2/6/11- John 4:33-38- Souperbowl Sunday

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. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Thoughts: One in four children in America are in a food insecure situation.  We are still well fed compared to the rest of the world where one person dies every three seconds from hunger-related diseases.  As the price of gas goes up, the price of food goes up as well for the hungry.  Today is Souperbowl of Caring Sunday.  It is a way to remember the hungry in America, and give to those who are in need.  This offering was started by Brad Smith, now pastor of Eastminster Presbyterian in Columbia, SC- former associate pastor of Spring Valley Presbyterian- where the offering started.  Over $50 million dollars and 23 million pounds of food have been donated since 1993 when it first began.  Jesus said his food is to do the will of Him who sent Him.  Life is more than physical food.  But when we are fed spiritually, we also wish to help people physically.  Jesus was concerned with the souls of people primarily.  But he also healed the sick to show us that God also cares for our bodies.  Twice Jesus fed the multitudes (5,000 and 4,000).  The feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels.  Jesus turned water into a chance to reach a woman with living water.  He turned hunger into helping the disciples focus on the spiritually hungry Samaritans around them.  Physical and spiritual hunger and thirst are entertwined.

Prayer: Lord, may my food be to do your will.  Help me to understand your will about the hungry in this world, and take one small step toward doing something in your name.

John Calvin Commentary Abridged: Christ's main desire is to finish the work of the Father, and even then it was ripe for execution.  We care much about the future of our physical needs, but do not look down the road at our spiritual needs.  We should not seek to get credit for work, but throw our efforts in for the greater good.