Wonderbread

I am a bread lover. Ask anyone in my family. I love rolls, breads, you name it. I especially like banana nut bread which is more of a dessert than a bread, but...anyway. I am on the topic of bread today in my Bible study.

In developing countries, bread is a very important part of life. It is made from grains and requires simple technology to create. When the Israelites were in the desert for 40 years, God provided for the needs of a nomadic group estimated to be in the millions by sending bread from heaven every morning, 6 days a week. They couldn't grow their own crops, because they were always on the move. The bread was the daily sustaining food. Without it, there would be trouble trying to keep everyone alive. It was a big part of the Jewish history that every person was taught about long after Moses died and they had entered the promised land.

When Jesus began his ministry and began to speak in the synagogues in Capernaum, he had already gathered a large following due to the miracles of feeding the 5000 and healing the sick. As he spoke, he began to explain to people that He was sent by the Father in heaven. He was now the "daily bread" given to people to bring life. Not physical life, but eternal life. He said that in the same way that our bodies must have food and drink to live on earth, we must consume the truth of Jesus' purpose in order to have eternal life. We must digest it and allow it to become a part of us. Without accepting the gift of God the father, by believing, trusting, and following Jesus, we will not live eternally. The father gave bread from heaven to Moses and the Israelites to bring them to the land he had promised them. God is bringing us to the promised land of eternal life with Him, by sending bread from heaven, Jesus.

Many people who had been following Jesus, left Him when they heard Him saying that He was from heaven and that He is the way to eternal life. Those that had seen him heal and provide miracles in front of their very eyes would not accept the gift from the Father. They would not eat the bread. They would not trust him, despite their eyewitness proof of his power.

There are many wandering in the wilderness today. They are hungry for truth and life. The bread has been sent from heaven and is all around them, yet they refuse to eat. They refuse to trust that it will nourish them and give them life.

You can lead a horse to water...

Today I read the story in the book of John about the Samaritan woman who meets Jesus at Jacob's well. The disciples had gone to town to buy food and Jesus waited by the well. A Samaritan woman came to draw water and Jesus, a Jewish man, was not culturally supposed to strike up a conversation with a Samaritan woman,..but of course, He did. He told her that he was the source of living water which springs up to eternal life. As their conversation goes on, He tells her things about her life that He knows that are personal and embarrassing. Instead of getting mad, she realized that He has prophetic abilities. They continue to talk and she starts to enter into a religious discussion about worship practices and where people should worship. Jesus cuts right through this debate and tells her that the time is now here when "where to worship" is not important, but that people should worship anywhere in spirit and truth. The woman says that she know the Messiah is coming and will explain all things. Jesus said, "You're lookin' at him!" Because she sees the truth of what He has been saying, she goes to tell her friends and neighbors that she has met someone who may be the Messiah. The people come to meet Him and because of this, they asked Him to stay with them. As they get to know Jesus and hear his words, they believe in Him also. John 4:42 says "and they were saying to the woman, "it is no longer because of what you have said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed "the Savior of the world."

I have heard this story many times, but never focused on the last verse. The woman led the people to Jesus and let the reality of who He is be the thing that causes them to believe. Her weaknesses and reputation as revealed in the story would make her someone they may not readily believe and trust, but she didn't have to rely on her own righteousness to convince them. All she had to do was to get them to hear Jesus and his words. Introduce them and let the truth do the rest. Today we have the same opportunity. We don't have to try to convince people that Jesus is who He says He is. All we have to do is tell people what our experience with Jesus has been and allow them the opportunity to examine Jesus for themselves.

We can bring people to the well. They are already thirsty. Give them the opportunity to taste the living water and make the decision of whether they will drink or not.