A gleaning from the account of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman.
The story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman provides a profound lesson on the priorities and principles of laboring in God’s harvest. It reveals how striving among brethren, neglecting divine direction, or disconnection in discipleship (failing to wait on the Lord) can hinder the work of the Kingdom. This article explores the key aspects of effective discipleship: the necessity of surrender, the importance of being led by the Holy Spirit, and the dangers of labouring outside God’s leading.
Christ’s example shows us the transformative power of engaging with the harvest according to God’s timing and direction, while guarding against distractions, weariness, and compromise. Let us journey with Jesus, keeping our focus on His will, and lift our eyes to the fields that are ripe for harvest.
No Striving with Fellow Brethren
When the Pharisees attempted to stir up conflict between Jesus and John the Baptist over the issue of baptism, Jesus chose to leave Judea and journey toward Galilee. However, there was a need that Jesus passes through Samaria for the harvest of souls. This reminds us that ministry is not a competition. There is no need to strive because the harvest is vast, but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37).
The Burden of the Lord
The heart of the Lord of the harvest carries a deep burden for souls. Only those who have denied their self-interest, taking the cross of Jesus daily and walking closely with Jesus (discipleship) can share in this burden. Jesus said there was a need for Him to pass through Samaria, a region marked by hostility between Jews and Samaritans. As disciples, we must be willing to follow Jesus even when He leads us to hostile or difficult places.
Like Isaiah, our response should be: “Here I am, Lord, send me” (Isaiah 6:8). Discipleship involves bearing His yoke and sharing in His burden, even when it means confronting hostility or challenges.
The Weariness of Jesus
Even in the Master’s work, weariness is inevitable. It does not make us less spiritual; it highlights our humanity. Jesus, wearied from His journey, rested by Jacob’s well in Samaria (suburbs of the city). This shows us that rest is a part of the journey.
Yet, even in moments of rest, God continues to work. As Jesus sat by the well, He was on the verge of a significant encounter—the meeting with the Samaritan woman that would spark revival in Samaria.
Waiting on the Lord
The disciples left Jesus to buy food in the city, prioritizing their task over staying with their Master. This echoes the principle in Isaiah 40:31: “They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.”
Waiting on the Lord is a vital aspect of discipleship. While it is important to labor in the Lord’s work, it must never replace listening for His Spirit’s leading at all times. Jesus calls us to “Go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19), but not at the expense of abiding in Him.
How unfortunate we miss out or do not grow in our discipleship when we do not wait on Jesus. We tend to think that our sincere labour for the Lord’s work will be acceptable to Him at the expense of our waiting on Him in discipleship. Following Jesus at times require waiting on Him
Dangers of not waiting on the Lord of the Harvest
1. Omission in our discipleship training:
While the disciples went into the city to buy bread, Jesus stayed behind and engaged with the Samaritan woman when she arrived, an interaction that revealed several important aspects of discipleship that they missed. There was a great omission in their discipleship training. First, they failed to see how Jesus used this woman as a key instrument in His mission of revival. They missed the deeper revelation of the Holy Spirit, symbolized by the well of living water. They failed to learn how a soul due to lack of understanding and pain can respond to the gospel with a wrong motive. The woman mistakenly understood the well symbolizing the Holy Spirit as simply a physical well. She sought it out to escape the shame of having to draw water at the hot, socially isolating hour of noon, a time when others would not mock her. The disciples also missed the opportunity to witness the gift of the word of knowledge, through which Jesus discerned the Samaritan woman’s past. This highlighted how some individuals may perceive the gospel only in part—acknowledging Jesus as a prophet—yet fail to fully grasp the complete truth of salvation. They missed how Jesus introduced the new way of worship, leaving behind the old forms, and showing that worship was no longer be confined to a place, but must be in spirit and truth.
This omission in their training led them to miss vital lessons in evangelism, understanding the deeper work of the Holy Spirit, and discerning how people respond to the gospel in various ways.
2. Spiritual Blindness:
The disciples likely passed by the Samaritan woman without recognizing her as the key to the harvest.
Without waiting on Jesus in prayer and guidance, we risk overlooking pivotal opportunities.
3. Possibly Compromise in the faith:
Some people begin their journey with Jesus, eager to bring others to Him—whether it’s family, colleagues, friends, or entire communities. However, without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, their zeal can become misplaced, leading them to make a shipwreck of their faith.
Consider the hostility that Jesus faced with the Samaritan woman when He asked her for water, even at the outskirts of the city. If this was the reception Jesus received, how much worse would the disciples have faced when they went into the city to buy food, it’s likely the disciples would have encountered even greater hostility. One can assume a possible compromise to their faith in this difficult environment.
There is a risk of compromising our faith when we act out of zeal or necessity without the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Return, Wandering soul
The disciples, who had wandered into the city, returned just as Jesus revealed His Christhood to the Samaritan woman—a pivotal revelation that would spark a harvest among the Samaritans. Despite having the five books of Moses in their temple, the Samaritans eagerly awaited the Christ who would teach them all things. This profound revelation of Christ’s identity, as seen in Jesus’ interaction with Peter, is not disclosed by human insight but by divine revelation from the Father.
