John 4:32-34 - Sowing Spiritual Seeds.
John 4:32-34 (NKJV) But He said to them, "I
have food to eat of which you do not know."
Therefore the disciples said to one another, "Has
anyone brought Him anything to eat?" Jesus said to
them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent
Me, and to finish His work.
John 4:32-34 (CWR) He said to them,
Ive been eating while you were gone, and you
have no idea how good it tasted. The disciples
said to each other, Do you think that someone
brought Him something to eat while we were gone?
Jesus, over hearing their conversation, said,
The food Im talking about is the happiness
that comes from doing Gods will and
accomplishing what He sent me to do.
INTRODUCTION
Context: Jesus and the Samaritan woman at
the well.
The "food" about which Jesus was speaking
was his spiritual nourishment. It includes more
than Bible study, prayer, and attending church.
Spiritual nourishment also comes from doing God's will
and helping to bring his work of salvation to
completion. We are nourished not only by what we take
in, but also by what we give out for God. [Life
Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Sowing Spiritual Seeds
Think about everything that contributed
to the story of how you came to know Christ as
your Lord and Savior. It's probably not possible
to fully count all those spiritual seeds that
God used to draw you to Him. And not all the
people who sowed good seed into your life knew what
the outcome would be.
We also have the opportunity and
privilege - every single day - of sowing seeds into
the lives of others, such as our friends,
co-workers, children, grandchildren, or even strangers.
God takes what you plant and adds to it. He
leads others to sow further seed or "water" the
ground. Little by little, truth gets cultivated in
their lives. What greater thing could you do?
Conversely, you might focus on providing
your kids with plenty of material security and
send them to the best schools and colleges - and
yet it would count nothing for eternity. But
when you sow into their lives the things of God
and the qualities of Jesus, you're feeding their
spirits. The seeds that affect their hearts, view of
God, and desire to make a difference for Him in
the world are what will produce genuine, lasting
fruit and a great harvest in their lives. Whether
or not you ever see the results, the Lord is
using you profoundly when you sow this kind of
crop.
God sees all the little things you do;
He's interested in more than just "big" things.
The fruit of His Spirit - such as kindness,
patience, and self-control - often manifests itself in
quiet ways that others may never give you credit
for. But such spiritual seeds accomplish powerful
work in His kingdom. [In Touch Daily Devotional
by Charles Stanley at www.intouch.org]
COMMENTARY
Jesus and the disciples had been
traveling, and He was tired. So He sat down by a well
to rest while the disciples went into town to
buy food. When the disciples came back, Jesus
was apparently reenergized. They kept offering
Him food, but He wasn't hungry anymore. "I have
food you don't know about," He told them. Then He
began two days' worth of ministry in the town
where they had stopped to rest.
Jesus wasn't refreshed simply by doing
more work. That's an exhausting way to try to
live. He wasn't refreshed by getting back in touch
with the Spirit, as though He had been out of
touch before. No, the Spirit was fully present in
Jesus at all times. But when the Spirit manifested
the work of God through Jesus in an encounter
with a woman at the well, He was energized.
That's what happens when the Presence gets stirred
up. We get filled with His enthusiasm and
strength.
We've all experienced the boost of energy
that comes when something captures our interest.
But we aren't used to thinking of God - or Jesus
or the Spirit - as having various levels of
enthusiasm. He seems to be above such swells of emotion.
It's hard to understand His fire rising and
falling with certain ideas and events.
Scripture is clear that God has zeal for
specific purposes and plans (Isaiah 9:7; 37:32). And
when we line up with God's purposes for us, we're
reenergized too. That's why it's essential to notice the
passions God has put within you. That's where He has
designed you to work and build His Kingdom. Your food
is to do His will, and whatever His will is for
you, it will refresh you.
Father, I know my food is to do Your
will. Please fill me with the right passions and
then refresh me as I live from my heart for Your
purposes. [The One Year Experiencing Gods Presence
Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
Throughout Jesus ministry, we see a
marked difference between His priorities and the
concerns of His disciples. The disciples were often
preoccupied with how to meet their physical needs (Mt
14:15"17; John 4:8; Lu 18:28). Jesus repeatedly
assured them that the Father knew their needs and
would provide (Lu 11:11"13). Jesus stressed that
their priority was to seek first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness; the necessities of
daily life would be provided (Mt 6:33).
When Jesus spoke to the woman at the
well, His disciples had gone into a nearby town to
get food. While His disciples were seeking
earthly nourishment, Jesus was giving this woman
living water that would satisfy her soul for
eternity. When they returned, the disciples urged
Jesus to eat. He replied that His food was
to do the will of His Father. Since their
attention was on earthly matters, His disciples
misunderstood His reply. Jesus very life came from
obeying His Father. Because of Jesus obedience
that day, the woman received eternal life. In her
excitement, she brought many others to Jesus to hear for
themselves, and many believed that He was indeed the
Christ, the Savior of the world (John 4:39"42).
The apostle Paul understood what Jesus
had been teaching His disciples. When Paul wrote
to the believers in Rome, he stressed that
the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,
but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is
acceptable to God and approved by men (Ro
14:17"18).
When Satan tempted Jesus to turn stones
into bread, Jesus quoted the Scriptures,
summarizing the focus of His life and ministry: Know
that man shall not live by bread alone; but man
lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth
of the Lord (De 8:3). [Experiencing God Day
by Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby re John
4:34]
CLOSING THOUGHT
Jesus had just finished ministering when
his disciples realized their Master had not
eaten in a while. Never one to miss a teaching
opportunity, Christ said, "I have food to eat that you
know nothing about" (John 4:32). Now, if your
mind is a bit odd like mine, you might imagine
the disciples thinking, You've got food we know
nothing about? Maybe some of those new fig-and-olive
power bars under your robe? Do you have pockets in
there? Sneaking lamb kabobs from the temple
concessions?
Maybe we're not so weird after all,
because the disciples also took the Lord's response
literally. "Could someone have brought him food?" they
asked (John 4:33). But Jesus was talking about
something much more substantive than lunch. Basically,
he told them, "My food is to serve God. My food
is to please him. My food is to complete the
assignment that God sent me to do. My food is to do the
will of my Father and to finish his work?
God wants us to contribute rather than to
consume. When all of culture says, "fill yourself,"
God tells us to fill others. He didn't create us
to be takers. Our Father created us to be
givers. Rather than focusing on our self-centered
desires, God calls us to focus on the needs of
others. Instead of culling to the front of the line,
God calls us to wait at the end.
He created you to serve.
I hunger for your Word, Lord, and I want
to serve those around me like the example of
your Son. Today let my food be the satisfaction
that comes from serving you and putting others
above myself. [Daily Power by Craig Groeschel]
ONE LINERS
The conversion of a needy sinner had been
food for Christs soul, [Jamieson, Fausset, And
Brown Commentary]
The eager response of the woman was more
refreshing to the soul of Jesus than food would have
been to His body. [SDA Bible Commentary]
If we are clothed with the righteousness of
Christ and are filled with the joy of His
indwelling Spirit, we shall not be able to hold our
peace. If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is
good we shall have something to tell. SC78
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
John 6:35 - Filling Up On The Bread Of Life,
JESUS.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200825-1003.html
John 17:3 - A Supreme Relationship with
Jesus Christ is Eternal Life.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20180823-1030.html
1 John 5:11, 12 - ETERNAL LIFE IS A
RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST!!!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220116-0848.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
