As yet he had not taken the refreshing draught that he desired, nor tasted the food that his disciples had brought him. The salvation of perishing souls so absorbed his attention that his physical wants were forgotten. But his followers anxiously entreated him to eat. Still contemplating the great object of his mission, he answered them, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” His disciples were surprised, and began to wonder among themselves who could have brought him food in their absence. But Jesus explained, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish his work.” {2SP 145.4}

Jesus havde endnu ikke drukket af vandet for at slukke sin tørst eller smagt på den mad, som (146) disciplene bragte ham. Han blev så fordybet i sjæles frelse, at han glemte sin legemlige trang. Men hans disciple bad ham indstændig om at spise. Idet han endnu dvælede ved sin store mission, svarede han dem: "Jeg har mad at æde, den I ikke kender" Hans disciple blev forbavsede og forundrede sig indbyrdes, om nogen kunne havde bragt ham noget at spise, medens de var borte. Men Jesus forklarede sine ord: "Min mad er at gøre hans vilje, som sendte mig, og fuldbyrde hans gerning." (Joh 4,34)