DEVOTION
For the next 6 weeks we are going to read the 6th chapter of the Gospel of John. I’m calling this the WONDER BREAD Series because bread is a major thematic element throughout. This week’s scripture is John 6:1-21. Let’s read it from the NIV.
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Jesus Walks on the Water
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Rather than focus on the feeding of the 5000 or on the calming of the sea and the disciples, I want to look at verse 11. “11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.” I found this reflection written by Henri J.M. Nouwen in A Guide to Prayer for all Who Seek God, (pg.293) which highlight the significance of this verse.
To identify the movements of the Spirit in our lives, I have found it helpful to use four words: taken, blessed, broken, given. These words summarize my life as a priest because each day, when I come together around the table with members of my community, I take bread, bless it, and give it. These words also summarize my life as a Christian because, as a Christian, I am called to become bread for the world; bread that is taken, blessed, broken, and given. Most importantly, however, they summarize my life as a human being because in every moment of my life somewhere, somehow the taking, the blessing, the breaking and the giving are happening.
I must tell you at this point that these four words have become the most important words of my life. Only gradually has their meaning become known to me, and I feel that I won’t ever know their full profundity. They are the most personal as well as the most universal words. They express the most spiritual as well as secular truth. They speak about the most divine as well as the most human behavior. They reach high as well as low, embrace God as well as all people. They succinctly express the complexity of life and embrace its ever-unfolding mystery. They are the keys to understanding not only the lives of the great prophets of Israel and the life of Jesus of Nazareth, but also our own lives. I have chosen them not only because they are so deeply engraved in my being, but also because, through them, I have come into touch with the ways of becoming the Beloved of God.
- From Life of the Beloved by Henri J.M. Nouwen.
In our culture which emphasizes personal choice, freedom and responsibility the four words, taken, blessed, broken, given might be tough to hear. Jesus’ words require response, surrender, relationship, sacrifice, suffering and obedience. The little boy gives us insights about these behaviors and the disciples realize the results. Prayerfully ponder being TAKEN, BLESSED, BROKEN and GIVEN by Jesus this week. How would these change your life and the lives of those around you.
Blessings, Pastor Tom