John the apostle wrote after Jesus was speaking to a “Samaritan woman” and then, “came his disciples, and marveled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What do you seek? or, Why are you talking with her? The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and said to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that you know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Has any man brought him anything to eat? Jesus said unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not you, There are yet four months, and then comes harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest”, and in chapter four and verse thirty-six of his book, John shared how Jesus told His disciples, “he that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit unto eternal life” where we read:
And he that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit unto life eternal:
that both he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice together.
The verse reads, “And he that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit unto life eternal:” John began with the words, “And he that reaps” or “and the person whether male or female who harvests or cuts down crops” “receives wages” which means “takes up and carries away pay, hire and fruit naturally resulting from toils and endeavors”, “and gathers fruit” or “and collects or draws together work, acts and deeds” “unto life eternal” which means “toward that is without beginning and end, never to cease and everlasting absolute fulness of life both essential and ethical which belongs to God”. John shared how Jesus referred to people who earn wages for “harvesting crops”, and He likened it to the “works, acts and deeds” which are harvested toward “never ceasing” “life”.
The verse goes on to say, “that both he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice together.” John continued with the words, “that both he that sows” which means “so even so, also and indeed the people whether male or female who scatters seed” “and he that reaps” or “and the person whether male or female who harvest and collect the crops” “may rejoice together” which means “will be exceedingly glad, thrive and be well with one another”. John shared how Jesus said people who “sow” and “reap” will be “exceedingly glad” with one another.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we see how Jesus employed this “agrarian” illustration to demonstrate the working and rewards within His Kingdom. Some people “sow” seed into a “field” and others “harvest” the crop when it is ripe. Jesus said “both … may rejoice together” because they both served in the “field”. There are people who “sow” the “seed” of God's word to others, and the “seed” grows, and another person “reaps” from planting. Both jobs are important, and “seed sowers” and “harvesters” are needed in the Kingdom of God. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to “save” people from their sins, and those who “sow” this “good news” into others' hearts and minds are as valuable as those who “harvest” by praying with people who receive Jesus as their personal “Lord and Savior”.
Next time John shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “One sows, and another reaps”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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