Bread of Life

The only miracle that can be found in all four of the Gospels is the feeding of the 5,000.  It must have made a huge impact on the disciples and the church community.  The five loaves of bread used were probably less like the loaves of bread we buy at the grocery store and more like a thick pita-type bread.  It was less common for people to have an oven, and more common to have a large baking stone heated by fire, so by placing the dough on the large round stone they were able to get round loaves of bread.

http://www.mediterraneandiet.com

The two fish were probably a pan fish like Sunfish or Blue Gills, which are the most common fish in the Sea of Galilee.  On their own, two of those fish would not go far to satisfy 5 men - much less 5,000 men!

John's Gospel has an entire chapter devoted to this event, and it's quite a lengthy chapter.  In the book of John, Jesus confronts the crowds, claiming that the only reason they are following him is because they had full bellies.  Many wanted to make him king - what a powerful army someone would have if the leader would be able to feed thousands of soldiers so easily.  Jesus then challenged them with some confusing words:

John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

The people saw this as some type of metaphor, but Jesus later tells them that his flesh is real food and his blood is real drink (a foreshadow of the Lord's Supper that he would institute during passion week).  Because of his hard words, many left and did not follow Jesus anymore.  Jesus continues.

John 6:67-69

⁶⁷ “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67-69

The disciples were more faithful, willing to stay with Jesus because he was Jesus, not just because they liked the chef.  Peter speaks the truth when he responds with the question, "Where else could we go?"

Our lives are also filled with confusing situations, and it is often hard to know how to follow Jesus.  He wants us to be in the world, but not of the world.  He wants us to stay away from the world's darkness, and also be a light to a darkened world.  How are we best able to act boldly with faith and humbly with peace at the same time.  These are no small challenges, and Jesus calls us to follow him through it all.

Where else could we go...

The Humble Servant

As competitive people, we always want to be the best.  We always want to be better - at least better than the people around us.  It's a good thing, but may get out of hand from time to time.


A man named Jim Collins did a study a few years ago about what makes a great company.  He specifically was wondering how companies that are good move to being great.  Therefore he wrote a book with that title.

There seemed to be qualities and behaviors of the leaders that made them different, and he categorized leaders into five different levels.  Most of the descriptions made sense, but the top leadership - Level Five Leaders - were different from the other four leaders.  Level five leaders had a quality that was rarely found in leaders, and in general it was rarely found in people at all.  Jim Collins was surprised to find that beyond the determination, working hard, good communication, creative thinking, and other leadership qualities, the quality that can make a leader great is humility.

Jesus sometimes taught this concept.  "The greatest among you will be your servant." Matthew 23:11  But more than that, he lived it.

In Matthew chapter twelve, Jesus is described as a a servant, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy from 800 years earlier.  Jesus was a leader who was gentle with the weak (not breaking a bruised reed or snuffing out a smoldering wick) with God's Spirit on him, and people would put their hope in him.  This was the first

Isaiah 42:1-4
 ¹ “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, 
   my chosen one in whom I delight; 
I will put my Spirit on him, 
   and he will bring justice to the nations. 
² He will not shout or cry out, 
   or raise his voice in the streets. 
³ A bruised reed he will not break, 
   and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. 
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 
 ⁴ he will not falter or be discouraged 
till he establishes justice on earth. 
   In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

This was the first of a few songs in Isaiah know as the Suffering Servant Songs.  They were descriptions of the coming Messiah, the one who was going to make everything right again.  The servant would also display God's splendor in Isaiah 49, would not be disgraced even though people beat and mock him in Isaiah 50, would lighten the nations with his justice in Isaiah 51, and would be pierced for our transgressions in Isaiah 53.  Jesus was a great leader, and his leadership was marked with humility.  It was nice that Jim Collins reminded us of this - and nice that the Spirit is reminding us of this every day.

This Suffering Servant was able to be great, though not in the world's eyes.  In the humility of the cross, he was victorious.  In humility, he shares that victory with us.

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thoughts about the Rest of God

The gift that Jesus offers at the end of Matthew chapter 11 might not be what you expect, but it might be something that you really long for.  He offers peace, comfort, rest - a break from what we are trying to do all the time.

We are busy people.  We are busy trying to do our work, busy trying to play sports or get our children to sports, busy trying to find new and fun activities, busy trying to keep up our appearance, busy trying to stay busy.  There are very few times we rest.

The busy-ness translates to our spiritual life, too.  When we are so busy with everything else we are trying to do, we find ourselves trying to fit in "Jesus Time," as well.  And sometimes it is a lot of work.  Is God happy with me?  Am I doing enough?  Do I need to be doing something more, something better?

The popular teachers of Jesus' time would pile up instructions for their followers, or disciples to follow.  If you want to follow a rabbi, you would need to take up his 'yoke.'  A 'yoke' was the body of teachings the rabbi would give to his followers.  Just like a two oxen would wear the same yoke while plowing a field, a rabbi and his disciple would be bound together in going the same direction.

Jesus gives a different description of what his yoke is like.

^{Matthew 11:28-30}

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus had a message that is different than other religious leaders.  (Even today many Christian pastors wear a stole over their robes to symbolize the yoke of Jesus.)  The point was not what his followers needed to do, as much as a reliance on what he would do for them.  The message is still different than other religious leaders.

