Being filled spiritually
Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. John 4:31-34 The disciples had gone out buying groceries while the Lord Jesus Christ had a conversation with the Samaritan woman. The woman came to the well to get water, but that day after she had conversation with Jesus she returned home receiving the spring of living water. When the disciples returned from the market they offered Jesus food to eat. But His response to the offer of having food startled the disciples. In their lack of maturity, they were more interested in feeding their physical bodies and did not even realize what just happened to the woman Jesus was talking with. Jesus related His response to the pressing concern of His disciples. He used food as a metaphor to convey to them that though food is needed for physical nourishment but there is another food that could sustain the soul. This spiritual food was offered to the Samaritan woman and it offered her nourishment that would satisfy her soul for eternity. In His reply to His disciples He told them that His food “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” Paul also used the same metaphor of food to teach Christians in Rome what should be the priority if they will be involved in spreading the Kingdom of God. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval” (Rom. 14:17-18). The Lord Jesus Christ had set an example to us of how we should be obedient in following the will of God. His very life was characterized by obedience to the Father’s will. Because of His obedience, the woman received eternal life and in her excitement she went to her town, invited others to hear Jesus and many others believed that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world (see John 4:39ff). We are also called upon to be obedient to God by following His example to not just be concerned with our physical needs but to look for opportunity to talk to others about Jesus’ offer of salvation. Then Jesus challenged His disciples just like His challenge to us, “You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest” (John 4:35). Always look for opportunities obeying the Father’s for it will satisfy our need for spiritual nourishment.
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
