Jesus and his followers are on a trip.

“Rabbi, you look tired. You need something to eat. Here, sit by this well. We’ll go into that little town. It looks safe enough, for a Samaritan city. Maybe just some of us should go, and some of us should stay. No? Okay, I don’t know about this, but you’re the rabbi. Just don’t pray the whole time. Judas, you got the money?”

I think Jesus was as glad to have them gone as to have food coming.

“Guys, you go on into town. No, all of you. I’ll be fine here by myself. I’ve got some thinking to do. No it’s okay. Just go. If you don’t leave you won’t get back.”

Jesus wanted to talk about living water with the woman who came to the well.

Then the disciples get back.

“Wait, how’d she get here? Shhh. But why is he talking with… Shhh! But what will everyone … SHHH!”

“Jesus, now that we’re alone, how about some lunch? It wasn’t much of a town, but we did some great bargaining and wouldn’t let them get the better of us. We’ve got some dried fish, and some rolls, just out of the oven. In fact, we could have been back here sooner so you would have to be alone if we hadn’t had to wait. But now we’re here and we’ll take care of you, so here. Eat.”

Jesus says he’s eaten.

They don’t understand. They went and got the food. They want to take care of Jesus. They are  just a little annoyed that their way of doing his work wasn’t appreciated.

Sometimes the reason God sends us on trips is not to get food. It’s to get us out of the way. Our presence can prevent his conversations.

Sorry.