Full

1John 1:1-4 - That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

The disciples knew Christ. They saw Him, walked with Him, listened to Him. We have not had the pleasure of seeing or listening to the Lord  physically. Some of us have met Him, though. Those who have can relate to this: Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. ...while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2Corinthians 4:16,18, Hebrews 11:1)

This is the Christmas season. It’s a time for many to celebrate with parties and get togethers. Along with that is eating (and drinking). Never a shortage of food. Diets are just around the proverbial holiday corner. We get full! Maybe, probably, overfilled, with the food that fills our bellies.

...for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. (Isaiah 55:2)

Remember when the Israelites wandered in the desert? All their needs were supplied. Clothing and sandals did not wear out. They had their fresh manna every day. It came down from heaven. Moses struck a rock and water appeared. Bread and water...

...and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. (1Corinthians 10:4)

I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. (John 6:51)

As the Bible says, life is not about the food and the drink as we tend to think it is. This life, this world will pass away some day. Those who do not have the spiritual food and drink will pass away also, eternally. Those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, will not pass away but will live with Christ. 

So, Christmas is a time to celebrate the life of One who gives us all our physical life, but more importantly, eternal life through Christ. We celebrate His birth which led to His life and death...all so we might have life if we choose to acknowledge Him, every day, not just at Christmas. 

John 15:11 - These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

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Sowing What You've Reaped

John 4:27-38

And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, "What do You seek?" or "Why are You talking with her?"

The woman then left her water pot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" Then they went out of the city and came to Him.

In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." Therefore the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?"

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors."

As the Samaritan woman went back to Sychar to share what she had been told, Jesus was about to enlighten His disciples yet again. In our daily lives little scenarios might play out that open doors to "preach" a little, or instruct or enlighten. So it did with Jesus! The disciples wanted Him to eat and boy if that didn't erupt into a message for them! I wonder if it was a prelude to what was about to happen (and which we are not told) when the people from Sychar heeded the Samaritan woman's words and came to see if this truly was the Christ?

So here we have a message about sowing and reaping. For many of us, someone first had to have  sown a message about Jesus. We either receive it...reap...or reject it. Let's say we've received it. The next step is to sow ourselves, share what truth we now know,  based on our own story of how or why we received Christ.

This is how Christ and Christianity have never faded away. There has always been someone who needed to hear the Gospel and always someone to share. There always will be. The fields are as white and ripe today as before. Maybe even more so as we approach, what I believe are the last days before Jesus' return.

Jesus was in an area normally off limits to the Jews. There was hatred among Jews and Samaritans. Then comes Jesus. He knew these people were just as important to reach as anyone else because of the "whosoever" in John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jesus claimed earlier to the woman at the well He was the living water, that all who receive the water He offered would never thirst again and have eternal life. He also claimed He was the manna from heaven, the bread of life. You no doubt recall how He fed thousands of people (which comes later!). The people came to hear Jesus speak. They heard the Word of God speaking the words of life...and they were fed spiritually and physically. Boy, did they get fed.

We get fed from His Word, from Jesus Himself. Through the Bible...He is the Word, He is the Bread...of life. Remember, our daily bread? Whenever we reap what He has sown (and it always starts with Him) we have a natural desire to sow even further that others might reap. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes not so much. Persistence and patience are two keys. Sometimes thick skins, too, for those not interested in hearing!

Christ reveals Himself to us. He testifies of Himself. We can testify of what He has revealed to us. Christianity will never die because there will always be someone wanting to share, like He did..."My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work."

1Peter 1:12 - To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.

Bread and Water

John 6:27 - Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.

I think it's ironic that awhile back people sent to prison were sometimes given only bread and water. Punishment for a crime committed. Certainly not the healthiest of meals; food that could lead to malnutrition, even death, among the other things one had to live in and through.

So isn't it ironic also that it is the Living Bread and Living Water, Jesus Christ, who today brings eternal life, who forgives all the sins of those who come to Him, who sets the captives free...sins past, present and future? And all we need do is call on Him, receive Him as our Lord and Savior.

Jesus used the miracle of the five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand men (not including women and children) and to again show them Who He was, to get them to believe. Food. Aren't we a people enamored with food? Aren't church socials all about food? Don't we get together with friends and visit and there's always food available? Even Bible study and Sunday school classes involve snacks and beverages. We love to eat. Eating in any society or time is a social event...it's part of fellowship. 

Jesus departed their company and crossed over the sea of Galilee. When the people had realized He was gone, they did the same, to seek Him out. They were, however, interested in more food rather than hearing what He had to say, although they did listen.

He admonished them not to work for the food (and drink) which perishes, which is what they were hoping He would again provide to satisfy their stomachs. He wanted them to understand that He was what they should be seeking, that they would believe in Him for eternal life. It went over their heads. He was supplying a very physical need, but they were missing the spiritual need they had. They asked what they could do in order to do what God wanted them to do! His answer was simple: Believe in Me.

They wanted more miracles so they might believe, yet here was the Miracle right in front of their eyes. They knew about their ancestors in the desert being fed manna. He told them in verse John 6:32 - Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  In other words, I am that bread. They asked to be given that bread (just like the Samaritan woman asked for that living water) and again they missed the point that if they would just believe in Him...the true Living Bread...come to Him and receive...and He would not turn anyone away who would receive.

So simple, yet sometimes we over complicate it. No works, just receiving Christ. Just believing on/in Him. I mentioned awhile back that the word "believe" is what trips us up. On October 12 I wrote: Believe on means to receive by faith, not by works, with the heart...in vitality and depth in our innermost being. It is believing "on" Jesus Christ. He becomes our foundation. It is "in" Him we abide and He abides in us. Faith brings the transformation, not anything we think we can do.  It's more than just knowing in our heads...and living our lives in the way we always have.  A transformation must take place. It's knowing in our spirits and turning our lives in a different direction, to follow wholeheartedly after Jesus. It's delighting in His Word, obeying and not purposely going against it.

Jesus's words were easy to understand but they were considered harsh because they went against the will of the people. Same is true today. There is no middle ground. It's black or white, evil or good...no room for compromise...a narrow road...with few on it.

If we find those words difficult, hard to swallow, and narrow minded, Jesus tells us, and He does not lie, Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. (John 6:47,51)

There will always be some who believe that their good works and being good people, will secure a place in heaven for them.  This is very similar to the response of the people above. We need to see beyond the physical works and look into the spiritual. Do not be deceived. The only works God accepts are those that He desires for us to do. It's done to glorify Him.

John 6:40 - For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.