South Hills Church Community

Something happens to Jesus in John 4 that I have never heard preached when this familiar passage comes up.  It has to do with Jesus' hunger, thirst and how it is satisfied.  Read with me:

"Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour." John 4:4-6

The sixth hour is noon. Picture it:  probably hot or at least warm...Jesus and his disciples have just walked or rode on donkeys all morning.  They are hungry, thirsty and in need of a break.  It's lunch time!  I don't know about you but this is the time of day when my appetite kicks in the hardest-- right in the middle of the day.  Most of the world has their main meal of the day right in the middle of the day for the very same reason.

"When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)" John 4:7-9

Jesus could have focused on his own needs and his own situation- he needed a break, probably well-deserved.  Instead, he reaches out to a poor woman.

Here’s where I have never heard anybody comment.  When Jesus finishes his conversation with this woman and ministry in her life, this happens:

"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?" Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" They came out of the town and made their way towards him. 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 4:27-34

Apparently, the ministry that Jesus did actually satisfied him to the point where he did not need anything to eat and was not hungry. 

By the way, that is the purpose of fasting— to find in God all that He is apart from our physical needs.  Do you think God could be to you THAT MUCH— more than food and physical desires?

Interesting.  I tell you I would sure love to have a day of ministry like Jesus where the ministry was so joyous and powerful and God-filled that it satisfied every part of my body!

Bret