“Behold I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields,

for they are already white for harvest!” John 4:35

In John 4, Jesus gives us an object lesson in how to reap a harvest. As he begins the weeklong journey from the southern part of Israel to the Galilee district, verse 4 says he “must needs” go through the Samaritan regions which Jews typically avoided like the plague. The result of this unexpected change of course was the Samaritan city of Sychar was completely transformed. Beginning with the sinful Samaritan’s testimony of the Messiah found, “He told me all that I ever did”, it ends with Jesus spending two days with them until they all declare:

“We ourselves have heard Him, and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” (JN 4:42)

Jesus gives us the key to this amazing success in verse 35. He begins by saying, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’?” Why would they say this? Because they were responding to what they could see. There were many historical, cultural, and spiritual reasons to say the Samaritans could not possibility be ready. The Jews had parted ways with the Samaritans hundreds of years before when they twisted their beliefs about God to conform to their rebellious and adulterous ways. In first century Palestine, the animosity was so great that the Jews would walk great distances around their region just to avoid contact. Much could be said about the comment, “For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans” (JN 4:9), but suffice it to say that Jesus saw things differently, from an elevated perspective.

What do you see when you look over the fields? Obstacles? Resistance? I am reminded of a missionary biography called “Mission Impossible”. A former generation of missionaries had left this hardened, ignorant, bound and burdened people with little hope. If you are honest, you might write a book with the same title when you consider your “mission field”.

I met a leader of another mission group which is also working on college campuses in the very same places our team is working. His estimation of the difficulties reveals a deeper issue. “Students aren’t as hungry as they used to be,” he said. “They are now caught up in materialism, and no longer interested in spiritual things. We really missed an opportunity.” Really? The feedback from our team? “There is so much to do! These students are just so curious, and a day doesn’t go by when we don’t meet people who want to hear about Jesus” How could two groups see such different fields?

Jesus taught us a very simple principle here. If you look at the fields, the timing never seems to be right. You will think it’s too early, or maybe even that it’s too late. The conditions never seem to point to harvest. You look at your unsaved family, or your colleagues, or your neighborhood, and think conditions could not be worse! That is why Jesus told us not to look at the fields. He was quite clear in His instruction. He said “Behold [which was for emphasis, so as to say ‘you better listen to what I am about to say…’] I say to you, lift up your eyes”.

When I was saved only a few months I passed by a church rummage sale, and saw an old painting of Jesus for sale. I bought it and over the next few years until I moved overseas, I hung it on the walls in my rooms. The most prominent feature of the painting to me is that Jesus’ eyes are gazing upward. I believe the artist must have understood something about Jesus that many of His followers have yet to discover, or apply to their lives. The best way to see the things around us are to lift our eyes the One above us.

Earlier this month I went to visit a Christian businessman whose office is on the 48th floor overlooking the central business district of Singapore, and the ocean beyond with its hundreds of container ships parked in the distance as far as the eye can see. Wow, you surely see things differently when you are up high! You don’t hear the sounds of construction below. You don’t smell the exhaust of the trucks. I was immediately challenged with this thought. On what floor do I work? What do I see when I look out my “window”? I don’t want to see what, or like others see. I want to see what God sees. I want to see how Jesus saw. For him, everything began with his eyes lifted. Beloved, that’s where we need to begin.

Jesus saw God was going to do something in Samaria. His disciples did not see it, so when they arrived, all they could think about was getting something to eat! So off they went to the strip to find Burger King. Meanwhile, the true King was about to have an encounter which was the first in a series of events which would lead to a city’s transformation (yes, BIG things do still have SMALL beginnings).

Having seen what God was going to do, Jesus’ “antenna” was raised. Having lifted his eyes to God, he was now looking square at a white and ripened field. Hope and expectation welled up inside his heart. It mattered not that Jews did not have dealings with Samaritans. It mattered not that men did not normally have friendly conversations with women. It mattered not that it was hot, right in the middle of the day. It mattered not that this woman had chosen a sin-filled lifestyle. Jesus was not fixated on the difficulties. He would not entertain the excuses. He would not bow to the fear-causing schemes of the Devil. He had come, sickle in hand, ready to reap.

From this perspective, Jesus did not even only see the woman. He saw and prayed for those “who will believe in Me through [her] word” (JN 17:20). Paul served from this perspective too. While in prison, he praised because he knew that God would visit him with deliverance. Once delivered, he was ready to lead the first person he saw to faith. But not only that, he immediately declared that this salvation would not only impact him, but his family as well. We all know that scripture now, but when you see it in context, you realize that Paul, like Jesus, was not expecting a small harvest when he said:

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31

This is, of course, exactly what happened. That very night, Paul accepted the invitation to return with the jailer to his house, where he proceeded to lead the whole family to faith and baptize them, to the end that the jailer “rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.” (16:34)

Paul’s lifted eyes gave him faith’s perspective. Jesus’ lifted eyes allowed him to see an impossible situation as one full of possibilities. Beloved, it is the same for us. We have literally reaped thousands of souls among the people group about whom the book “Mission Impossible” was written. May we all learn this simple, yet profound secret. Beloved, lift up your eyes and [then] look. You’ll be surprised how white your field has become.