OPEN YOUR EYES AND LOOK AT THE FIELDS!

Transcription

1 OPEN YOUR EYES AND LOOK AT THE FIELDS! John 4:27-42 Key Verse 4:35 Do you not say, Four months more and then the harvest? I tell you, open look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. your eyes and In the previous passage, we learned how Jesus helped one Samaritan woman. It was the Bible study between the heavenly Prince and a lost and thirsty Samaritan woman. Through this Bible study, the woman opened her eyes and saw who Jesus was, the Messiah, whom she had been waiting for. And her thirst was quenched. In today s passage, we learn the amazing vision Jesus had through saving just one lost Samaritan woman. May God bless us to open our hearts to Jesus words through this message. First, My food is to do the will of him (27-34). Look at verse 27. Shortly after Jesus revealed Himself to the woman, His disciples returned and found Him talking with her. They were surprised! Oh my goodness! Jesus is talking with a woman, very suspicious looking one?! In those days, it was not customary for a man and a woman to speak in public to each other even between husband and wife. So, it was more than shocking to the disciples that Jesus was talking with a Samaritan woman in public. But verse 27 shows that no one asked, What do you want? or Why are you talking with her? This shows their deep trust and respect for their Master, Jesus. Even if they could not understand what Jesus was doing, they did not raise any questions. Instead, they believed that Jesus was doing something very important, which they could not understand yet. Because of this respect and honor to their Teacher, they could learn from Him, and grow up in spirit continuously. While they were still in shock, an even more amazing thing happened. The woman suddenly left her water jar by the well and began to run as fast as she could back to the town as if she were competing in the hundred meter dash. Wow! What's going on here? Why doesn't she take her water jar? the disciples thought. Through meeting Jesus as the one who had explained everything to her, she found Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus was the very He she had been looking and waiting for. Jesus is He! She was so excited. Then, amazingly, from the depth of her heart, deep satisfaction and happiness welled up and filled her heart. She was happy! She was satisfied! She could not keep this joy to herself. She got up and ran back to the town forgetting about her water jar. Then, she told the townspeople, Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ? Before, she was a guilt-ridden, self-conscious, and isolated sinner. But when she met Jesus as her Messiah, all of her guilt and self-consciousness were gone. She was no longer afraid of what others might think of her, because she had met her Messiah who had already solved her problem. She powerfully testified what Jesus had done for her and who Jesus was, saying, Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ? She was no longer a selfseeking thirsty woman, but a powerful missionary to the townspeople. Her message was so convicting that people came out of the town and made their way toward Jesus. Meanwhile Jesus disciples urged him, Rabbi, eat something, and they handed him a brown bagged lunch maybe, orange chicken. It smelled really good. But how did Jesus respond? Jesus said to them, I have food to eat that you know nothing about. Jesus had no desire for food.

