Positions Please! - John 10:22-30 - Fourth Sunday of Easter

 

John 10:22-30

²² Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. ²⁴ The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

²⁵ Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, ²⁶ but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. ²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

Positions Please!

Do you notice a theme from last week to this week taking place? What’s in common?

One commonality between this week and last week is the sheep. Last week, Jesus bids Peter to care for, feed, and tend to His sheep. And this week we see how the sheep hear the voice of Jesus and trust in His care. We learn how God the Father gave Jesus the sheep, that is believers, into Jesus’ care.

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day… Happy Mother’s Day! – Are there any big annual celebrations or maybe even “feast days” for you or your family? Who shows up? Who serves? What’s it like?

Everybody gathers together to celebrate. In my family Christmas, Easter and Birthdays were always a time to celebrate. Sure, you could throw in some special occasions like Baptisms or Confirmations, Weddings, Anniversaries and things like that. Usually, family and friends gather together for a party of some sort. Everyone pitches in to serve and it’s a happy, joyous occasion.   

What traditions do you have to remember that celebrate, someone or something past?

Well, there’s always Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and sometimes Family Reunions. And then there are Anniversaries of Church, Country, and Religion, like Reformation Day, some special saints’ days and so forth.

When time separates us from something in the past that was celebrated by our ancestors, do we tend to take the original celebration for granted?

For me, sure, when time passes, especially if it’s a celebration of something of which I wasn’t present or even alive for, I’m sure that it doesn’t mean as much to me as it did for those that were in the time that the celebration began. I just can’t understand or feel the exact emotions of those people in the past. So, yea, to those people past, I take things for granted.

In John 10: 22 we see that Jesus was at Jerusalem for the Festival of Dedication. What is this? It’s a festival that lasts 8 days starting on the 25^th of Chislev – Nov. Dec. time frame. We know it today as Hanukkah. This festival celebrates the rededication of the temple. The festival was introduced by Judas Maccabaeus… around 165 BC.

Listen to this reading… it’s from 1 Maccabees – I know that’s not in the Protestant Bible, but it’s still a good book to read. Just like today, we have many good books to read that aren’t in the Bible, so don’t get yourself all wadded up over it. This account gives us some background to the Feast of Dedication that Jesus was attending in the Gospel account from John.

1 Maccabees 4:36-59 NRSV

³⁶ Then Judas and his brothers said, “See, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it.” ³⁷ So all the army assembled and went up to Mount Zion. ³⁸ There they saw the sanctuary desolate, the altar profaned, and the gates burned. In the courts they saw bushes sprung up as in a thicket or as on one of the mountains. They saw also the chambers of the priests in ruins. ³⁹ Then they tore their clothes and mourned with great lamentation; they sprinkled themselves with ashes ⁴⁰ and fell face down on the ground. And they blew the signal trumpets, and they cried out to heaven.

⁴¹ Then Judas detailed men to fight against those in the citadel until he had cleansed the sanctuary. ⁴² He chose blameless priests devoted to the law, ⁴³ and they cleansed the sanctuary and removed the defiled stones to an unclean place. ⁴⁴ They deliberated what to do about the altar of burnt offering, which had been profaned. ⁴⁵ And they thought it best to tear it down, so that it would not be a lasting shame to them that the nations had defiled it. So they tore down the altar ⁴⁶ and stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple hill until a prophet should come to tell what to do with them. ⁴⁷ Then they took unhewn stones, as the law directs, and built a new altar like the former one. ⁴⁸ They also rebuilt the sanctuary and the interior of the temple and consecrated the courts. ⁴⁹ They made new holy vessels and brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the temple. ⁵⁰ Then they offered incense on the altar and lit the lamps on the lampstand, and these gave light in the temple. ⁵¹ They placed the bread on the table and hung up the curtains. Thus they finished all the work they had undertaken.

⁵² Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month of Chislev, in the one hundred forty-eighth year, ⁵³ they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering that they had built. ⁵⁴ At the very season and on the very day that the nations had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals. ⁵⁵ All the people fell on their faces and worshiped and blessed heaven, who had prospered them. ⁵⁶ So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days and joyfully offered burnt offerings; they offered a sacrifice of well-being and a thanksgiving offering. ⁵⁷ They decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and small shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests and fitted them with doors. ⁵⁸ There was very great joy among the people, and the disgrace brought by the nations was removed.

