Discovering Your "Why” In Life Series

Have you discovered your purpose? Do you know your “why”? Many American Christians fall into the trap that exists only to make money or to be happy. Do you know why God has placed you here on earth? Do you know your “why”?

Invitation

At the conclusion of today’s message, you will be invited to respond to Jesus’ offer of a clean, fresh start. You can respond by going to the Encourager’s Room, a virtual room, or the altar.

Today’s Scripture

“Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, ‘Rabbi, eat.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Has anyone brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.’

After the two days he departed for Galilee. (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast” (John 4:31-45).

Jesus changed the life of a woman; history knows her as the Woman at the Well at the beginning of John 4. This is the rest of the story. The disciples had purchased food and were surprised Jesus was speaking to a woman. When the woman leaves, we get the rest of the story.

1. Jesus’ Hunger

“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work’” (John 4:34). The words “My food” are given a place emphasis in the original Greek of verse 34. It’s as if the disciples say to Jesus, “Are you hungry? Can we get you something to eat?” Jesus responds, “My food is to do the will of the Father.”

1.1 Jesus’ Meal

Jesus is so focused on doing the Father’s will that even food is secondary. Jesus did eat. But Jesus is making a point here: Jesus’ food, His very life, was to fulfill the Father’s will. Many of you may remember when Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness. He had had no food of any kind. He could have turned rocks into fresh hot bread baked in heaven’s oven. Jesus tells us what His favorite meal is. He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). You could say that Jesus’ appetizer was the Word of God. It’s what sustained Him. Jesus hungered for the Word of God. I say this was His appetizer because Jesus’ main course is to do the Will of God.1

“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:34).

1.2 Jesus’ “Why”

Jesus’ “why” in life is doing the Father’s will. Again, His “why” is doing His Father’s will. Later, Jesus will say, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 5:30). And again, He says, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38). Throughout his life, Jesus made it crystal clear that He did nothing but the will of the Father. Even near the end of His life, Jesus said at the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus consistently did the will of the Father in every breath, every step, and every waking moment of His life. Again, His “why” is doing His Father’s will.