2 When we see verse 6, Jesus was tired, thirsty and hungry from a long journey. But now in verse 32, Jesus was refreshed. He was no longer interested in physical food. He was not tired, hungry or thirsty any longer. Rather, Jesus looked at them with a joyful countenance and said, I have food to eat that you know nothing about. It seemed that he had already eaten his lunch. The disciples wondered and said to each other, Could someone have brought him food? What was the secret of Jesus refreshment? Look at verse 34. Let's read this verse together: My food, said Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. When Jesus says, "My food," he is talking about the source of refreshment he had. By eating food, we are refreshed to continue to work. There are some people who find such joy and refreshment in making money, so they work hard, 60 or even 80 hours a week, but strangely, they are not tired, but full of spirit. I remember one doctor; he came home happily and singing when he had many customers; despite all day's work, he was not tired at all; but when he had not that many customers, he came home so exhausted. His food was money. But the source of Jesus refreshment was doing the work of God and finishing it. By doing the work of God and finishing it, Jesus was so satisfied and happy; he was refreshed. This shows us how wholeheartedly Jesus served the work of God. He didn't consider doing the work of God as an obligation; he didn't do the work of God reluctantly; instead, he did it with all his heart and strength -it was what he wanted to do and his heart was on it; then, when God's work went on very well, he was overjoyed and happy that he forgot about his hunger, thirst and tiredness. We all understand what Jesus is talking about. How happy we are when we see our students enjoying the word of God; even after doing Bible studies all day long, as we come home around 10 pm, we are not tired at all; instead, we are full of joy and happiness that from the parking lot, we sing songs of joy and praise so loudly that our neighbors recognize who are coming home; sometimes, our songs are totally out of tune, but we don't care; we happily whistle. Some shepherds go to school after long day's work, and they struggle to serve students through one to one Bible studies; of course, often, they have no time to eat. But after serving Bible studies until 10 pm, they are overjoyed and completely refreshed that songs of joy and thanks burst forth from their lips. Who can understand this joy? Who can understand this secret? We can say to the world proudly, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." Indeed, we can say, "My food is to the will of him who sent me." Only those who serve God's work wholeheartedly, only those who pursue God's kingdom can have this secret food. Jesus also says, "to finish his work." Finishing God's work means to complete God's salvation work on people. Jesus completed God's salvation work on the Samaritan woman. When Jesus saw her solving her thirst problem in him, he was overjoyed; when one lost sheep was found, he was overjoyed, and the whole heaven rejoiced together. When he saw the woman turning to God, all his hard work thus far was paid off; he forgot about how he, despite his own hunger and thirst, struggled to have one to one Bible study with her; he forgot about how he, despite this sheep scratched his pride, saying, "Are you greater than our father Jacob?" continued Bible study with her; his hard labor was well paid off and he forgot about all his pains and sense of humiliation, for the joy of finding one lost sheep. During the semester, we struggle hard to fish students and teach them the word of God. Some of them are proud; some of them are unfaithful - they do not show up at the Bible study; some of them scratch our pride, saying, "Are you greater

3 than the commentaries?" We endure so much pain and sorrows to serve the students through one to one Bible study. Sometimes, even if there is tremendous financial burden, deep sorrows, we continue to teach God's flock with the word of God, even making big smiles. Who can understand the shepherds' pains and sorrows? Who can understand our agonies? But when we see just one sheep accepting God's grace and turning to God decisively, we are so overjoyed; we simply forget about all those sorrows, pains and sense of humiliation completely for the joy of finding one lost sheep; instead, we are filled with thanks and praise to God. Who can understand this joy and happiness we have? The world cannot understand it. Maybe, only heavenly hosts understand it, because they rejoice together over one soul that repents. During the summer, all the shepherds and shepherdesses struggle hard to teach Genesis students; some shepherds serve two groups or even three groups; indeed, they use the whole summer for Genesis students. Then, when some sheep accept God's covenant vision for them and turn to God, they are so happy and forget about all their struggles. Their hard labor throughout the summer is well paid off and they are more than happy and thankful to God, saying, "Lord, if you need my service again next time, no problem. Just give me a call any time." This is the shepherd's joy of finishing God's work. When we think about this expression carefully, we can see that in doing God's work, Jesus had a clear goal - he had a clear purpose in serving many people, that was, to finish God's work of salvation in their lives. He wanted to save them. He wanted to finish God's work; so he challenged them to repent and turn to God decisively; that's why he, even though he knew that it was a very sensitive matter to her, challenged the woman to bring her husband and come back to him. That's why he, even though he knew that it was a very burdensome matter, challenged the rich young man to sell everything he had, give it to the poor and then, come and follow him. What we do as shepherds and shepherdesses is not a volunteer service. We have a clear goal in teaching students the word of God - we want to save them; we want to help them really repent and turn to God; our purpose is not just to share our profound understanding of the Bible with them, but to help them repent of their life, turning from their worldly pursuit, from their sinful life, from their self-seeking life to the life of serving God, to the life of seeking God's kingdom. For this, we pray for them day and night; for this, we sometimes, challenge them to repent; sometimes, we rebuke them of their sinful life or compromising life severely; sometimes, we wait in silence patiently. That's why we are so sad when our sheep do not repent; that's why we are so happy when one sheep grows up as a disciple of Jesus. Jesus did not send us into the world to just hand out brochures and million dollar bills; instead, he gave us a clear goal, saying, "Go, and make disciples of all nations." That's why we struggle hard to make all these college students, all growing sheep disciples of Jesus. Jesus also says, "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." We teach them to obey what Jesus says in the Bible; we teach them to deny themselves and take up the cross of mission; we teach them to live for God as Jesus' disciples. My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Those who can say such words are truly blessed. They are the ones who live for God alone and follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ, their Lord. Second, Open your eyes and look at the fields (35-42). Look at verse 35. Let's read this verse together: 35 Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

