The Gospel Project� for Adults

POINT 3 THE SON PROVIDES AN ABUNDANT HARVEST (JOHN 4:34-38).

34 “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish
his work,” Jesus told them. 35 “Don’t you say,
‘There are still four more months, and then comes
the harvest’? Listen to what I’m telling you:
Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready
for harvest. 36 The reaper is already receiving pay
and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper
can rejoice together. 37 For in this case the saying is true: ‘One
sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap what you
didn’t labor for; others have labored,
and you have benefited from their labor.”

Explain:

Verses 34-35 (the bold words fill in blanks in the DDG):

Jesus used the need for food and nourishment to teach His
disciples about the importance of doing God’s will, especially
in terms of evangelism and mission.

Discuss:

• Why is evangelism so important to God?
• (because His main mission is to save sinners into His kingdom and
• family;
• because He desires love and worship from all;
• because there is an urgency to save as many as possible;
• because He wants what’s best for His image-bearers)

Explain:

Verses 36-38 (the bold words fill in blanks in the DDG):

Whether sowing or reaping in the harvest of souls, all roles
are important in the mission of God.

Discuss:

• How can we have a stronger sense of urgency in sharing
  with others the good news of Jesus?
• (praying for more opportunities for boldness;
• reading Scripture and seeing God’s heart to see people come to
• Him;
• putting time in our schedule to seek out people who need to know
  the gospel message)

Transition:

Jesus explained the living water that He brings in order to give
eternal life, and He revealed His identity as the Messiah
who leads to worshiping in Spirit and in truth. Now we are tasked
to sow and reap the fields of unbelievers before us.

MY RESPONSE

Because Christ satisfies our deepest longing, we worship Him
as a way of life, praying that God might use us to draw others
to Himself so that their thirst might be quenched as well.

HEAD:

Where most Jewish men would have seen the Samaritan woman
as a person to be avoided, Jesus saw an opportunity to gather
one of His scattered sheep (John 10:16).
We can easily look at people outwardly and make a judgment
upon them. However, this is not right and it is not meant
to be this way for those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus’s speaking to this social outcast and immoral woman
was a picture of the gospel going forth to the nations. The message
of the gospel is not simply for one people group or even for people
whom we like but for all people that they may believe in Christ
as their Lord and Savior.

• How will knowing that Jesus Christ talked with all types of people
  help you live on mission for Him this week?

HEART:

The Jews looked down upon Samaritans for a variety of reasons.
Jews believed the Samaritans were unclean and impure.
Then adding to the list that this Samaritan woman lived
an immoral life, she would have been seen as the lowest
of the low. Jesus knew the depth of sin in her heart, but instead
of passing her by, He extended His saving gift to her in order
that she might come to know and worship the one true God.
While most would have thought she was beyond the saving grace
of God, Jesus saw her as someone needing to be saved
from the polluted fountains (sinful relationships)
she kept drinking from. We are wrong and sinful when we behave
and think that some people are beyond the saving grace of God.

• What hurtful attitudes toward a particular person or people group
  will you confess to God that He may restore you with the truth
  of His grace?

HANDS:

Jesus said that the fields “are ready for harvest” (John 4:35).
There are countless times when we fail to see the same truth
that Jesus tells us here. Instead of being so discouraged
by what is going on in the world around you, may you see it
as an opportunity to pray that the Lord would give you
opportunities this week to sow the seeds of the gospel.

• With whom will you sow the seeds of the gospel this week in hopes
  of seeing a harvest for Christ?

VOICES FROM CHURCH HISTORY

“Jesus calls the quickening gift of the Spirit ‘living water’
because mere human nature is parched to its very roots,
now rendered dry and barren of all virtue by the crimes of the devil.
But now human nature runs back to its pristine beauty,
and drinking in that which is life-giving, it is made beautiful
with a variety of good things and, budding into a virtuous life,
it sends out healthy shoots of love toward God.” 4

– Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376-444)

1. Brian Maiers, “Samaritans,” ed. John D. Barry, et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

2. Samuel Ngewa, “John,” in Africa Bible Commentary, gen. ed. Tokunboh Adeyemo (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006), 1286.

3. D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: InterVarsity Press; Eerdmans, 1991), 216.

4. Cyril of Alexandria, quoted in Joel C. Elowsky, ed., John 1–10, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006), 150.

5. James M. Hamilton Jr. and Brian J. Vickers, John–Acts, eds. Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, vol. IX, ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019), 89.

6. Pratap C. Gine and Jacob Cherian, “John,” in South Asia Bible Commentary, gen. ed. Brian Wintle (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2015), 1398.

7. Gary M. Burge, John, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000), 145.

8. Gerald L. Borchert, John 1–11, vol. 25A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 207-208.

9. D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, 228-29.

10. R. Kent Hughes, John: That You May Believe, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999), 132.

11. Herschel H. Hobbs, My Favorite Illustrations (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1990), 90-91.