Sermon - March 27, 2011
Year A - The Year of Matthew - Lent 3
Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42

"Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, 'Rabbi, eat something.'" 

Imagine giving Jesus advice. 

It is not often that we find anyone in the Gospels giving Jesus advice. After all, he is the Lord – the one who tells others what to do. Jesus does not need anyone’s advice. Even his mother, does not give him advice. In the story of the wedding at Cana, Mary simply announces to him, “They have no wine.” She leaves the rest to him. She does not give him advice on what to do.

However, in this Gospel reading, we see the disciples giving Jesus advice. If we think about this, it is surprising to find the disciples telling Jesus to “eat something.” 

The text says that Jesus was “tired out by his journey." Seeing his weariness, the disciples urge him in no uncertain terms to get something to eat. "Take care of yourself," they seem to say. It is a little like someone saying, "Wear a sweater, or you will catch your death from a cold. You are not going to wear that are you? You need to eat your vegetables." 

In fairness, the disciples probably are concerned that Jesus will use himself up. “Eat something,” they say, no doubt offering him the food they had just brought from the city. 

However, they need not have worried.

“I have food to eat,” Jesus responds, “that you do not know about.” 

It is easy to picture the disciples scratching their heads at this comment. The disciples fail to understand. Puzzled, they say, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” Therefore, Jesus has to explain, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me.” 

What does that mean? How can that possibly feed him? Jesus was the only one who could ever be fully obedient to the Father. However, with those words about doing the will of the Father, Jesus is reminding the disciples – and us – that we are all on a mission. In doing the will of the Father, we ourselves are fed, but not with food that perishes. 

Seeking to do the Lord’s will feeds us. That just raises more questions. How can we do the Lord’s will? How does that feed us? After all, humans, at best, stumble around when trying to do the will of the Father. 

At the beginning of Lent, when Jesus was in the wilderness, he told the Devil, "'Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" We need more than just food to nourish and sustain us. We need the will of God and his Word in our lives. Without these things, our lives become empty and devoid of meaning. However, with God’s Word and will in our lives, everything changes.

We might think we can live without God’s Word; and, at first, all may seem fine. However, over time, our lives, culture, nation, families, and world begin to suffer from a hunger that cannot be satisfied. We turn to whatever we find to fill that hunger, but nothing does so like the Word and will of God.

At times it feels as if the world is falling into chaos. It seems as if the world is going somewhere and we are uncertain of the outcome. However, if history teaches us anything, it is that the faith and the Church always endure. The faith and the Church always eventually overcome the darkness.

The cynic in us may think that there is no way that simply going to church and trying to live the will of the Father can make a difference in our lives let alone the nation and world. However, it does. It always makes a difference. We may not see the outcome, but that is where faithfulness is at work. Simply being here does make a difference.

Seeking to do the Lord's will brings us together in community for prayer and fellowship. Furthermore, it impels us out into the world and among those in need of the Lord’s comfort and care. That is why the Lord tells the disciples, “The fields are ripe for harvesting.” 

The woman at the well was an outcast. That is why she came to the well at the hottest time of the day. However, the words of Jesus killed any shame she felt. She went out to tell those who shunned her of the man of God she had met. The Word and will of God changes us. 

The people of Samaria, heard the woman’s testimony, and came to see Jesus for themselves. They wanted to know if he was the Messiah. They wanted to see for themselves if he could bring them living water and food that would free them of their inner hunger and thirst. The Gospel tells us, “many more believed because of his word.” People still come today to be nourished with “his word.” We are among them.

“Rabbi, eat something.” The disciples give advice. They did not yet understand that Jesus feeds and strengthens us with his word and Gospel. 

There is a world out there hungry to hear God's Word. There is a World out there that is ready to be harvested through God’s Word and his will. We are the ones called upon to live the faith openly. We are called to live the Word and will of God so that God’s will might be done in our lives and in the world; and in doing so, we are nourished and fed. Amen.