The “primary metaphor” is the word “harvest.”
According to Jesus it was “harvest time.”
“Harvest time” is always a “special time” of the year – no matter when it occurs.
In Jesus’ day, people intuitively understood when “the fields” were ripe for harvesting.
Plowing, planting or sowing, watering or caring for, weeding and fertilizing were all different activities – separate from the harvest.
“Harvesting” meant that the plants were finally “ready” to be gathered, or picked from the tree or bush, or from the field.
Jesus was saying that “now was the time” … and “people” (not plants) were ready to be harvested.
People – “THAT” was a game changer.
People – like you and me.
Whoever thought of people as being “ripe?” Who would have thought of “harvesting people?”
“Harvest language” was reserved for “produce,” not for “people.” People were not a crop!
But Jesus was insinuating that they were…at least metaphorically. They were “ripe” for the picking…
Which was to say, that they were ready to hear the gospel, they were “ripe” and “ready” for the Kingdom of God, and “ripe and ready” to have God rule and reign over their lives and in their hearts.
The time was “right.”
It was a “special moment” in time.
It was a “kairos” moment, meaning the time was “perfect”…this was “God’s time” and “God’s doing…”
So the time was “right…”
Has anybody “other than me” ever wondered where these 70-72 people came from? How come we never heard of them and this number prior to this moment in time?
And, if they were “sent out” by Jesus – as clearly they were, – then, shouldn’t they all be considered as “apostles” seeing as the word “APOSTLE” means “one sent out?”
And where did these 70-72 go after having this joyous and happy occasion? Where were they during Jesus’ passion? Where are they during the rest of his ministry? Did they just disappear into the woodwork and into oblivion?
Why are they no longer heard from or even mentioned again?
And yet, clearly they are acting in some kind of an authoritative role. They are likened to an “advance team.” Like “emissaries”…they are teaching in Jesus’ name and even healing…
So obviously they have spent time with Jesus, and have been instructed by Jesus. They are his disciples, more of his lesser known students…
Students, with whom we are not familiar, students without names…
We are actually talking about a rather large number of students or disciples, 82 – 84 disciples to be exact.
And, not only are they directly sent out by Jesus, but they also return directly to him to report of their successes…or their failures…
They sound almost as if they were “evangelists”… or they were “itinerant preachers,” having it as their special function – to carry the gospel to places where it was previously unknown.
So, they would have been spreading “good news” about the coming of the Kingdom of God…and Jesus, who would usher it in…
But the important thing to take note of – is that it was the “right time” and that – the harvest was plentiful.
I think you may agree with me that we seem to be approaching “a new harvest time.”
Many have turned away. Some have stopped believing altogether, others claim to be “just spiritual” and not “religious.” There is a new age approaching.
Soon the time is going to be right again. The pendulum which swings is going to be swinging back…again.
The scandals have got to cease, the church needs to become transparent. We need to live out the gospel message of love and continue our efforts on feeding the starving and caring for the homeless and the poor.
Love is the answer. Reaching out in love. Preaching with love. Forgiving with love. Showing mercy with love. Caring with love. Healing with love…Teaching with love…
The church needs to again “become “the people of God,” that we were originally called to be…
We have to stop turning our backs on love and on the source of all that is loving, kind and good…
But when the time is right… Who is going to go? Who is going to share the Good News with others?
And perhaps an even bigger question is: Why wait?