John 4:34 My food_

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” ‭‭John‬ ‭4:34‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

My food…

The story started with Jesus speaking about Spirit-water. And now Spirit-food. Do you get the idea that the nourishment of our spirit is important? But when I think about Jesus the man, I consider how the natural world about him, his body, his family, the culture, all exerted a pull on him. Yet he had a focus and purpose that were indomitable.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ He was hungry, thirsty, weary from a journey. Then, this transaction with the Samaritan woman occurs. When His disciples return, his reply reveals the truth and motivation of his life.

What is more essential than our need for food and water? Besides air, food and water are the most basic needs of our bodies and one cannot live long without either. Jesus was no exception. Yet he made the comparison between physical and spiritual and minimized his need for the one in deference to the other. Earlier he referred to water as the life-giving flow of the Holy Spirit erupting from within our body. Two intertwined worlds, one provides life to the flesh, the other to the spirit.

My purpose to love God and follow after Him is a powerful. Yet, even with the most determined dedication, I’m aware of how quickly the needs of my flesh and demands of this world supersede the spirit. If my goal is lose some weight, eating that muffin is not part of the plan. Yet in a moment I feel the demands of hunger, then I see the muffin and… I eat it. It was pretty easy to give in, wasn’t it? Yet, when the stakes are higher, so must be my alignment and connection with the purpose which motivatesf. If I strongly dislike someone, deciding to kill them is much more consequential. If I am committed to my spouse but then toy with some cutie at work, the impact of breaking my wife’s trust is much higher. Hurting another for my own satisfaction is a much bigger choice than giving in to a muffin.

There is nothing more valuable and worthwhile than our relationship with God. All life flows from him. So is it any surprise that Jesus minimizes the demand for food when the circumstance is speaking to his core mission and desire? Consider a another instance where food was a pretty big deal. After 40 days of fasting, a hungry Jesus had previously put food in it’s place:

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ‭” ‭Matthew‬ ‭4:1-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus could create food and turn stones into bread. It wouldn’t have been a temptation if he couldn’t. In a story later in John 6 he miraculously created food for the multitude. The miraculous was part of his mission — but more important than meeting his own flesh’s need was hearing from hid Dad and exercising his unique power and authority within the context of his calling and role — not when goaded on by his adversary. Motivation and purpose are powerful. Jesus had intertwined his desire with his Father’s. He had given up the natural desire every male would have for sexual fulfillment, which was surely pumping in his very normal body. No wife. No sex. No kids. Instead, he would be a sacrifice for sin. Accomplishing his Father’s work was more important than any other need, including food.

For us who elevate the demands of the flesh to deafening proportions, it’s hard to imagine. Somehow it’s easier to consider my rights, needs, or desires to be an entitlement. “But, God wants me to be happy.” Yes he does, but not at the cost of my soul. Every desire, every hunger, every passion, lifestyle, every cell of my body, will bow before the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a tough saying. Consequently, He extends a river of grace to us that is deeper than all of humanity’s bad choices — and I bathe in it daily.

…and to finish his work

As I read this story, I was deeply impacted by the Holy Spirit. Jesus wanted what his Father wanted, which means he would die. One may only imagine the intimacy between the two. So when did the Father spring the news on Jesus? How did he tell him? And when Jesus found out, how did it impact him? How did he respond? I could imagine that as Jesus was growing up in the synagogue he would hear the law, prophets, David, Solomon… and they were speaking of him. In Psalm 40 there is an incredible reflection of his intimate connection with the Father:

Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭40:6-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

There is something about mornings that draw me close to God. When I awake, the cares of my previous day are only a memory. The quietness of my heart and mind allow me to hear my Father. Just Him and me. I realize that in a similar way, Jesus heard his Father’s voice. No distraction. Pure, connected relationship. He was growing up and living life while enjoying pure fellowship with his Father, unobstructed with sin or with weakness passed on by a fallen father’s seed. Jesus had the same privilege that the first Adam had in that his DNA was not tainted with earth’s mutations or lineage. He woke every morning with ears to hear what his Dad said.

When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Luke‬ ‭2:48-49‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

There was a point at which Jesus accepted his Father’s will and picked up the work. I imagine it to be very similar to when Abraham was about to offer up Isaac. The young boy followed his loving dad to Moriah and while he was being bound and laid on an altar as his father was about to pull out a knife and complete the sacrifice. “Daddy, where is the offering?” “Son, God will provide.” And He did. In contrast, Jesus sees that there is a burnt offering that God also wanted, and Jesus asks his Heavenly Father, “Daddy, where is the offering?” And the stun of all the ages is in His reply, “Son, if you will accept it, it is you.”

In the quiet of that moment, Jesus had a choice to make.

And he made it.

The will of God is that he die for sin and embrace his identity as the Messiah — the one that was to come into the world. His work was to flip the switch of faith in the hearts of man. The sacrifice is only one part of the work — it only has value if combined with faith by those needing it.

The food that Jesus lived on was doing His will, and finishing His work. Once he accepted it, there was nothing more important to him.

In a similar transaction about food and the will (work) of God, Jesus visited the same topic in John 6:

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” ‭‭John‬ ‭6:26-29‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” ‭‭John‬ ‭6:38-40‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Finally, in the Garden, Jesus recognized that the time had come and he pleaded with his Father, “If there is any other way, let this cup pass from me, but not my will rather yours be done.” There was no other way.

The will of the Father was that he would die. And through his death, many would live.

Jesus finished his work and I am on this side of the grave. Amazing grace! The most costly payment ever paid was for my freedom. No other human will be required to go through what Jesus endured. For that reason, he will be the chief among us for eternity. Our brother, highly exalted, but incredibly selfless. Imagine.