Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.” But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.” “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other. Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. – John 4:31-35

Of all the “clueless disciples” stories (and there are many), the one from John 4 is my absolute favorite. For me, the conversation illustrates just how far off the mark we can be when we when we insist on looking at everything through the same filter we always have  – even when the obvious is standing right in front of us, waving its arms and yelling!

This “pericope” (extract from the text) comes from John’s story about Jesus and “The  woman at the well”.

JESUS BREAKS CONVENTION: Here’s what happens. Jesus is tired, so he sits by a well to rest while his friends head into town to pick up some food. A Samaritan woman shows up, and Jesus violates several layers of social protocol by engaging her in conversation. He offer the woman “Living Water,” and he invites her into a relationship with God, one that offers Samaritans the same level of access as anyone else.

When the disciples return from their hike into the village, they can’t believe Jesus is talking with a woman, let alone “one of those” people. That’s when they remind The Master it’s past time to eat.

Jesus – pulling back a little and getting “into the moment,” comes back at his friends with a classic teacher-retort: “Lunch? I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”

This confuses the disciples, who are already setting out the picnic cloth, “Say what? Did somebody already bring Jesus lunch? Because, we went clear across town to pick up the hummus and olives special he always asks for…”

So Jesus, shaking his head and possibly rolling his eyes, helps them out with a little explanation, “I’m talking about the nourishment that comes from living out God’s will in my life,” he said. “My work is to live for the Father; seriously, it’s like food to me. Look around you, friends; pay attention! There is so much of God’s work to be done I can guarantee you’ll never be hungry!”

MONDAY MONDAY: This week, launching another five-day stint of work and responsibility, let’s keep our eyes open, look at the world through the Jesus lens, and do the following three things:

1. Drink from the well of Living Water;
2. Nourish ourselves by living into God’s purposes;
3. Share both Living Water and the Bread of Life with a hungry, thirsty world.

In love, and because of love – DEREK