John 4:1-42
During the cool days of spring I get out and turn over the soil in the garden, add fertilizer, and imagine the crops that will be grown. There are the standard sweet carrots, luscious green lettuce, deep red tomatoes, as well as beans, onions, peppers, herbs, and squash. All of these will add special flavors to the dinner table in the months to come. However, between turning the soil over in the spring, and harvesting in the fall, there is quite a bit of work. Seeds need to be planted, then transplanted and protected. For the plants to flourish and produce a crop weeds must be pulled plus fertilizer and water added at the right time. The beginning of a garden always starts with the end in mind, the harvest. The gardener will always work to see the crops produce. In John 4 Jesus spends time in anticipation of a spiritual harvest and then calls on his disciples to respond. John records that it begins at a well (6) while the disciples went into the city for food. As Jesus waited, a woman came to get water (7). In the process of talking, Jesus turned the conversation from the daily physical need of water to the woman’s deep spiritual need of salvation (13-14). In doing so Jesus was willing to cross cultural barriers in order to communicate the message of salvation. He helped her to see her needs and challenged her spiritually, which she found uncomfortable (17-20). As the disciples returned (27), the woman then left her water jar, to go back to the city and tell others of Jesus (28-29). Jesus challenged the disciples to see the people as a spiritual harvest (34). The end result is that the community was changed (41-42). The same can happen today as we serve our Savior in the spiritual harvest in our communities.
For more see JOHN
During the cool days of spring I get out and turn over the soil in the garden, add fertilizer, and imagine the crops that will be grown. There are the standard sweet carrots, luscious green lettuce, deep red tomatoes, as well as beans, onions, peppers, herbs, and squash. All of these will add special flavors to the dinner table in the months to come. However, between turning the soil over in the spring, and harvesting in the fall, there is quite a bit of work. Seeds need to be planted, then transplanted and protected. For the plants to flourish and produce a crop weeds must be pulled plus fertilizer and water added at the right time. The beginning of a garden always starts with the end in mind, the harvest. The gardener will always work to see the crops produce. In John 4 Jesus spends time in anticipation of a spiritual harvest and then calls on his disciples to respond. John records that it begins at a well (6) while the disciples went into the city for food. As Jesus waited, a woman came to get water (7). In the process of talking, Jesus turned the conversation from the daily physical need of water to the woman’s deep spiritual need of salvation (13-14). In doing so Jesus was willing to cross cultural barriers in order to communicate the message of salvation. He helped her to see her needs and challenged her spiritually, which she found uncomfortable (17-20). As the disciples returned (27), the woman then left her water jar, to go back to the city and tell others of Jesus (28-29). Jesus challenged the disciples to see the people as a spiritual harvest (34). The end result is that the community was changed (41-42). The same can happen today as we serve our Savior in the spiritual harvest in our communities.
For more see JOHN
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