OK…so I know that this is not the central meaning of the passage…but there is a thought that I can’t shake as I read this passage. The disciples expect that Jesus should be extremely hungry. Apparently he hasn’t eaten for some time. You and I would use words such as famished, or craving something to eat, to describe Jesus’ condition. And Jesus doesn’t necessarily deny the fact that He was in fact craving something. The difference between Jesus and the disciples is that while the disciples are craving food, Jesus is craving to fulfill God’s will. While the disciples are hung up on the physical needs of life, Jesus has set those aside to focus on the spiritual desires of His Father.
It seems to me that this is an ongoing struggle for those of us who are seeking to follow Jesus in life…or maybe just me. It is easy for me to crave many things. I crave a good breakfast and a great cup of coffee. I crave recognition and affirmation. I crave to be financially secure and to see the success of my children. I crave a reliable retirement and the physical health to enjoy the golden years. But, do I really crave to know and do the will of God? Am I so hungry to hear from God that I’m willing to shut out all other things to focus on His voice? Would I be willing to let go of everything in order to follow Him? It’s easy to say yes, because we are pretty sure He will not ask us to actually do that. But what if He did? For what, I must ask, am I really hungry.
Jesus said that we need to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and then all the other things of life will fall into the proper place. To seek Him first doesn’t mean to go to church at the beginning of the week and then go on with the rest of my life. It means to place His will and ways above all other things…to make knowing and doing the will of my Father the chief craving of my life. I pray that my hunger will increase, so that I will seek the food that brings eternal life.
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