Global Gospel

Today we read John 4:1-42. This story of the Samaritan woman reinforces John's main theme that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God (see John 20:30-31 cp.w/v25-26 in this chapter ). This story also shows Jesus' love for all people. His love for mankind has no boundaries. Jews and Samaritans were at odds with each other and typically men didn't speak to women, and especially in this case: A Jewish man and a Samaritan woman. Yet Jesus teaches his disciples and us a vital lesson: The Gospel is for all people, not just a select few. If you go back and read the story again, you'll notice that Jesus had a harder time getting through to His disciples than He did with the Samaritan woman. It is possible that the disciples passed this woman on their way into town and on their way out. But they never spoke to her. Why? She was a social outcast, a Samaritan woman. But Jesus not only spoke to her. He saved her! When the disciples get back with the food, they cannot understand why Jesus isn't hungry anymore. Jesus tells them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you to open your eyes and look at the fields! They are already white for harvest!" What harvest was already white? I suggest to you that it was the whole town, dressed in white, coming over the hill being led by this now born again woman. [Interesting contrast: in chapter 3 a prestigious Jewish man gets born again and here a social outcast, a Samaritan woman gets born again--again showing that the Gospel is for ALL people.] So here's this woman leading the whole town to Jesus. That one woman did what 12 disciples wouldn't do--Witness for Jesus! What harvest is white? The field of Samaritans. The people in our culture who are ignored and forgotten, those that no one wants to be around; those that we pass by are the ones that are ripe for the harvest. I don't know about you, but there is plenty here to convict me. Let's make sure we understand: The Gospel is for ALL people. There are no boundaries. Who will you pass on your way to 'town' today? Who will you sit by in the doctors office today? Who will you stand in line beside? Ask God to open your eyes to see the harvest.