Did you miss the sign?

John 6:24-35 (NRSV)

So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Have we missed the sign and are we following Jesus because we ate our fill?

Jesus tells the people coming after him here that they missed the signs. Now some could say no they saw and got the sign because they ate their fill and so they are following Jesus. They saw the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 and the other miracles, but as Jesus said they missed the signs and so did we…

You see in John there are no miracles. John records signs that point to who Jesus is. There are 8 signs and the 8th is the rising of Jesus signifying the 8th day and a New Creation. You see it is not about the water to wine or the bread multiplying or the physical healing… it is all about Jesus being with us and providing our needs. We should be following Jesus not because we will get something specific for it but because he will always give us what we need.

So here’s your sign and don’t miss it. Follow Jesus for what you need not what you want.

Leaven and no bread…

When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 16:5-12 ESV)

Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. This of course is not about bread, but their teaching.

How many of us are Pharisees and Sadducees when it comes to teaching? How many of us think we have the right answers when it comes to our faith and have the right rules to follow to get us where we need to be. And so if people aren’t doing what we know to be true then they are in a wrong relationship with God. This is the leaven Jesus warned the disciples about.

Only Jesus has the truth, being with God. We do not know the full truth, we, as Paul said, see in a mirror dimly. So some of what we should see is hidden from us. We can’t make out the whole picture and so we should not assume we know what is absolutely right and absolutely wrong. Only God can make that determination.

So when you think you know the answer, go to Jesus. When you have no clue, go to Jesus. When all else fails… You should have gone to Jesus a long time ago…

General rule of thumb – consult with Jesus.

What is it?

Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. (Psalm 78:23-29 ESV)

“What is it?” the Israelites said when the manna was found as the dew lifted. What is it is the translation of the Hebrew words that are manna, so manna literally means what is it. They had this new substance they had not seen before. They were curious and yet also maybe questioning God’s provision…

The psalmist recounts the story as God opening the sky’s and blowing an east wind and raining manna down on them. God opened up the sky’s and allowed man to eat the bread of angels! We got to taste the food of heaven, a foretaste of the feast to come! Where have we heard that before?

Every time we celebrate communion we are getting a foretaste of that wonderful feast that is to come when we are fully with our God in the great by and by. God heard the cries and whines of the Israelites and he hears our cries, he hears our needs and he knows our wants. He hears the things we can not put into words…

God provided for his people in the wilderness and they questioned what it was and his provisions. Have we ever done that? Have you ever received something from God and questioned it, or asked for something different? God can take your questioning and complaining, but we can rest assured that God will give us what we need not always what we want and he will always provide for us. The promise is clear.

Agree or disagree…

1 Corinthians 11:17-22 (NRSV)

Abuses at the Lord’s Supper

Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it. Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine. When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper. For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk. What! Do you not have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you!

The abuses of the Lord’s supper in Corinth were severe. People were neglecting their call to look out for the least, the forgotten. They were looking out for themselves. Eating all of the bread before others arrived and drinking all the communion wine and getting drunk. But is that really all there is to this passage?

Paul says a whole lot more here. We gather as a body of believers not for ourselves or for the betterment of the better off, but the worse off. (This includes all of us, because better and worse off is in the eyes off God not man) We are to gather for others not our own good. We gather as a Christian community for the other not so we get something out of it. You may go to worship and get nothing, but be the one thing someone struggling needed that day.

Divisions in the gathering? Never! As believers we agree 100% of the time, that is why there are so many different denominations with different beliefs… Paul says it is ok for there to be factions otherwise we are not genuine. And do you want to know why there are not as many young people in our gatherings today? It is because they know we are not genuine. We are fake hen we go to worship because we think if we do not agree with everybody else and completely follow along we will be removed from the gathering. Genuine people disagree and that is the way life is and the way our gatherings should be. We are freed in the love of God to disagree with each other and still move ahead in God’s ministry and mission in the world.

So gather together as genuine people. Discussing your thoughts and ideas and dreams and do not neglect the last, lost, least or little among you, because we are all lost and last and little and least at some point.

Mountain top…

Isaiah 25:6-10 ESV

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us This is the Lord; we have waited for him let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain,

Have you been to the mountain top?

We talk about mountain top experiences where we have such a rich and bountiful connection with God we don’t want to “go down the mountain.”

But does Isaiah mean that only one mountain in all of creation is a place where bountiful things happen? Where a feast of rich foods and well aged wine is served and death is wiped away? If that was the case wouldn’t people be flocking to the mountain?

Maybe it is heaven, when God joins his people and dwells with them forever. But isn’t God dwelling with us now? Jesus said he would never leave us or forsake us…

Maybe the place Isaiah is describing is everywhere we allow ourselves to get out of the way and let God have control over our lives. The feast of rich foods and fine wine might be right there in front of you and we can’t see it because we are blinded by our need to control our own lives.

