Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

When Jesus said these words, the apostles (as they often did) took Jesus literally, thinking that he was speaking of physical nourishment. However, Jesus (as He also often did) was conveying a deeper spiritual meaning.

The apostles had previously left Jesus alone at the central water well of the village that they had just entered (Sychar in Samaria, which was on the west side of the Jordan River, between Galilee to the north and Judea to the south), while the apostles went into the village in order to buy food for Jesus and them to eat, since it was about noon.

While they were gone, Jesus had the conversation related in John 4:7-26 with a Samaritan woman whom He had encountered when she came to draw water at the well; who had been surprised that Jesus (as a Jew) was even talking to her (since Jews and Samaritans normally shunned each other); and to whom He had subsequently revealed Himself as the Messiah. 

When the apostles returned with the food that they had bought, and urged Jesus to eat, He explained (John 4:34-38) that His "food" was the more needful, urgent, and substantive spiritual task of doing the will of His Father by reaching out to those whom He had come to earth to save from sin (whom He compared to a field ready for harvest), as He had done by talking to the woman at the well, and also to those who came to see and hear Him because of the woman's testimony about Him to the people of the town.

And, as John's gospel indicates (John 4:40-42), Jesus and the apostles remained two days in the town, and many of the people of the town believed in Him.

October 21 2016 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Charissa Wade Supporter

In John 4:34, Jesus said to them "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His Work". It was not literal food in verse 32 that they were referring to. Our food is to do His will; it nourishes us as Christians when we do what God has asked of us, when we live our lives in a Godly manner. I hope this answers your question!

October 28 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report