2/5/11 John 4:27-34 Seeing Beyond the Physical

27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.  31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”  33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” ³⁴ “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

(Annibale Carracci 1593  Milan)

Thoughts: The woman had tried to steer Jesus away from the spiritual and back to the physical- water' drawing cup; Jews vs. Samaritans; Mt. Gerazim.  Jesus had pushed her spiritual button.  Now, the disciples come back wanting Jesus to not talk to the woman, and to eat something.  But his food was spiritual.  The woman was telling everyone about Jesus.  When our eyes are open to see beyond what our eyes can see physically, then we should tell others what we experienced.  I once was blind but now I see.

Prayer: Lord, May my food be to do your will this day.

John Calvin Abridged: The disciples' affront was because of their Master's honor.  Yet they forget that they themselves were not people of note deserving to be with the Savior.  The woman left her pitcher in a hurry to run off to tell others about Christ.  Jesus ate later, and allows us to eat and drink. But his point (in saying "My food is to do the will of Him..."), is one of focus and pointing out the importance of doing God's will even above eating.