Breakfast by the Sea New Beginnings 2010

We read in John 21:1
"After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way." NASB
We have been talking about Observation. "Seeing". The word "manifest" in this verse means more than 'to appear'. Manifest has the idea of to make known what has been hidden or unknown; to become known, to be plainly recognized, thoroughly understood--who and what one is.
Let's look more closely at this story and how it relates to starting a new year.
Who? Peter and some of the disciples; Jesus
Where? sea of Galilee [Tiberias]; beach along Sea
When? following an all night fishing trip, early morning
What? Breakfast by the sea
Why? To help us understand relationship between 'being' and 'doing' from God's perspective

This story happens during the 40 days Jesus remained on earth after his death and resurrection from the dead. It was Peter who had persuaded some of the other disciples of Jesus to go fishing that night. Peter had answered Jesus' question, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” [see Matthew chapter 16]. When Jesus called Simon to be his disciple, He gave him the name 'Peter' which means 'rock'. Jesus then declared that the 'rock' is the foundational truth that Jesus is the Son of God. The Holy Spirit had revealed this truth to Peter. The Kingdom of God was in their midst.
However now we see Peter is perhaps confused from the recent happenings. Jesus, the Messiah, had NOT liberated the Jews from the hated Roman rule. Yes, Jesus had died the shameful death of the worst criminal on the cross. Now Jesus was alive again, resurrected from the dead. But for what purpose? Why had He come and died?
Before and during the arrest and trial of Jesus, Peter had denied three times that he even knew Jesus. What shame filled Peter's heart at this memory. Perhaps a trip to the Sea would wash away this sense of shame at his betrayal of the One Peter had one time boldly declared: "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." [Matthew 26:35 NASB]
Or perhaps Peter thought to the days ahead.. A man needed to provide for his family. Best to go back to the work he knew and was reasonably successful at doing.
Peter recalled an earlier manifestation of Jesus to His disciples, where He shows the scars from His crucifixion that He wears on His new resurrected Body. Jesus gives this message in John 20:21: "As the Father has sent me [Jesus], I am sending you." NIV.
On this fishing trip, Peter realizes there was to be no overthrow of the hated Romans. Jesus would return to heaven and how ever was Peter to 'follow' Jesus? Sent to do what? Peter could envision following a living leader who would set things right. But what was His Kingdom and what part could Peter play in building the Kingdom where there is no visible King?

After a discouraging night of catching no fish, suddenly the seven men in the boat heard a stranger from shore call out to them: "Friends, haven't you any fish?" [John 21:5 NIV]. They yelled back, "NO."
What happened next was incredible. "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." said the Stranger. When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, realized this was the Lord. Peter immediately jumped into the sea and swam to shore. The others brought in the boat and the big catch of fish.
They found Jesus broiling some fish. He had brought along some bread. They all knew it was Jesus without asking. Jesus asked them to bring some of their recent miraculous catch to cook. Next Jesus fixed their breakfast.
I think Peter and the others must have been astounded to see Jesus there on the shore. After breakfast Jesus began speaking to Peter. He asks a most interesting question:

"Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

Do I love Jesus more than 'these'? What does 'these' mean? This 153 fish caught in one night was a small fortune to Peter. Love Jesus more than pursuits of material success? His friends and old ways of life? His career as a fisherman? Peter had implied that even though the others might desert Jesus before His death, Peter had boldly declared - NOT ME. I am more loyal to my beliefs than my friends. Perhaps Jesus was asking Peter if still thought he was better than the other disciples in light of the fact of Peter's thrice denial of even knowing Christ Jesus.
We need to look into the Amplified New Testament to study Jesus' question and Peter's response. John 21:15-17
¹⁵When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do--with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Feed My lambs.

¹⁶Again He said to him the second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Shepherd (tend) My sheep.

¹⁷He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]? Peter was grieved (was saddened and hurt) that He should ask him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.

Three times Peter had denied knowing Jesus. Three times Jesus asks Peter if Peter loves Jesus as Peter claims to love God the Father. Then Jesus gives Peter an opportunity for a new 'career path.'

This was a Moment of Truth for Peter.
Peter, do you love Me more than these? Are you willing to give up your profession and follow me and live in poverty and even as a fugitive, when you could be a respectable fisherman? You could live where others in your family and village would be proud of what you were doing. Safe.

Lest Peter not understand Jesus' commission to become a partner with Jesus in the Kingdom work of Jesus, He continues:

¹⁸ “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” NLT.

