John 4:31-34 -- 31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
The Samaritan woman left right as the disciples are returning from buying supplies. They catch the tail end Jesus' conversation with her and wonder why He's talking to her, but they don't ask. They do, however, urge Him to eat. Remember this whole thing started with Jesus sitting by the well wearied.
As they press Him to eat Jesus finally responds, "I have food to eat that you do not know about.". It really sunk into me just now, that this is Jesus' method for teaching deep truths to someone. He says something that gets their brains going. Even if it's just to puzzle through what He said, their brain is now in "THINK" mode. Look at the disciples as soon as He's told them He has food they don't know about.
John 4:33 -- So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?”
We've seen Jesus already do this with the confronting crowd at the temple cleansing, with Nicodemus, with the Samaritan woman. It gets people thinking and draws them deeper into conversation or paying attention. Jesus' mode of communication is unique, and it keeps bringing me back to review how I approach others. How am I talking to family, friends, strangers, etc…? You see what He's done here….Jesus put on my thinking cap at 6:00 AM, 2000+ years later! LOL.
Christian, how do you approach and talk with others about Jesus, about the Bible, about church, about the Kingdom?
Another thing that jumps out at me is the example of the disciples. We can clearly see they did not understand what Jesus was saying. However, they did put on their thinking caps and started reviewing the situation.
Sometimes we may not fully grasp or understand something of God. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that at all. Just make sure you start asking questions (pray and talk to a Christian brother/sister), start looking for clues (dig into the Bible and research solid Christian resources), and stay with Jesus (be persistent, keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking). The process grows us in Him, pulls us closer to Him, and the closer you are to Him, the more things fall into place!
Jesus knows the disciples are trying to piece things together so He brings in a truth that their stirred-up minds can start to chew on.
John 4:34 -- Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work."
I came across a good quote: “The bodily thirst (and hunger probably, from the time of day) which our Lord had felt before, had been and was forgotten in the carrying on of His divine work in the soul of this Samaritan woman” (Henry Alford).
Christian, are you thinking about your thinking cap? Where is your true refreshment and fulfillment in life coming from?
We'll see more of Jesus' response to the disciples tomorrow, the Lord willing. Also, please…eat food and drink water. Jesus isn't advocating starving yourself; he's opening eyes that there is more to life than just those things.
Well, that's where my quiet time led today. Have a great Tuesday. Know you are loved. You are prayed over. You are not alone.
Comments