John 4: 31-38, Harvest

The disciples return at the end of Jesus' conversation with the woman of Sychar.  We then see the impact his conversation and response on that community.

John 4: 31-38, Eternal food
Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

To the woman at the well, Jesus offered "fresh water"; now Jesus uses eating food as a metaphor for doing God's work. One would suspect these metaphors were suggested first by thirst, then by hunger!

John 4: 34-38, Harvest
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 labor.”

While the disciples were getting food, Jesus has been talking to a naive and misinformed village woman. He sees the region (indeed, all the Gentiles) as a large field, ready for harvest.

In this explanation, there are two partners in harvesting a crop for eternal life -- one who sows or plants the seeds and one who harvests the grain.  Apparently now is the time for the disciples to reap the work of others.  It is not clear to me who the sower is -- is it God, through some long ago plan that is coming to fruition at this time?

In some parts of my country, some churches do a bit of boasting about "numbers saved", as if the current evangelist or preacher (seeking financial support) is the one responsible for conversions.  But Jesus mentions a principle in his harvest metaphor, that "reaping" is just one part of a long process. This principle is an important one -- anything important (evangelism, teaching, coaching) that involves developing people will require a long patient process.