⁵⁹ Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined that every year at that season the days of dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness for eight days, beginning with the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev.

So, that sets the stage. Another important point here is the time of year. Jesus was at this joyful festival and came to teach like He always does. But since it’s colder, He seeks shelter under Solomon’s Colonnade, it kind of looks like a covered row of columns like in a walkway.

It’s here that Jesus pauses to teach, under cover and enclosed. Jesus is sort of trapped in a way, AND it’s here that, as Jesus attempts to teach, the skeptic Jews encounter Jesus and want to force him to a specific point of question; “Are you the Messiah?” Tell us plain and simple!

These are the same Jews that had heckled Jesus on previous visits to the temple with this similar question. BUT,

Jesus hadn’t publicly declared an answer that satisfied these Jewish skeptics

Before Jesus had met with the woman at the well…

John 4:25-26 NIV

²⁵ The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” ²⁶ Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.”

This encounter wasn’t public, like the skeptics wanted now to hear.

Then there was the man born blind that Jesus gave sight to…

John 9:35-37 NIV

³⁵ Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

³⁶ “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

³⁷ Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

Once again, a personal conversation with the blind man that now can see.

So, these Jewish skeptics wanted to force an answer out of Jesus. They didn’t really believe that Jesus was the Messiah… or did they?

Jesus HAD already answered the question that the Jewish skeptics posed earlier. They just didn’t accept the answer and believe Jesus.

The Answer to the question already had been clear --- look at John 5:31-36

This Jewish skeptic’s question has already been answered to these people – In Jesus own words…

³¹ “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. ³² There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.

³³ “You have sent to John (John the Baptist) and he has testified to the truth. ³⁴ Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. ³⁵ John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

³⁶ “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me.

Jesus makes it plain – here even before He is questioned at Solomon’s Colonnade --- Jesus IS the Messiah! These Jewish skeptics lack faith.

What convinces you that Jesus IS the Messiah?

For me, as I look to the Word of God in Scripture, or listen to fellow Christians, or even when I go to Church and see God’s presence in the bread and the wine and through the waters of baptism, or hear the spoken Word through Pastor or Priest, I’m convinced. Too much history from the past and through my family, leave me convinced that Jesus IS the Messiah.

How do you respond to skeptics that you meet today? Do you feel attacked or threatened?

The skeptics just haven’t seen or heard or even felt Jesus’ presence. So, they are in God’s hands. I pray for them, I love them, I live with them in the hope that some day they will feel Jesus’ presence in their lives and believe. And no, I don’t feel attacked or threatened by any unbeliever. They too, are loved by God and are created by God through His love. So, no, after all, I’m much like they are, struggling with sin in a fallen world.

Do you feel like you must defend your beliefs?

Defend, no, proclaim the Gospel and God’s Word, yes. God has called me, as His child to follow Jesus out into the world in which I live. I was called at a very young age and I take that call seriously, so, as I turn to follow Jesus each and every day, I’m compelled by faith and belief to witness to what I see in God each and every day to all those God gives to me. Do I fail? Sure! I’m a sinful man, but still, I am a Child of God, and I turn to God to save me from my sinful being and self, each day.

Let’s shift gears now --- How was your childhood?

Carefree?

Did you fear disasters?

Did you need to work to eat or have shelter?

Did you need to make life decisions that altered the course of your family?

Did your parents or guardians care for you?

Did you want control of your life?

Or did you accept your position in life as a child?

I was blessed with a great childhood. My parents loved me, our family was close and I was brought up in the Lutheran Church. I was given freedom to play and make friends, I was always encouraged in my school work and nurtured as a child. I was one of the lucky ones and am thankful for what my parents and family have always done for me. God was active for me, no doubt. I have wonderful childhood memories that I cherish. Many lessons learned and many lessons to talk about in my adult life as well.

I want you just to keep your childhood in mind, for now. Remember your place with family, church, society and most importantly with God. Hold onto this thought as we move forward in this reflection.

Let’s re-read Jesus’ answer to the Jewish skeptics this time…

²⁵ Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, ²⁶ but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. ²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

Those spiritually able to SEE Jesus as the Messiah AS God will follow Jesus, like a flock follows a shepherd. Children of God are content to be a Child of God. It’s good to be a sheep and know that God the Father has given you into the care of Jesus as a gift to Jesus. That’s just where we belong!

