Scripture: John 4:35 (ESV)
“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.”
Jesus uses a familiar agricultural proverb to redirect His disciples’ attention to a spiritual reality. While they were thinking in terms of physical seasons and future harvests, Jesus urges them to see that the spiritual harvest is already ripe and ready. His words are an invitation to urgency, awareness, and participation in the mission of gathering souls into the kingdom.
John Calvin, in his commentary on this passage, stresses that Jesus’ rebuke is gentle but firm—He corrects the disciples’ delay in spiritual perception. Calvin explains that while the disciples were still thinking with earthly expectations, Jesus lifts their eyes to see with spiritual clarity. He writes that “Christ reproves the indolence of men, who, while they delay and put off, lose the season for doing good.” The fields are already white, Calvin says, because the hearts of people—like the Samaritan woman and her village—are prepared by divine providence to receive the gospel.
J.C. Ryle similarly draws attention to the immediacy of the mission. He notes that the disciples likely missed the spiritual awakening unfolding right before them in Samaria. Ryle comments, “The minds of men are often more prepared for the Gospel than we suppose.” He challenges believers not to fall into the trap of assuming there’s always more time. Ryle calls the Church to wakefulness, declaring that souls are perishing while Christians delay in sowing and reaping. The “white fields” are all around us—ripe with opportunity for evangelism and ministry, if only we would look with the eyes of Christ.
Both Calvin and Ryle urge us to lift our eyes beyond comfort and delay, to see with spiritual urgency and act with boldness. The harvest is not some distant future event—it is here, now.
For us, this verse serves as a wake-up call. The work of the kingdom is immediate. The people around us are not waiting for some future moment to be ready—they are ripe for hearing and responding to the good news. Like Jesus, we are called to see with kingdom eyes and respond with kingdom urgency.
Reflection Questions:
- What does Jesus mean by saying “the fields are white for harvest”?
- Are there people in your life who may be more open to the gospel than you’ve assumed?
- What might it look like to “lift up your eyes” today and respond to the opportunities God is placing before you?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see the harvest around us. Forgive us for delaying when You have called us to action. Give us hearts that are eager to serve and hands ready to labor in Your fields. Help us to see people not as interruptions or projects, but as souls dearly loved by You. May we move with urgency, boldness, and compassion to bring Your good news to those who are ready to receive it. In Your name, Amen.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 