Jesus told the disciples to lift up their eyes to the fields that were white unto harvest (John 4:35-38). The basic issue is that we are not “looking” or paying attention to those who need salvation. We just don’t see that for which we are not looking.Jesus taught this principle to His disciples on a trip back to Galilee, but He took the shortest route and went through Samaria. Now the Jews normally avoided going this way through Samaria. But John tells us that “He had to pass through Samaria” (John 4:4). Some translations say He “needed” or He “must” go that way.This implies a logical necessity or obligation. Why John said this here is not immediately clear, but the rest of the story shows us that Jesus needed to go through Samaria because He had a divine purpose. Jesus’ purpose was tied up in meeting the woman at the well, but also to teach the disciples about the need for keep their eyes open for evangelistic opportunities.Jesus stopped by the town of Sychar and sat down by a well while the disciples went into town to buy food. Then this woman came to get water from the well and Jesus asked her for a drink. She was surprised by this request because she was a Samaritan and a woman. Jesus pressed her even more by offering her something she had not asked for and didn’t know she needed (John 4:10-15).Jesus challenged her thinking but she thought that the living water would do away with her need for the water from the well. Then the woman sought to shift the focus to a question of religion. But Jesus elevated the discussion from the “My-church-versus-yourchurch” argument to a deeper spiritual understanding.Jesus spoke the plain truth and revealed Himself, to which she believed and did what every true believer always tries to do— bring friends and family to Christ. See saw that others needed to hear this good news.This serves as a great example for us. We must “lift up our eyes” to the opportunities of sharing the great news. Unfortunately many people in our country are rejecting God and Christ. So our fields are white and ready for harvest. Are you looking?
