Meat That Matters | John 4:27–42

Opening Remarks: Back in John 4. The account of Christ’s interactions with the woman at the well is so rich. We’re going to overlap a little from two weeks ago - the last time we were here - just to remind you of the context.

READ John 4:27-42

Most of our life is spent deciding whether to focus on the needs of the moment or the needs that matter. Jesus teaches His disciples an invaluable lesson as He deals with thought: Meat That Matters

PRAY

Introduction: A few weeks ago, running errands on the west side around lunch time, I had jogged that morning, especially hungry, Engine oil warning light came on (Tahoe has a healthy oil leak, like most 20-something year old vehicles do).

So here’s the situation: I needed oil but I also need to eat. I was basically halfway between Sturdevants where they sell oil. But I was also very near Chick-fil-A, where they sell God’s chicken. I weighed my options. Did a pros and cons list. Prayed. I was already fasting. But the choice was clear. I needed oil. Waiting to eat would have been a minor inconvenience. Waiting for oil would have been disastrous

I know that’s silly, but that’s essentially what the Lord is teaching His disciples. Life is a constant battle between Meat Of The Moment and Meat That Matters Most.

MEAT of the moment or MEAT that matters

We Tend To Operate Based On The Moment

The most pressing need for the disciples was food.

Vs. 8 - They had gone to the city to buy meat. *Meat in Scripture is anything considered to be food.

vs. 31 - They came back with food expecting Him to eat. Who can blame them? They were probably hungry themselves. They’d been walking for miles. It was around noon - the heat of the day. They wanted food, and that’s understandable. In fact, Jesus was probably hungry too. He had a body that got hungry just like the rest of the disciples. He was 100% man and 100% God.

John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Jesus was all God and all Man. The God Man. He has existed since eternity past in Heaven. He was there at Creation. He has all power and all knowledge.

Yet He got hungry just like His disciples. He was tired just like us. He was affected by the heat like anyone would be.

But here’s the difference between Jesus and the average man: He didn’t operate based on His fleshly desires like the rest of us.

We typically submit to what we want in a moment and make our decisions based on that. But Jesus Christ didn’t allow the needs of the flesh dictate what was most important to Him.

When everyone else was thinking about growling stomachs, Jesus was focused on something much more important.

Jesus Operates Beyond The Physical

Vs. 31 “I have meat to eat that ye know not of”

This answer really confused his disciples. They assume someone else had brought Him food. But it wasn’t about food. The disciples were focused on temporal things, but Jesus was focused on eternal things.

If you think about it, this is similar to the conversation He just had with the Samaritan woman at the well. In that conversation, He was speaking with a woman who wasn’t fulfilled in her life. He offered her living water, but she thought He was talking about water from a well. She thought He was trying to quench her thirst, but He was trying to quench her thirsty soul.

So He begins the trip to Samaria helping a woman understand that there is something more satisfying than water from a well. Now He’s trying to help His disciples understand that there is something more satisfying than food when you’re hungry.

He’s essentially teaching the same lesson to two different types of people. The lost needed to know that living water can satisfy an empty soul. His disciples needed to know that doing the Father’s will is the most rewarding life a person can live.

It’s possible to be saved and still live an unrewarding life. But Jesus is trying to teach His disciples that there’s something greater than temporary. They stumbled upon Him doing something more satisfying than eating. They had found Him offering eternal life to a lost Samaritan woman. And they were about to watch Him offer eternal life to many more lost Samaritans.

So Jesus says, “While y’all are eating that, I’m doing something much more satisfying.”

He’s making the point that there’s something that gives you energy and strength and satisfaction beyond what food can bring. That is doing the will of the Father.

He says, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

“I have one priority and it’s enough for me: To do my Father’s will till it’s done. And you, disciples, can learn to live this way too.”

Illustration: Playing football, came home, hungry as could be, but I remember my dad saying, “You played a great game Jason. I’m proud of you.” That was bigger to me than three plates of my favorite food. That’s what Jesus is trying to teach His disciples.

That there’s something more important than the need of the moment. Living to please your Father is much more satisfying than the temporary satisfaction of a meal.

Luke 4:4, “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”

Jesus is teaching His followers that there’s a greater, more satisfying existence than food. It’s doing God’s work and watching lives changed because of it.

Jesus Tells The Disciples They Can Live For Something Greater Too

As this crowd of Samaritans walks toward the well, Jesus points to them and says, “Look, here they come in their white robes. The harvest is ready to be gathered up.” He uses farming language.

