What did Jesus mean when He said that He had meat to eat that the disciples did not know of?


Let's examine the text to which you refer:

In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
(John 4:31-38 KJV)

The meat Jesus was referring to was a passion on the inside of Him. This same passion should be in every Christian. We must desire to fulfill and accomplish the will of God in the earth.

Jesus was consumed with completing the plans and purposes for which God had sent Him. He then talked about the harvest, which refers to the lost and dying world. Part of the will of God for all of us is to reach out in one way or another to the lost and dying world.

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