John 4:34-38 (NIVUK)
34 ‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, “It’s still four months until harvest”? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a 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 labour.’
Jesus seems to me to be talking about two different things at once here. He seems to be saying that he has been sent to finish the work that the Father started. We might say that the work of the Old Testament was God starting his mission to us that is fulfilled in the New by Jesus; the Father sows, the Son reaps. At the same time Jesus talks about sending the disciples for them to reap; we are called to continue Jesus work by helping bring others to faith and life.
Spirit, help me to see the harvest around me, to see what you’re doing so I can play my part in bringing it in.
Photo by Jimmy Chang on Unsplash
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