Almost every religion is about what a person needs to do.  There are requirements for offing sacrifices to the Hindu gods.  There are steps to becoming a more enlightened Buddhist.  There are five pillars of actions that accompany a good Muslim.  The Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons have specific activities they need to accomplish to please God.  Christians are even tempted to fall into that trap of 'doing' enough to make God happy, but Jesus' message is different.  It's about what Jesus has done.  It's about the cross.

Jesus is reaching out to us and offering us rest for our busy lives.  He wants to give us what we really need.

Listen Up

The most publicized Bible verse is probably John 3:16.  It has been called the "Gospel in a Nutshell" because it has the overall message of the Gospel (good news about Jesus): God loves the world, he gave his Son for the world, and those who believe in the Son will have eternal life.

Tim Tebow was a football player for the New York Jets this past year and has been quite controversial lately.  Throughout his college and professional career his has been a very outspoken Christian, known for "Tebowing" which is taking a knee and praying, which he will often do in the end-zone.  While he has not been the 'best' quarterback according to form and statistics, he won many games last year.

Before John 3:16, there was Deuteronomy 6:4-9.  The "John 3:16" of the Jewish Old Testament was the rally cry of the Israelites: There is One God - the Lord, so love the Lord with everything you have, and always talk about this Word of God that He has given to us.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
 ⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

This section was not referred to as the "Law in a Nutshell" (though maybe it could be), but rather the "Great Shema."  Shema is the Hebrew word that commands people to 'listen' or 'pay attention' or 'hear' what is being said.

So many other cultures had a collection of gods - the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Hindu's, and every other culture.  Jews were 'odd' because of their claim that there is only one God in charge of everything.  Understanding John 3:16 can give others a better idea of what is important to Christians.  Understanding Deuteronomy 6:4-9 can give us a better idea of what has been important to the Jewish culture throughout time, including the Jewish culture of which Jesus was a part.

With Faith

There are a few chapters in the Bible that have such a strong theme that they are known by one word.
1 Corinthians 13 is known as the Love chapter.  "Love is patient, love is kind... and the greatest of these is love."

Hebrews 11 is known as the Faith chapter, containing the word more than two dozen times.

Luke 15 is sometimes called the lost chapter, containing the stories about the lost sheep, the lost coins, and the lost (prodigal) son.

Faith is important.  It is by grace we have been saved, through faith - Ephesians 2:8.  During the reformation a strong emphasis was put on three 'sola' phrases: Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, and Sola Scriptura meaning Faith Alone, Grace Alone, and Scripture Alone.

This side of heaven, faith and hope will support us through difficult times, but a day will come when God's Kingdom is realized and there will be need for neither, for God will be with his people.

Hebrews 11:1 
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11 not only defines faith, but it continues on with the powerful examples of faith that we see in the Old Testament from the likes of Abraham, Noah, Jacob, Moses, and many others.  Those people, as well as those we have known personally such as grandparents who lived a life of faith, have given us examples to emulate.  The author of Hebrews builds on the momentum of this great faith chapter to lead into chapter 12:

Hebrews 12:1-2
¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Unexpected

One of my favorite stories of surprises is the first time Susan Boyle auditioned on the Britain's Got Talent television show.  When she entered, the judges and audience saw a goofy lady, but when she began to sing they were filled with awe.  The smiles and cheering are contagious.

One of my classmates in kindergarten would often be caught eating glue during our art and crafts time.  We may have laughed at the time, but now he is known as the guy who controls a multi-million dollar company, not the guy who eats glue.  

The truth of finding the unexpected is connected to the principle Jesus taught about judging.

Matthew 7:1-2

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

You are a wonderful person.  Sometimes people are able to see that, and sometimes that gets hidden in the messy reality of the world that we live it.  That messiness does not define you, so don't let it.  Don't judge others.  Don't let the judgments of others control you.

Unfortunately, we live in a world that will remain messy this side of heaven.  God is with you through that messiness, and wants to develop a deeper relationship with you.  He wants to talk to you, and he wants to listen, as well.  

Matthew 7:7-8

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

He will answer the door, so don't hesitate to knock!

What we Need

What do you really need?  There are probably more things that we think we need than we actually need.  According to our science class, we need food, air, water, and shelter.  Society would say you need a job, community, and transportation.  The stores before Christmas tell me that I need the latest gadgets and electronics, and I am often tempted to think they are right.

Some theorists would say that we need safety, a purpose, and our highest need is love.  That may true since God is love.  1 John 4:8.

Six out of the seven petitions in the Lord's prayer deal with concerns that might be considered more spiritual: holiness, God's will, God's kingdom, forgiveness, temptation, evil.  One of the encapsulates all the physical concerns we have.

Matthew 6:9-13

   ⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

   “‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
   on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
   as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from the evil one.’

This is a little different than the version we usually say in church or chapel.  One of the more significant differences is the request to keep us away from "the evil one" and not just "evil" in general. That makes me curious why it would be rendered differently.  That middle verse, 11, is about physical things and it calls those things 'daily bread.'  It would have reminded people during Jesus' day about the Israelites who were only supposed to collect enough food for one day and depend on God.  It would also have reminded them of a Proverb.

^{Proverbs 30:8-9
8} Keep falsehood and lies far from me; 
   give me neither poverty nor riches, 
   but give me only my daily bread. 
⁹ Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you 
   and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ 
Or I may become poor and steal, 
   and so dishonor the name of my God.

It also might remind us that in John 6, Jesus referred to himself as the Bread of Life, the food that people really need.

As far as 'things': not too much, not too little.  As far as 'God': the more the better.

"God, help us want You!"