People used to walk long distances, lodging at night on the way. When Jesus was to make His last journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, He sent men ahead to tell the people on the way that He would soon come to them.
This was to be done promptly, so they were not to stop or talk to friends by the way; they were not to carry supplies, because the people should receive them as God’s messengers, and they were to do the people great good, for the Lord gave them power to cure the sick and to cast out evil spirits.
Jesus knew all would not welcome them, and He told of cities which had already refused Him as Messiah. He spoke of Capernaum, where He had done the greatest miracles, cured the lepers, the sick, the lame and blind and raised the dead: He said the people had been “exalted to heaven,” in their pride, yet the city would be “thrust” from its high honor, because the people did not believe Him.
Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were later destroyed by armies which came through the land.
Perhaps if we had lived in those cities we would not have found the people more wicked than in cities now; their great sin was they did not want Jesus to be their Messiah or King.
The Harvest Field
Yet the Lord wanted to have every one told of Him; He likened the people to a harvest field, needing workers, saying, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest.”
It is not easy to work the long hours in a harvest field, cutting or carrying grain, and the Lord knew it would not be easy to go to people with His words, for many would not believe, even though they were words of blessing.
All the world is now as a “harvest field” in which men tell others of the Lord Jesus, not now as King, but as their Saviour. It is not easy, for there is still unbelief, but we can pray God to send out workers.
When the men whom Jesus had sent returned, they were very happy because they had cast out wicked spirits by His name. But Jesus said not to rejoice for that, but “rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”
What do you think that meant? Names are written so that there will be no mistake, so we know the Lord meant the men could be certain there was a place for them in heaven. He did not say, would be written when they died, but He said, “are written.”
Those men believed in the Lord Jesus. Can the same promise be for those now who believe Him? Yes, for He said,
“The Lord knoweth them that are His” (2 Tim. 2:19).
Further Meditation
1. What is the harvest field for the Christian?
2. It’s sometimes pretty difficult to continue working month after month without seeing any positive results. How do we know that the Lord understands and has provided for this difficulty in His Word?
3. You might find strength for your soul to work faithfully for your Master by reading The Blessedness of Patient Faith: Meditations on Psalms 40 and 41 by G. V. Wigram.