BUT in contrast--- think of the PAST when mankind attempts to ACT in the power of God – to be like God – to seek control – power – prestige – and wealth OVER and above their neighbor.

We lose our place with God and suffer the consequences of hate, evil and defeat, when we attempt to be like God, or even a god.

Think about how many times in the Old Testament and throughout history that this has played out.

Can you recall times in the OT that this has occurred? This being mankind’s efforts to control or become like God…

Like Adam and Eve. How many times in the book of Judges did we see God raise up a judge to take care of times that the Israelites turned from God and things went south for them. Even in the wilderness, the people decided to make an idol to worship when Moses took a little too much time, in the view of the people, in chatting with God on Mount Sinai. It really goes on and on in the Old Testament, all the time!

How many times in history, especially when men have tried to overpower one another in battle to control the lives of one another as men attempted to become like God and control each other. It goes on today, and I suppose will never stop until Jesus comes again. Mankind just loves to control and hate one another.

RATHER than trying to be like God or believe we can BE God; it seems to me, that Jesus message here is to cut it out! Mankind is NOT God. But we NEED God just the same. We are given into Jesus’ care and love by God the Father, to BE Children. We are Children of God to learn how to feed on the Word of God in Jesus and follow our Shepherd in Jesus to love one another. NOT to control one another. We have a place in life. Remember how to be a child and let it go.

Rejoice that God calls us to BE His Children

Respond in love and thanksgiving and pure satisfaction to BE a Child of God

WHY?

Let’s look at Romans 8:35, 38-39

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yep! I just wanna be a sheep! God has it all covered… today… tomorrow… and forever!

So, as Jesus shows us by example, love one another, and make that love real in truth and action.

Thanks be to God!

I leave you with this cute YouTube video that is appropriate for this reflection. May it bless you.

“I Just Wanna Be a Sheep”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMPrYSP_7Ss

I Just Wanna be a Sheep

Appearances - John 21:1-19 - Third Sunday of Easter

 

John 21:1-19 NIV

21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: ² Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. ⁹ When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Appearances

The disciples closely followed Jesus for a few years. But, now, they seem to be lost and not sure what happened to Jesus. Even with eyewitness accounts and appearances of Jesus behind closed doors, these followers, these disciples, just seem to be lost, without their Leader Jesus. And on top of it all, Jesus is a bit mysterious as well. Jesus shows up here and there and then disappears. It almost seems that now Jesus is following His disciples, rather than the disciples following Jesus.

It occurred to me, over the past few weeks of reflections, how Jesus comes to us and is revealed to us with our physical eyes and, or, our spiritual eyes. And in our seeing Jesus; we are given faith and belief that Jesus IS God.

In this Gospel Lesson we witness a huge haul of fish. We’ll get to a few details later, but I think this haul of fish, abundant fish, sets up a message for the New Church in Christ. It’s a little like when Jesus first called Peter. Peter’s call from Jesus came after Jesus taught the crowds from the boat.

Listen or read this account from Luke 5:1-10

5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. ² He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. ³ He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

⁶ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷ So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰ and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 

You see how this too was a new beginning? Peter was about to set out on a new journey and to follow Jesus in His ministry. In the Gospel Lesson from John, we witness a return to the old ways and a redirection to a New Beginning for the Church. All with fish and nets and a call from God in Jesus.

So, let’s dig in to the text from John.

Peter’s and many of the disciple’s old life occupation was fishing. Their occupation, like many of our own occupations of today, are really self-serving. Like Peter, we provide for ourselves and those close to us, like family and loved ones. It’s occupations that in some ways brings sweat to our brows. In some ways we work out of despair and need. Some people are fortunate to work jobs of joy and fulfillment, but many don’t experience this joy.

Were the disciples losing touch with God and going back to their old jobs? If this is true, then what happens to the church? YET – When we recall the curtain torn in two at Jesus’ crucifixion; the whole world became open to God. Not to say that He wasn’t open to all the world in the past, but now God chooses to permit mankind to be open to Him as well.

God entered the world through Jesus, and now, the Church has become God’s workshop, or His study, maybe His classroom. The world always has been God’s place of work, but now with Jesus coming to the world as God in flesh, giving His life to redeem and save all people, God not only worked in and through Jesus, God now works in and through the Church.

So, let’s look at “work” for a moment. Luther stated, “A cobbler, a smith, a peasant, whatever he may be, a man has the labor and occupation of his craft, and yet all men alike are consecrated bishops and priests.”