So allow God to be in the drivers seat and be blessed with an abundant life here and now…

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 111:1-10 ESV

Praise the Lord!

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

It is easy for us to praise the Lord some places. For instance I awoke this morning at one of my favorite camps and I type this devotion sitting on the porch of my cabin looking at the bluff cross and enjoying a cup of coffee.  It is easy for me here to praise God and give thanks for my surroundings and the life I have!

But psalm 111 calls us to praise the Lord not only in the easy or convenient times but at all times! When the dishwasher is broken, the kids won’t listen to anything, work is a complete disaster… these are the times we praise the lord!

A fellow camper told me a story of a visit he made to New Orleans shortly after Katrina. He met a woman in the gift shop of his hotel singing a hymn. He asked her how she was and she replied blessed! And when he asked if she was effected by Katrina, she replied she had lost everything, but she was still blessed! Perspective is everything.

Always remember even in the darkest times God is with you and walking with you so give praise to the Lord!

What is to hard?

Genesis 18:1-15 ESV

And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

This is a story most of us have probably heard. Abraham and Sarah are without children and pushing a century and that is when decided to bring the blessing of children. I have to admit I would be skeptical. But is anything to hard for the Lord?

If you are like me that is the verse that stuck with you. We have heard this and want this to be true. It means that everything can happen in God’s timing. But then I looked again…

How many times am I like Sarah and I laugh when I hear what God is going to do whether I am worried or think it can’t happen. I have to have God and the life he wants for me in a box so I can control it. Maybe that is the reason I doubt what I have heard God say will happen. Could it be that we want control more than the abundant life God has in store for us?

Is there anything to hard for God? No and frankly that scares me and gives me the greatest comfort because he loves me and has the best for me if I will just give him control…

Waiting on the storm to end…

I was looking on Facebook last night and I came across the above picture from my friend Philip Brooks. He had captioned it waiting on the storm to end. It reminded me of the text from John 6 that is our gospel lesson for the day.

The gospel lesson is a combination of 2 miracle stories, the feeding of the 5000 (the only story of Jesus found in all four gospels) and Jesus walking on water. In particular the photo reminded me of the last part of the text, but all of it since it is one pericope.

When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. (John 6:16-21 ESV)

This is John’s version of the above story. Jesus says to the disciples “I am.” They are on a rough and rocky sea and the wind is blowing, it is dark and they see someone walking on the sea and they are scared! They wonder what is going on and even though at least 4 of them are fishermen, they are worried to be out in the storm. Or maybe it is the ghost, but whatever they are scared. But Jesus simply says, “I am here, do not be afraid.” It is like when you were a young child and you woke up from a nightmare sweating and wondering where you were and not sure of anything, then you hear your fathers voice, “I’m here, it’s ok, do not be afraid.”

You see the reason the photo struck me was that in John’s version of Jesus walking on the water, it never says that the storm is calmed. We might assume that it is because the other versions (or at least one of them) has the storm being stilled. But not in John. Go ahead read it again. It says Jesus got into the boat and the reached the other side. The storm was calmed. Sometimes in life we have to wait out the storm, but we are not alone…

You see that is the just of this whole gospel passage, Jesus gives us what we need. Food to satisfy hunger. Not a wonderful grand banquet, but fish and bread, sustenance for the journey. And when the disciples and we are scared, He says take heart, it is I, do not be afraid. The storm may still be raging, but Jesus is there with us.

So wait out the storm and enjoy the show, knowing He is always with you.

Secret Snickers

Have you ever watched a movie or tv show where a group of people were stranded somewhere for an unforeseen amount of time and one of them had some food they were trying to hide from the others. Maybe because they knew there wasn’t really enough for everyone, or maybe because they were just greedy and didn’t want to share…

Have you ever had food when someone else was hungry and offer it to them? Or were you selfish and kept the food all to yourself? I’ll admit I have been on both sides of this equation, I have offered and I have retained the food I had.

I wonder if Jesus carried a secret snickers? Read the passage for the day from John 4:31-38:

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

Jesus says he has food the disciples don’t know about. Does he have a secret pocket in his robes where he has stashed some snickers for the road? This of course is not the case. Jesus was not hoarding food, or eating anything at all. The gospel of John is full of double meanings and makes us look deeper at our faith and what God is saying to us. Jesus was physically hungry, yet that was not the purpose of the food. The food Jesus spoke about is doing the will of the Father.

See the ending of the passage, “Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” Others have started the work here, but it isn’t done, so we must enter in and continue the labor. Notice He did not say finish the labor, but we have entered into their labor, and now it is our labor and someday someone else will enter into our labor and it will become their labor. See we are doing the work of the Father. It is not our job to bring the whole world to Jesus, Jesus is already there! It is our job to help them see He is there and continue the work that Jesus himself started to love the world and show them what it means to be in a relationship with Jesus.

So don’t hide your snickers! Share it so others will share with you!