Vs. 35 - Farmers would typically have a period of waiting between planting seed and reaping the harvest. “Four months more and then the harvest” was a proverb of sorts, but the idea is that there’s a time of waiting between planting and harvesting.

But not in God’s harvest. The time for harvest is today. So Jesus says, “Stop thinking about your hunger and look at the harvest coming our direction. Food will satisfy your belly, but when God saves sinners, that will satisfy your soul.”

His message is this, “There’s no wait when it comes to souls. The harvest is here. Souls hang in the balance. The TIME to do the Father’s work is NOW. People are hungry for the Gospel TODAY. Lift up your eyes, guys. The TIME IS NOW.”

The Jesus compares the work of God to sowers and reapers. - Vs. 36-38

There are two roles in the harvest - sowers and reapers.

Sowers dig up the dirt, prepare the ground and plant the seed.

Reapers come along when it’s time and gather the harvest.

Both are essential to the process. But remember that Jesus isn’t just talking about farming. He’s talking about lost souls gaining eternal life. (Vs. 36a) He’s dealing with eternal life.

He tells His disciples that sowing has been done. The prophets had sowed seeds by preaching about the coming Messiah. John the Baptist had been sowing by telling people to repent and prepare for the Messiah. Jesus had been sowing the seed that day with the Samaritan woman. And the Samaritan woman had been sowing seed already in her village.

So Jesus says, “Look at the Samaritans coming down the road. They are ready to be harvested.You’re about to take part in reaping the harvest where other people have sown. You’re about to see the results from the efforts of others.” Vs. 37-38

The disciples were about enjoy the harvest that someone else planted. And Jesus is saying, “Just wait till you experience this. You’re about to find out what satisfied living is really all about.”

Illustration: Taking someone to try your favorite restaurant, you almost can’t wait for them to taste it. I’ve experienced it, but I almost get more excited now taking someone who hasn’t been before.

I imagine that’s how Jesus is here. He knows His disciples are about to find out just how rewarding it is to choose MEAT THAT MATTERS over MEAT OF THE MOMENT.

There is a greater existence than the physical. Jesus says that anyone who gives themselves to the harvest of souls engages in the greatest and most fulfilling work a human can be involved in. It’s greater than meat. It’s greater than water. It’s better than pleasing yourself. It’s living to please your Father.

EACH OF US MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN THE MEAT OF THE MOMENT AND MEAT THAT MATTERS

Meat Of The Moment Is All Around Us?

The meat of making money The world pretends that money makes us happy. But how many examples can we think of where people had all they ever wanted and were miserable and lonely. Don’t buy the lie that money is satisfies.

The meat of having the perfect job A job is important, but can’t satisfy you on your deepest level. You can go to college and find the exact job you always wanted and realize it can’t provide joy to the inner part of your soul.

The meat of success It’s easy to fall into the success trap, but successful people burn out all the time because they neglect the part of life that matters most.

The meat of possessions We think this car or this house or these clothes or this trip. But those things can’t touch the part of a person Jesus is talking about.

Illustration: Meat Of The Moment is like a steak from Texas Roadhouse. Don’t be offended, hear me out. It tastes so good, and you think you’ll never be hungry again, but guess what happens hours later? Hunger comes back.

Because Meat of the Moment makes you think it can satisfy you, but it doesn’t touch the part of you that provides true contentment.

Meat of the Moment is Temporary. But Meat That Matters Is Permanent

What is Meat That Matters?

The meat of God’s Word Job 23:12, “Neither have I gone back from the commandments of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than necessary food.”

Luke 4:4 “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”

Bro. Charles talked about the Word of God as one of the tools of the Christian life today. It’s bread. Food. It gives us strength, and hope, and help in our time of need.

The meat of God’s Will Living a life that pleases God will satisfy you like money and success never will. Because the things important to God are the most important things. Young people - Right now you’re enamored with money and success and having stuff. But I can tell you this - Nothing satisfies like living for God. Don’t get caught up in Meat of the Moment. Meat that Matters lasts longer.

Like what?

