Ready for HarvestSample

A Plentiful Harvest

Read Matthew 9:35-38.

Jesus is enjoying a very productive time in his ministry. He is in his home territory of Galilee and the crowds are flocking to see and hear him. In Matthew’s eyes, Jesus is showing himself to be the Messiah by the powerful things he is doing. The crowds can’t get enough of this miracle-working, authoritative Rabbi. His ministry is all they have dreamed of and been waiting for.

Of course, the people in these crowds have mixed motives. Some are genuinely wondering if Jesus is the Messiah, others are looking for a quick fix for their health issues, and others are just there for the show. But whatever their motives, they are hungry for something. For a long time, there has been no real spiritual leadership in the nation and they have not known what to do or whom to follow. They are like “sheep without a shepherd” (9:36) according to Jesus. They have lost their hope and their connection with God and their leaders have given no direction or help. They are harassed by both their Roman overlords and their own supposed spiritual leaders. And they can do nothing about it; they are helpless like sheep with no shepherd.

As Jesus interacts with the crowds and their never-ending needs, he is moved. The Greek word translated “had compassion” means “to be moved in the inward parts.” At a funeral I took recently of a beautiful Christian lady, the three adult sons described their Mum. They were each moved deeply, and tears flowed. I'm sure you've experienced this deep, gut-wrenching concern that Jesus feels as he sees the hopelessness of these people who have been abandoned by their shepherds.

But the problem is not the desperation of the crowds. According to Jesus, they are a ripe harvest just waiting to be reaped. God can meet the needs of every person in these harassed and helpless crowds. God loves them. God is ready to forgive and free them. God wants to provide direction and purpose for them. God is longing to love and lead them. Jesus is certain about the answer to their needs.

The real challenge facing Jesus is the lack of harvest workers (9:37). Who is going to teach the ignorant? Who is going to heal the hurting? Who is going to support the abused? Who is going to guide the lost? Who is going to share the good news with the disillusioned? Who is going to bring in the harvest? As Jesus says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” As a man, Jesus can’t do it all. He is personally overwhelmed by the need and the massive opportunities it generates. He is giving his all, but it’s not nearly enough to reap the full harvest.

Maybe you’re thinking that this was a specific season in Jesus’ mission that is not really applicable to the time in which we live. You could argue that the people you know are self-satisfied and self-sufficient and not at all harassed and helpless like these crowds. This is certainly true of some. But there is a huge amount of anxiety and fear and frustration and vulnerability and desperation around. Our political and community leaders don’t have the answers, but God does. The harvest is plentiful and we’re beginning to see this.

But we face the same dilemma that Jesus faced. We just don’t have the workers. Who is going to teach the ignorant? Who is going to heal the hurting? Who is going to support the abused? Who is going to guide the lost? Who is going to share the good news with the disillusioned? Who is going to bring in the harvest? Jesus’ answer for us is to pray: “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (9:38). Please make this your prayer for this week.