Why? And how?

Once again, Jesus turns it all topsy turvy. We’ll get back to the text in a moment, but let’s think this through a bit.

You work. OK… but now, it’s different. Through what God has done for you, how your sin has been forgiven, how God has come to you through Jesus and put to death all the power of sin and death, through Jesus’ own death, for you, on that cross; you are now free to work doing what you do as serving God in heaven, as well as serving those God gives to you in your life in the here and now. Wow! That was one huge sentence!

With this in mind, your work is happy now. It’s like your work is something you are doing in heaven, but here on earth, for God. That’s a huge shift in perspective. It’s a change from serving self in your work, to serving God in your work. So, yea, you see, now all of us alike are consecrated, made holy, through Jesus to serve God as priests and bishops, even while we may be cobblers, peasants, tradesmen, teachers, professors, business professionals, engineers, accountants, or whatever we do in this life.

All giving glory to God. This is a shift from self TO serving God and neighbor.

So, off of this much needed tangent.

So, here we witness that Peter decides to go back to his fishing trade.

I have to stop and ponder what may not be said in this text. Please entertain me for a moment.

When Peter and the other disciples went back to their fishing trade, as they were walking back to their boats; did the people they passed by make fun of them? Did the people ridicule their journey with Jesus as a failure? Was there a bold, “I told you so!” coming from the mouths of friends and family? Did the disciples hear jeers from all the skeptics?

I think it took some guts for Peter and the disciples to return to their old trade. Or did it? Maybe it was cowardice. I’ll leave that for you to ponder.

Once again, like we witnessed with Mary at the tomb, the resurrected Jesus is not, at first, recognized. Like Mary crying at the empty tomb, with the morning mist or fog in the air, she didn’t recognize Jesus. Here too, the disciples have a difficult time seeing Jesus standing on the distant shore in the morning fog or mist.

Even today, I must admit, with my spiritual eyes, I have difficulty seeing Jesus in the mist and fog of my own world. Perhaps my sin has blurred my eyes. Maybe it’s my selfish desires and false gods that I have placed in my life that have blurred my vision.

I’m reminded of my current handicap in this life I live, here and now, by a couple of verses from 1 Corinthians… from the words of Paul…

1 Corinthians 13:9-12 NIV

⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Yea, I look for, I long for, the day when I can see clearly all that God has done.

So, these tears, this morning mist, this fog is not too far of a stretch, at all, for me to imagine not recognizing Jesus as Mary and the disciples here too failed to do.

Now back to this reverting to the comfortable trade work that the disciples knew so well.

There is a big difference when we work our trade for self, like I mentioned before. When we work for self, family, even country: we are working for our own good. It’s sort of like self-service.

But service directed by Jesus is different. Service directed by Jesus’ call is abundant!

I have to ponder, for myself, is my service directed to self, or is it like service directed by Jesus’ outward, toward others? Jesus sees things from a different point of view than I tend to do. Think about it for yourself.

Now, Jesus, from the shore, tosses out a suggestion to the disciples in the boat.

Did Jesus see a school of fish approaching on the right side of the boat, the side furthest from the shore? I think there is something much deeper going on here.

When they began that great haul of fish, think back to what I read from Luke about when Jesus first called Peter; it was then, that John seeing through the morning mist, sees Jesus! Once again, like Mary at the tomb, John hears the voice of Jesus and witnesses a huge haul of fish. This reminds me of Thomas in last week’s reflections when Thomas finally sees and recognized Jesus, he cries out, “My Lord and my God!” It’s all NEW again this week. The resurrected Jesus appears, once again!

Back to the net. It’s an unbroken net, full of fish. Power given to the Church to hold ALL mankind as ONE. That tossing the net out to the right side has more meaning again.

Now, there is no doubt to ALL, this IS Jesus, on the shore calling out commands to toss the net to the right side of the boat.

So, Peter dresses and jumps out of the boat, in a hurry to get to Jesus. All the other poor workers have to haul the full net into the shore! You know, there’s always that one guy!

