A Satisfied Life

John 4 records a meaningful conversation Jesus had with a Samaritan woman. As the woman went away into the city and began sending others to Jesus, the disciples returned to Him:

“…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 were saying to one another, ‘No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.’” (John 4:31-34, NASB)

What was Jesus’ secret food? Though He had not eaten anything, He gained satisfaction from doing the will of God and seeing the effect His message had on the Samaritan woman and the people of the city where she lived. His disciples were confused, but today we can understand.

Jesus told the Samaritan woman that He had water which would permanently satisfy the thirst of those who drank it (John 4:14). Later, Jesus told a crowd of people that, to slake their thirst permanently, they must believe in Him (John 6:35). Jesus equates believing in Him to drinking the water of eternal life, which satisfies forever.

Jesus did not have many possessions on earth (cf. Luke 9:58), but He was satisfied anyway. If you want to be satisfied in life, possessions are not the key. The key is to believe in Jesus the Savior, obeying His commands (John 3:36). Remember, Jesus was satisfied not because He had eaten hidden physical food but because He had done the work of God. Do the work of God, and you will be eternally satisfied.