4 Maybe, it was still summer, and harvest time came in the fall. So at that time, people said, Four months more and then the harvest. In the eyes of the disciples, Samaria was a corrupt city full of nothing but a bunch of gang bangers and drug addicts who were worse than even filthy dogs. They wondered if the harvest time would ever come to this city. So they never saw it with the vision of saving many souls. In their eyes, still the city needed more time and then, maybe, the people would be prepared to accept the gospel message and repent of their sins. But Jesus was different. By saving one lost Samaritan woman through just one Bible study, He could see a great vision to save all Samaritans with the word of God. If this woman could accept God s grace through having Bible study with him just one time, then, everyone in Samaria could be blessed. If this most wild looking woman had been waiting for the Messiah, then, there must be so many more people in Samaria who were waiting for the Messiah. Jesus was so thrilled with this vision and his heart was filled with the desire to find them all - great salvation work would occur and a great church would be established in Samaria! In His eyes, the city of Samaria was a golden harvest field, where so many people were ready and waiting for God s salvation. Jesus said to his disciples, Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Jesus wanted his disciples to see the same vision for Samaria and for the whole world. If they saw the same vision, then they would be so excited about saving them all and establishing the kingdom of God powerfully in Samaria. When they saw the same vision, they would be able to serve the Samaritans freely; even if some people scratched their pride saying, "What makes you think you know the Bible better than us? Are you greater than the commentaries?" still they would be able to bear with them and continue to serve them; if they saw the same vision, then, even if they might have their own urgent struggles financially, academically or even nationally, still they would keep serving them and build God's kingdom powerfully. But, the disciples did not see this vision yet; in their eyes, Samaria was really a terrible city, and the Samaritans were ignorant and despicable people that they didn't want to have anything to do with them. When these Samaritans showed any negative attitude toward them, they were angry at them, saying, "How dare you...? If you don't accept us as God's servants, you will go to hell!" One time, they asked Jesus about the Samaritans, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven and burn them?" When they did not open their eyes and see them as the people ready for harvest, they could not serve them at all; even if they lived as Jesus' disciples and tried to teach others the word of God, they were still nothing but proud Jewish young men - they just had empty pride as Jesus' disciples, thinking that they were better than others. Jesus earnestly said to them, "Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." Jesus wanted them to have the same vision for Samaria and for the whole world; Jesus wanted them to serve this glorious vision of harvesting them all to the kingdom of God. Many say that America is too corrupt morally and spiritually and that her environment is not good for a spiritual harvest. They say that we should wait until people are fully ready to accept God s message. Also others say that they will bear much fruit when the harvest time comes. They say that they cannot bear fruit now, because the season of Christ has not yet come. What all these people say is: "Four months more, and then, the harvest." But Jesus declares, I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. In Jesus eyes, it is the golden harvest time, when so many people are fully ready to accept God s grace. In America,