When they get to shore, somebody must have counted the fish. Who? Why? Well, the biblical scholars like to play with this one. There is much speculation. Maybe there is something to it, but maybe it’s just fun with numbers. Some scholars say well, it’s the sum of all numbers up to 17. I don’t know, these guys must have a lot of time on their hands. The sum of all numbers up to 17 equals 153. Well big deal! Yet, the reasoning goes on… there were 12 baskets left over plus 5 loaves of bread when Jesus fed the crowd. 12 plus 5 equals 17. Come on! And then there are other biblical scholars who say that, at that time, the number of known types of fish was 153.

Myself? I think it has more to do with when we listen to the Word of Jesus, a bunch of fish will be caught. Like back to the Luke account when Peter was first called to follow Jesus, Jesus teaches us to fish for “men” and God will be abundant in the catch.

I always had this desire to have fish for breakfast. But I would like to have that breakfast with Jesus.

Jesus had a charcoal fire going on the shore with breakfast ready. Jesus took bread and gave it to the disciples. No more doubt about this being Jesus now!

Recall the disciples going to Emmaus, talking about what they had witnessed after Jesus’ resurrection.  They meet Jesus along the way, but don’t recognize him, probably because they are staring sadly at the dirt on the road, maybe, I don’t know, but maybe. Anyway, Jesus goes on to explain everything in what we know today as the Old Testament, about how himself and how God came into this world to save mankind. And then Jesus comes to eat with these fellas.

Luke 24:30-31 NIV

³⁰ When he (Jesus) was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

What did these disciples do after that? They told others! They told other people the Gospel of Jesus. They witnessed to Jesus’ death and resurrection! Yea, they proclaimed the Gospel!

Jesus breaks bread in Mark as well…

Mark 6:41 NIV

⁴¹ Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

 

And also, like the crowd I mentioned before…

 

Mark 8:6 NIV

⁶ He (Jesus) told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so.

 

Think about this and give thanks. There is something special about breaking bread and hearing the voice of Jesus that permits us to SEE Jesus! Next time you take Communion, let that sink in. I’ll bet you may just SEE Jesus!

 

OK, now notice this, the text doesn’t say that Jesus ate any of this food. But Jesus does provide all that is needed to the disciples. This is a theme and message often. God gives us all we need to live our lives. “Give us this day our daily bread.” That includes all we need, even salvation. Jesus gives. How thankful we can’t help but to be. Thanks be to God!

 

Well, this one is going a bit long, but that’s good.

 

Now on to Jesus’ conversation with Peter after breakfast.

 

¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

 

Who are these? Most scholars say “these” are the other disciples. You decide…

 

But this whole conversation between Peter and Jesus, can be internalized for you and me as well.

 

Will you or I abandon Jesus too? Like Peter denied Jesus? You and I need to decide this for ourselves. OR --- perhaps we are one of the “these.”

 

Sure, I fail, I faulter, I deny and turn away from God, from time to time. YET, as a disciple of Jesus, I STILL love Jesus!

 

But Jesus comes to me and you, just like Jesus came to Peter. Jesus comes to us and spins us away from self. Jesus bids us, commands us, as He has always done, to turn from our selfish desires, to CARE and FEED those in need. Yes, that command is a privilege.

 

When you experience the miracle of forgiveness that God freely gave to the world, from the cross… YOU CAN’T HELP – But to lay yourself at Jesus’ feet, giving your life to God!

Your spirit is full. NO, over full! A man whose soul is filled to over flowing with gratitude does more, of his own free will, than is demanded from him. He never reflects on what he does, he never dreams that he is doing anything out of the ordinary.

 

Luther put it this way, “Faith does not ask whether it ought to do good works: it has done them already.”

 

If your church seems little more than a religious club, run from that self-interested church. A church that points outward just to reflect inward is purely self-centered. Think this church over.

 

God calls us not just for saving souls, BUT to help save the world DOING the works of love that forget self, AND show that God loves the world.

 

Jesus commands us to turn from self, just as He turned from self. Feed and tend all those God gives to you each day. YES, Jesus has already shown His love for us, SO THAT, we freely, joyfully, powerfully, respond in HIS love and our LOVE to the “other!”

 

Give yourself to the “These!”

 

My favorite Bible verse…

 

1 John 4:19 NIV

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us.

 

Yep! Cast your net. See Jesus. Go and tell all the love God gives to you… today… tomorrow… and forever!

 

I leave you with this YouTube music that I listened to this week… Enjoy

 Worthy Is The Lamb

Worthy Is The Lamb

 

https://youtu.be/-sfMhM4R9rY?si=8ngeKbAJQKffyJ5g