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 4:31-34
“When our Lord, in answer to the invitation of His disciples, “Master, eat,” says with seeming abruptness, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of,” He does not mean coldly and rudely to reject their proffered kindness, but rather He would turn that kindness to higher and holier account than they themselves intended. It was not their care for His bodily necessities was to Him impertinent or offensive, but that He would engage and interest their care in what to Him was far more urgent than any supply of His temporal necessities — His finishing the work on which His heart was set, and doing the will of Him that sent Him.”
Robert Smith Candlish (1806-1873), a famous Scottish preacher, in Sermons of the Late Robert S. Candlish (New York: R. Carter Brothers, 1874) 1, from the opening to his sermon entitled, “Sowers and Reapers.”
The term “proffered” means to hold out, tender, or offer something for acceptance. In this case, the disciples proffered kindness, or more specifically, they suggested that He take nourishment.
Notice the response of Jesus in today’s Scripture. When the disciples show this care from their hearts for His physical needs, Jesus takes the opportunity to raise they perspective to higher things.
This is an important idea for every follower of Christ to grasp. Sometimes we hold out something to the Lord, and His response to us is not necessarily as we expect. Often He stretches us.
Here, Jesus does that with them. There is something greater than food that drives Jesus. That is, doing the will of the Father and finishing His work. What does this have to do with our generosity?
As we grow in our generosity journey, in part by adding kindness to it, we must be prepared to be stretched. We too may proffer kindness to God, and it might seem abrupt as He lifts our eyes to see bigger things.
Today’s board meetings in Seattle are foundational for Global Trust Partners. Pray for wisdom and discernment. May God turn our kindness and service into something higher and holier for His purposes.
May He do the same for you. But consider yourself warned. It will likely thrust you out of your comfort zone. He may call you to sacrifice your agenda for your life in order to do the will of the Father and finish His work.