5 now is the time for a great spiritual revival! People are waiving their hands calling for harvest workers. They say that college students are focused on building their career that they are not interested in spiritual things; they also say that college students are party animals that we have to wait until they are sick and tired of sinful life. Indeed, there are always people who say, "Four months more, and then the harvest." But Jesus says, "Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." They have already hit the rock bottom; they are already sick and tired of their sinful life; they already know that life is so meaningless and empty; they are already looking for true meaning and purpose of their life. They are ripe for harvest. When John Boos transferred to CSULB in 2005, he barely served one or two Bible studies; he kept saying that CSULB students were too focused on building their career and thereby, had no spiritual desire; he said that the school load was very heavy that students had no time to study the Bible. I didn't say anything for one whole semester, waiting for God to intervene - I knew that human persuasion or pushing him to do more would not work at all. Then, during the winter break, we visited CSULB and prayed together for the CSULB ministry. At that time, we read this passage, and God spoke to him personally. John Boos realized that the way God saw CSULB was different than the way he saw it; he realized that, even if he thought that CSULB was not ready, in God's eyes, it was a golden harvest field. He accepted that the way God saw was right, and he was determined to serve God's work wholeheartedly. The next semester, he took only two classes instead of four and dedicated himself to fishing; soon, he served 7 Bible studies, then, 12, then, 18, then, 20. And God began to establish disciples at CSULB. So many are dying and waiting for God's salvation. Seeing all these people on our campuses, Jesus says to us, Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Jesus wants us to go and save them all. Look at verses 36 through 38. Let's read these verses together: 36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." By saying, "Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life," Jesus showed his disciples what era they were living in - the era of harvesting the crop for eternal life. He already drew his wages - such great joy he had in serving and saving one soul. Indeed, it was the time of harvest. And Jesus encouraged his disciples to live as the reapers, harvesting the crop for eternal life. The sowers, from Abraham to John the Baptist did hard work to lay the foundation of the gospel. Most of them had lonely struggles when all others were worshiping idols. And many of them were killed because of their mission. One time God asked the prophet Isaiah to take off all his clothes and walk around naked for three years, and he obeyed God s command. Then, later, he was killed by his own people. The prophet Jeremiah was also killed in Egypt. One day, God commanded the prophet Ezekiel to lie on his left side for 390 days to bear the sin of Israel, and then, on his right side for 40 days to bear the sin of Judah; and God specifically mentioned about how to take care of his food and water, and in cooking food, he had to use human excrement for fuel; at this, Ezekiel cried out to the Lord, "Not so, Sovereign

6 LORD! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth." Then, God said, "Very well. I will let you bake your bread over cow manure instead of human excrement." So, Ezekiel lay on his left side for 390 days, and then, on his right side for 40 days, eating food cooked over cow manure. (Eze 4) Then, later, when his wife died, God commanded him not to mourn at all, but deliver God's message to people. (Eze 24) Indeed, all these servants of God worked hard to do God's work, obeying God absolutely, doing whatever God asked them to do, sacrificing everything for God's purpose, and denying themselves completely. But their hard labor cannot be paid off unless the harvest workers go out and reap the harvest. Jesus says, Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. After having done the hard work, the sowers in heaven watch how the reapers are doing. They wait anxiously for the reapers to go out and harvest the crops for eternal life, and when they see souls saved, they are happy and joyful together with the reapers. Only when the disciples go out and reap the harvest, will these servants who have done the hard work, be glad together with the reapers. Jesus wants his disciples to be the reapers. Even though their job of harvesting is like reaping the benefits of others hard labor compared to the job of sowing, they are very important in God s salvation work. Only with them, God's salvation work can be completed. They are real VIPs of VIPs and even now they receive their wages. We are the reapers, sent to reap the souls for eternal life, sent to reap the benefits of the hard labor of the sowers. We must go to the harvest fields and reap them for eternal life. This is what God wants us to do. Jesus sends us today to all the campuses in California, in America and in the world. Go out, and reap the harvest for eternal life. Look at verses 39 through 42. This passage is the conclusion of Jesus Samaritan ministry. Because of the woman s testimony, many people in the town believed in Jesus. It is amazing that though this Samaritan woman was once the object of contempt, now when she talked about Jesus, even the Samaritans believed in Him through her testimony. When the Samaritans came to Jesus, they urged Him to stay with them. So Jesus stayed two days and taught them the word of God, and because of His words, many more became believers. Then, they said to the woman, We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world. It is amazing that there was a great salvation work in Samaria. It is really amazing that this great work of salvation started with Jesus Bible study with one lost and thirsty woman. Today, we heard Jesus command, I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Now is the time for us to go and harvest the crop for eternal life. Now is the time for us to save many souls and bring them to the kingdom of God. Even now the reaper draws his wages; even now he harvests the crop for eternal life. May we open our eyes and accept this vision of God into our hearts. May we live as harvest workers for God and for dying souls on our campuses. One Word: They Are Ripe For Harvest!