🍟 John 4:34 | Put Down The Snack

Happy Wednesday, {{first_name | everyone}}!

Yesterday, we saw that Jesus’ “food” was obedience — the joy of doing His Father’s will.

Today, we’re slowing down even more. Tucked away in this short verse are three small Greek words that reveal a big truth about our hunger for meaning.

In today’s email…

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_____ said to them, “__ ____ is to do the ____ __ ___ who ____ __ and to accomplish ___ ____.”

John 4:34

Time to slow down and look at the original language. John 4:34 may look simple, but each word Jesus uses is loaded with meaning.

Let’s break down three key words from the verse.

1. brōma (pronounced BROH-mah) — “food”

When Jesus says, “My food,” He uses brōma — a word that means meat, solid food, nourishment, or that which sustains life.

It’s not a light snack like Chex Mix or Cheez-its. It’s the main course.

Jesus is saying that doing the Father’s will is what truly sustains Him. And it’s not just symbolic. He’s showing us that spiritual obedience actually nourishes the soul in the same way that physical food nourishes the body.

If you’ve followed Jesus for some time, you know this to be true. There is a kind if spiritual energy that comes when you know you've obeyed the Lord.

Every act of obedience is a meal for your spirit.

2. thelēma (pronounced theh-LAY-mah) — “will”

Thelēma means a desire, wish, or purpose, but with one key difference: it’s not about our will; it’s about God’s.

When Jesus uses this word, He’s saying His deepest desire is to align with the Father’s desire. In other words: I want what the Father wants.

This word shows us that doing God’s will is about delight. It’s living in rhythm with God’s heart.

3. ergon (pronounced AIR-gon) — “work”

Ergon is a common Greek word that means deed, task, or action.

It’s where we get the word “energy.” It’s work with purpose - something accomplished with effort and intention.

When Jesus says He came to “accomplish His work,” He’s not just referring to miracles or ministry moments.

He’s talking about the entire mission of redemption, culminating in the cross where He would later say, “It is finished” (John 19:30) and in the resurrection.

That’s the ultimate ergon Jesus came to do.

People everywhere are hungry for meaning. Studies show that even though we have more comfort and freedom than any generation before, nearly 70% of adults say they often feel their lives lack purpose.

We fill our days with noise, work, and distraction…yet still feel empty. What’s at the root of that emptiness? In John 4:34, Jesus gives us the answer.

Our hearts deepest desire is to be reconciled to God and live like the image bearers He created us to be. As Augustine of Hippo once said:

At some point today, you’re going to feel physically hungry.

When you do, don’t reach for food, your phone, or a distraction right away. Instead, stop and pray: “Lord, make me hungry for Your will.”

Let that moment of hunger become a reminder: the deepest emptiness in your life won’t be filled by what you consume, but by what you commit to in obedience.

Here are a few resources to help you dig deeper into the verse and its themes:

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Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

John 4:34