So now the time has come. Fields are ready for harvest and the King is ready to be enthroned, neither happen quite like we expect. Of course, a good king, with a productive kingdom, is able to feed his people and the invitation to participate in that healthy production cycle is clear. The ripe fields sequence is often treated as just an extension of the “well” story. While continuity exists between the two, I think John uses the disciples’ return as a transition marker and takes a new step toward the center of his book’s theme by reflecting these Samaritan fields with the Jerusalem entry story. Both the Samaria and Jerusalem stories are set on worship mountains. In both, we see crowds of people that look like ripe fields. In Jerusalem, they are actually waving physical branches. In both stories, “outsiders,” Samaritans and Greeks, have been made ready for the harvest. Sowing and reaping imagery feature heavily in both scenes. In fact, with the statement, “so that the sower and reaper may rejoice together,” John reflects passages in Joel 3 and Amos 9 which both include images of mountains dripping sweet wine - a good harvest image. Also an image John has in mind through his entire book as he carefully describes the process of how Jesus as King provides life-giving bread and wine to his people. In the course of his story, sweet wine certainly drips from the mountain of Jerusalem.
Supply for the Feasting
John 4:31-45 | Water Wing 8
Fields stand ready for the reaping.
What labor brings in these sheaves?
Not the hand that plowed to bleeding,
scattered seed, and held back beast.
But now is the time for breaking, and baking,
Pressing and staining, for joining
together in the world’s re-making.
His Commandment is Eternal Life
John 12:12-50 | Fire Wing 8
Now is the time to see.
In rides the Root
drawing all to the tree.
A king not seated
but seeded.
Creation lays down branches
the dirt is ready to receive.