led to many becoming believers in Christ
What if He had decided not to talk to a Samaritan woman?
What if He decided He was too tired or too hungry to have a religious discussion?
How many opportunities have we let slip through our fingers?
Are we planting the seed?
Are we harvesting what others have sown?
Or are we sitting idly by?