Master, Eat

John 4:30-34 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.  Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

The request being given to the Master is also given to us—children, eat.  There is not the hunger for the Lord as there once was. Many who profess to be Christians don’t even have it. What are we to hunger for from the Lord?  We need a variety of things, just as our own body does, to make us healthy Christians.  We need to keep a well rounded spiritual diet.  Jesus said “I have meat to eat that you know not of.” Sometimes we don’t eat foods that are good for us.  Many times we find ourselves eating only what is bad.  The Father has set before us a table to satisfy the hunger of our soul.

Jesus had not eaten since the early morning. The disciples had gone to Samaria to get food. Jesus met the woman of Samaria at the well. He even asked her for water. Many times we see the humanity of Jesus. He got tired and slept. He got hungry and thirsty. The Bible says that after the 40 days fasting in the wilderness Jesus was hungry. Martha cooked for him at her home. He and the disciples plucked corn to eat.

There is no greater drive than hunger and thirst.  We realize it. The body lets us know when we need it. Jesus has built within us a hunger for him.  Some people get sick and cannot eat now matter how desirable the food is. That’s scary in the spiritual sense.

The disciples felt bad because they ate but Jesus did not.  They said “Master, eat.” Jesus was concentrating so much on the will of the Father and the woman of Samaria that he was not conscious of his own hunger. He told them his meat was the will of the Father. He went further to say he was doing the will of the Father.

God’s table is not sparse. The famine is on our part. We lack hunger and desire the desserts and not the meat. Jesus didn’t say “desserts;” he said “meat.” Desserts are good, but meat keeps us going. The blessings of God’s desserts are wonderful. There is nothing better than an old fashioned blessing. We must hunger for the meat as well.

What do we hunger for?  Do we avoid the tougher things of God, the meat? Remember the diet must be balanced. God set the table. God’s will is the meat. We should eat it. We’ll be more nourished and satisfied spiritually when we do.  Is it your meat to do the will of God?  Many don’t care for it. It’s not as good as the desserts. Mom used to tell us we could have dessert after the main course-after we ate the meat. Then we’re full and happy. Ask God for a greater hunger for his meat.

It’s wonderful that God has a will for us. He has his eye upon us. He sees us as his own. Jesus said he was here to do the will of the Father. Our desire should also be to do his will.  God wills and wants something for us. He values us. To please him we need to take it and be fed. What does God have for you in your personal life? He has a will for this church, but he has one for us as individuals. The only way a church can do the will of God is when it’s members are daily doing His will. In every way of life God has a will. When we do it we are strengthened and healthier.  There is no great joy than being in the Father’s will.

How hungry are you? Jesus has a task for us. It’s a life-long task, but it’s also a daily one. It can be big or little, but there needs to be a continual working.  It can be as simple as a cup of cold water in His name or a word on the street. We know what God wants. It may not always be seen, but that’s not the object of it anyway.  Mary told the men at the wedding in Cana to do whatever Jesus told them. We should do the same. We should not leave the work half done. Jesus meat was to complete the Father’s will all the way, and to complete His work for us.

How well are we doing? How anxious are we to do it? How willing are we? Doing it will make us happy and give us the fullness of God. The table is spread. The desserts are in their place. But the main course, the meat, is where it should be.  It’s time for us to hunger for the main course. Jesus invites us to come and dine.  The Master is asking us to eat.