“Prayer does not make a change in God but makes a change in us.”
–Nathaniel Vincent
The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman is described by Jesus as his “food.” More broadly, the food or meat of Jesus is to do the will of the Father. Regarding the personal pronoun “my,” Leon Morris writes:
“My” is emphatic. Whatever be the case with others, Jesus’ food is to do the divine will. The words are eloquent of a sense of mission and devotion. They speak, too, of the satisfaction it was to the Son to do the will of the Father. Notice that God is characterized as “him who sent me” (as often in this Gospel). The work that Jesus did was no mere human work. It was that of one sent by God. Quite often in this Gospel Jesus declares that the work he does is that which the Father has for him to do (e.g., 5:30; 6:38; 7:18; 8:50; 9:4; 10:37–38; 12:49, 50; 14:31; 15:10; 17:4). Obedience to the divine will is for him the major concern.
Leon Morris, The Gospel according to John, 245.
Obedience to the divine will includes sharing the good news. Meditating on this passage, I was struck by the notion that the kingdom of God advances one gospel conversation at a time. Wow! I am not discounting all the other avenues of outreach but, wow, Jesus takes the time to share the good news with a woman who is living on the margins—culturally, religiously, geographically. He “must needs” go through Samaria. The Father has a divine appointment for Jesus. Our Lord’s meat is to be available and to do and to rejoice in the work the Father has for him. And this food is connected to the harvest: “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. (John 4:34-35) Today, will you make yourself available to the Lord? Will you, as opportunities present themselves, work to advance the kingdom of God by having a gospel conversation with someone who crosses your path? Have a blessed day and we will see most of you on Sunday. D. V.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
