From John 4
The Set Up
Jesus posted up by Jacob’s Well for the better part of an afternoon…with a woman…not exactly rappin`…more like doing therapy…
The woman listens for a while, speaks and, in a manner of speaking, tries to excuse herself…as Jesus words reach her ears she hears the chorus to “Killing Me Softly”…
The convo continues…sister lady tries to flip the script on Jesus…she name drops…”Messiah”…to Jesus…she says, “Mister, you pretty smart but Messiah…His game is next level…”
Jesus: “Yup! That’s me!”
The woman [with a bug-eyed look] sets her water bottle down, and says, “I’ll be right back…”
As she turns to leave, Jesus’ homies come thru with sandwiches from Samari’s deli up the street from Jacobs Well…surprised that Jesus is talking to a woman…but they don’t say nothing…clearly, it is Jesus’ business to talk to whoever he wants to talk to…
The Punchline
As the homies pull up on whatever rock they can find and greedily tear the sandwich wrapping paper, they start to greasin’ as only the homies can [mayo and hot sauce dripping, lips smacking, fingers licking]…one homie reaches out to hand Jesus a pastrami sandwich…
Homie: “Rabbi, eat something…”
Jesus: “I have food to eat that you know nothing about!”
Homies [kinda side-eye]: “Who brought Him food before?”
Jesus: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.”
A Thought
There are two indictments in this story that I pray we avoid: 1. It is possible – as was the case with the woman – to hear Jesus speaking and not know who He is. Jesus said, “My sheep know my voice.” May we know the voice of Jesus and respond positively to his invitations. 2. It is possible to know Jesus voice but not recognize that His call – the actions that we should make in life – that those actions are food for life. More important that our daily bread, doing the will of God is all that matters. May we know God’s will and do God’s will. Be not only hearers of the Word but doers also. (James 1:22-25).