The meat of investing in a local church Do you know that Jesus died for the church? It’s that important to Him. We live in an age in which the church is being downplayed. It was declared non-essential during COVID. Many downplay its importance.But don’t let the haters convince you it doesn’t matter. The local church is God’s plan for the evangelism of the lost and the spiritual growth of His people. You will never lose investing in a local NT church. It’s a win for everyone. You serve and find satisfaction, and you grow into the image of Jesus Christ and find satisfaction, and you contribute to the body. Christ loves it and so should we. But so many are chasing meat instead of church. Ball on Sundays, going to the lake, doing yard work.

The meat of investing in People Nothing lasts as long as people do. What will be around the throne of God for eternity? Not cash. Not cars. Not vacations. Not possessions. People. So give your life to blessing people.

The meat of the Gospel The world is in desperate need of knowing Jesus Christ. We have the Gospel. The harvest is ready. We need Christians ready to tell co-workers and neighbors and classmates. We need Christians ready to give a portion of their weekly paycheck to send missionaries around the world. Or maybe even Christians ready to give their lives to go to the next town or cross an ocean to tell souls about Jesus Christ. That is fruit unto life eternal that Jesus is talking about.

Friend, what are you living for? The meat of the moment or meat the matters? What do you spend your day investing in? The physical existence seems so urgent, but it’s temporary. The greater existence is to invest in things that are permanent.

When You Live For Meat That Matters

I. It will escalate your urgency. (vs. 35)

Jesus said, “Lift up your eyes. Look now.” Living for meat that matters will help you stop wasting your life on the meat of the moment. Too many Christians are wasting their time on unimportant things. Meat that matters will change your sense of urgency. It will help you do today what lasts beyond today.

II. It will increase your reward. (vs. 36a)

Do you want to receive a “Well done” from your Father? Do you want to have fruit that remains in eternity? God will reward those who live for Meat that Matters. There is reward awaiting those who are faithful to do the Father’s will till it’s done. Jesus Christ experienced this. He endured the cross, He finished His course, and now He sits at the right hand of the Father. Your eternal reward is dependent on living for Meat That Matters. It may be hard in the moment, but it’s worth it in the end.

III. It will elevate your joy. (Vs. 36b)

Yes, there’s a reward in Heaven, but there is an immediate benefit down there. There is no joy like watching God work in people’s lives.

Illustration: Jallah came from Liberia. He’s told me stories of how God spared him during the Civil War there. The stories are fascinating and harrowing. But God was sparing Jallah for something. A few years ago, Jallah got saved right here in this building. There’s nothing like God working in people’s lives.

Mel Everett came with her family about a year and a half ago. She wasn’t saved but God was working. She texted me one Sunday afternoon and said, “The blinders are off. I’m ready to be saved.” And God saved her. And He’s working in her life. And in her family. Her kids have been saved and baptized too.

You can’t tell me a new house or nice car or amazing vacation or steak dinner is better than that. When all that stuff is gone, Mel and her kids will still be worshipping God around the throne for the rest of eternity.

There is no joy like the joy that comes from meat that matters. By the way, He wants to work in your life.

The greatest meat that matters is the Lord Jesus Christ. He calls Himself the bread of life. When you get a taste of having a relationship with Jesus Christ, you realize how everything else pales in importance. He wants to work in your life. He wants to save you.

If you were to die today, would you spend eternity in Heaven? If you don’t know, Jesus came to die for you and now He offers you eternal life.

You must recognize and admit your sin and ask forgiveness. And when He forgives and moves into your life, that’s satisfaction. That’s meat that matters. And then you can start investing in eternal things and watch God do for others what He’s done for you.

Living For Meat That Matters Produces Results Unlike Any Other Work - Vs. 39-42

The disciples got to see Jesus change lives. The most rewarding and joy-giving thing any of us could be a part of. But it only comes if we chose to live for Meat That Matters.

The disciples had a lot to overcome. People didn’t want to talk to Samaritans. They were outcasts. The disciples had to work through that.

Maybe you have something to overcome in your life. The meat of the moment is keeping you from fully saying Yes to God.

I can tell you this, every disciple that day would have said, “Watching the Samaritans place their faith in Christ was greater than lunch. It was greater than my prejudices. It was more rewarding than getting to rest a little. It was more joy-inducing than doing what I wanted. I haven’t regretted it for one minute.”

If you’ll choose today to live for meat that matters, you will have not one regret when it’s all said and done.

Meat of the moment will satisfy your current need, but meat that matters will satisfy your greatest needs.

The choice is yours. If you want to live a life that produces something that lasts, stop living for the moment and live for meat that matters.