“The next day, as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry” (Mark 11:12).
In my mind, I easily see a conquering Jesus. I see a healing Jesus, a preaching Jesus, and a miracle-working Jesus.
But a hungry Jesus?
The day before Jesus was hungry, Jesus was busy. He rode into Jerusalem triumphantly. He visited the temple courts. Jesus was preparing for the final chapter of his earthly ministry. He went to bed, perhaps without dinner. The next day, as he led his followers out of the city, it happened. Jesus was hungry.
What matters most is not that Jesus was hungry, but that God, in inspiring the Word, wanted us to know that Jesus was hungry.
I think the reason these three words were dropped into the passage (Jesus was hungry) was to remind us that serving God can be draining. Doing the right thing can exhaust us at times. Living a life of character, sobriety, and recovery is not always easy. Sometimes we get weary. Often, we become hungry – for sleep, but also for comfort, refreshment, and pleasure. And it is in those “hungry” times that we must stay on guard.
Recovery Step: When life leaves you hungry, plan your next steps very carefully.
