Well, I guess that settles that! I give the disciples the benefit of the doubt; they are honestly concerned about Jesus level of hunger. They went to town to find food for themselves and for the Master. They probably ate already, so their hunger has already been satiated. They have the food; Jesus is hungry. Why not eat? The pesky woman is gone. There is no one to interrupt the moment. “Eat up, Teacher!” is their logical suggestion.
I wonder how Jesus says these words. Is he frustrated by their insensitivity
towards the woman? Is he disappointed by
their failure to seize the importance of the moment? Is he saddened by their inability to grasp
the reason he had come into the world?
Perhaps it is all of these emotions that are wrapped up in Jesus’
response. I can see him saying through
his melancholic eyes, “You don’t get it, do you? There are things that satisfy
my soul more than food ever will.”
There is a sense of satisfaction that overwhelms all other
emotions and needs. That sense comes
from touching a life with the Good News.
Jesus knew it. The apostle Peter
and the preacher Paul both were acquainted with that passion. Many laid down their lives convinced of this
truth. It is a fire in the belly! It is
a deep-seeded passion for saving souls.
It is an unquenchable belief that God calls all his followers to press
on, to endure, to persevere, and to give witness to the Way, the Truth, and the
Life. That is Jesus, who in the end
valued the lost over his appetite, his safety, and his life.
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