By God’s mercy, the disciples returned at the exact moment when Jesus was revealing His identity as the Christ.
John 4:25-27a (KJV)
“The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. And upon this came his disciples…”
An unwanted labour
Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 3:6-15 that we are co-laborers with God, each with specific roles—some plant, others water—but it is God who brings the increase. Christ has already laid the foundation, and we must carefully build upon it so that our work endures and does not result in loss.
Misplaced labor, driven by personal motives rather than divine guidance, can lead to futility and harm.
When the disciples brought food to Jesus, hoping to fulfill His need, it was striking to hear Him say, “I have food,” emphasizing that His nourishment came from doing the will of God and completing His work.
In some villages that I relate with I have encountered, certain so-called missionaries exploit vulnerable communities under the guise of providing basic amenities like schools, boreholes, and medical aid. They prey on the ignorance of the people, leveraging their superior education and experience to manipulate.
Their goal is not the true gospel but personal gain—building private empires and sending staged images to cities and abroad to elicit sympathy and financial support. In the process they damage the lives of children, teenagers, youth, women, men and even break homes.
Sadly, even well-meaning individuals from urban areas sometimes reinforce these exploitative efforts through uninformed mission outreaches, further perpetuating harm. When you are going for mission outreaches let the Lord lead you, let not your actions be driven by guilt, sympathy, or a misplaced sense of obligation. True mission outreach requires discernment and alignment with God’s leading.
Before stepping out, one must ensure that the call to serve comes genuinely from the Lord of the harvest.
These so-called ‘missionaries’ may have initially set out with Jesus with genuine intentions to harvest souls. However, due to gaps in their discipleship training or a failure to wait on Jesus for guidance, they often fall prey to the challenges of the mission field. Instead of advancing the true gospel, they become casualties, entangled in personal gain or misguided efforts, ultimately causing harm to both them and the communities they intend to serve.
“Sit down till you are whole so you won’t put a hole in God’s work.” Bro Gbile Akanni , SOLEAD 2009
Not knowing the food of the Lord
To truly follow Jesus, one must have a pure heart, free from self-interest or the desire to showcase achievements. This means waiting on Him and aligning with His purpose. Jesus’s “food” was to fulfill the will of the Father who sent Him, and our service must also be rooted in obedience to God’s will, not in personal ambition, financial needs, or external pressures.
Jesus’s weariness is not satisfied by how much we labour for him but how much of God’s will be set out to do.
Who is sending you on that mission? Your financial need? Your Church? Your zeal? or God? It is only when Jesus sends you to His harvest that your work will be accepted, and you will receive the crown of rejoicing. If we embark on a mission driven by anything other than His calling, we risk becoming a hindrance to the harvest rather than a vessel for and might end up destroying your life.
Lift up your eyes
Jesus urged His disciples to lift their eyes and see that the fields were ripe for harvest (John 4:35). Understanding divine timing is crucial. Walking in our own timing can cause us to miss the harvest.
Lot’s decision to lift his eyes toward Sodom led him to destruction, while Abraham, lifting his eyes to God, saw the land of promise (Genesis 13:10-16). As laborers, we must keep our focus on God and not be swayed by worldly opportunities.
Jeopardizing the Labour of Others
Jesus highlighted the collective effort that went into preparing the Samaritans for their spiritual harvest. In some harvest fields, many had labored tirelessly praying, offering hospitality, providing support, and planting seeds of faith. The Samaritan people were ready, waiting for Christ to complete the work.
However, there is a risk of jeopardizing such collective efforts when individuals fail to approach the harvest with spiritual discernment. Instead of reaping the harvest as God intends, some may misinterpret the mission, prioritizing personal gain or self-serving motives over the task at hand. This is akin to “turning stones into bread,” a metaphor for exploiting the harvest for selfish ends.
God will not allow His work to be derailed. If a laborer proves unfaithful or unwilling, He will raise a replacement to ensure His purposes are fulfilled. For instance, Paul was appointed as an Apostle to the Gentiles when other apostles hesitated to embrace that mission.
Seeking First the Kingdom
When Jesus prioritized the harvest of Samaria, His earthly needs were met effortlessly. He was offered food, shelter, and care. This illustrates Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
When we journey with Jesus for His harvest, He ensures that our needs are provided for without us striving for them.
Final Charge
No matter the opportunities you may have missed due to wandering away from the Lord, His grace calls you back. Now is the time to realign with God’s divine purpose and timing. Return to the source of revelation and grace and position yourself to partake in the Lord’s harvest. The fields are ripe — step forward in obedience and readiness.
Prayer
Savior, please call my wandering soul back to You. May I not be satisfied with mundane and unfruitful labor. Help me to realign myself with Your yoke and burden—to walk in discipleship and follow Your leading. Deliver me from preoccupations that draw me away from Your harvest. Teach me to seek Your kingdom first, to wait on You, and to trust in Your divine timing for the harvest. Amen.