Peter learns a lot from that Breakfast by the Sea with Jesus. He not only learns, but He is a changed man. Jesus gives Peter a 'second chance'. Jesus fills Peter with a sense of how great the Father's love. Peter truly has seen the Lord. Peter no longer boasts about his love for Jesus nor that he is better than his friends. Instead Peter sees that he really does love Jesus and he needs Jesus. Even the life of a servant is acceptable as long as Jesus is the Master.

At this unforgettable breakfast on the beach, questions were finally answered and commitments were made. Peter's Moment of Truth resulted in him never turning back to the old life 'before Christ'. Peter was gloriously restored into perfect fellowship with the Son and the Father.

Peter was restored to 'being'.. Being right with God. Peter had done nothing to earn or deserve the forgiveness and reconciliation Jesus brought to the breakfast meal.

Then Peter came into realization and empowerment of 'doing'. Peter saw the truth of Philippians 2:13 in his life. ¹³ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. NLT

How about you this new year?

Are you facing your Moment of Truth? Who and What is Jesus Christ to you?

Are you feeling a tug on your heartstrings to call this Jesus 'Master', 'King'? Do you long for deeper meaning and purpose in life? Are you thirsting and hungering to know How Great the Father's Love for YOU?

I encourage you to pick up a New Testament. Read for yourself the Wonderful Words of Life. Have breakfast with Jesus. I plan on a regular scheduled appointment to have Breakfast with the King often during 2010. Please feel free to join me and share with me the marvelous things He speaks to you.

Mrs. B.

thanks and appreciation for the insights into John 21 I received from reading He Satisfies My Soul by Dr. Paul Brand.

Painting: The Appearance at the Sea of Tiberias by William Hole

New Year Goals? Consider "Observation Skills"

I hope I did not leave you behind somewhere on a dusty country road yesterday. Lest you think I view life as mostly passively sitting in a car watching the scenery go by, let me build upon what we last shared. We established that in our lives, someone is responsible for the direction we travel. In my case in the early years, my dad, who was wise and trustworthy was 'behind the wheel'.
However, this pleasurable time on the Sunday afternoon trip was one of intense learning and shaping of how I one day would assume responsibility over my own life. First, I would remember that in life I would not need to travel alone. I could have companions. My mom and brother and sister most often were also in the car. Next I realized that both from a perspective of safety and pleasure certain skills were needed.
A vital skill was what I call "Observation".
Both my mom and dad contributed to my keen sense of observation of things around me. I learned to 'see', 'hear', 'smell', 'taste' and 'feel'.
At birth the baby begins to learn about the 'outside' world as well as about himself. Did you ever see one of those gizmos attached to a crib that was suspended above the baby.. just out of reach of the fingers, but close enough for the baby's eyes to observe? It moved in a circle and often played music. There was color, design, shape, and absolute fascination for the baby. It seemed to provide entertainment and keep the baby quiet for a long time. I think the English word is "mobile". Only recently did I read that at birth there are essential underdeveloped neurological connections in the young baby. The brains sees. The eyes simply communicate messages to the brain, which interprets those messages as what we call "sight". The mobile provides not only fun for the baby, but apparently later in life the child and young adult will be able to visually process information that would not be possible without this type of visual training.
So on these country outings sometimes we would learn to notice. Take note of. Color. Smells. Perspective. Same/different. Size. Purpose. Let me give a simple example. Farms have houses and out buildings. Fields and animals. Water sources. Machinery needed on the farm. So I learned that people lived in the house, animals in the barn along with stored grain and farm machinery. Ponds often provided water. Barns and houses often needed painting or repairs. Seasons provided change of how everything looked on the farm. This is level one learning.
Level two required a closer look. Animals came in male and female. A horse or mule pulled a plow or wagon. It worked to help provide what the family needed. The human used the animal to turn dirt and seed into food and income for the family and provide for the animals he owned. Chickens provided food [eggs] as well as environmental control [ate bugs that would destroy the veggies in the garden]. Dogs and cats generally were considered part of the workings of the farm, not primarily as 'pets'. Cats kept the rodent population in check. This was very important to help preserve the harvest of both grain and root type veggies. Dogs were used to herd animals, keep away predators or mean humans. Function related to type. Horses pull plows or wagons; they do not eat rats or mice.


Level three. I realized that on the farm there was an order of authority. This is a level that requires more than the physiological seeing. Humans exercised dominion over both the land and the animals. Both the land and animals existed to serve the man. But there was a higher authority. God gave the rain and sunshine and life to the man, animals and plants. So the proper order of authority was God first, then humans, then the animals, plants, and soil of earth. Within the family an order mirrored the God who created all things. The family was husband, wife, and any children God gave them. The husband was the God appointed provider and protector for the home. Serving her husband, at his side, not under his feet, was his wife who honored her husband by living to complete what God saw was lacking in the man. She was to respect his decisions even when she did not agree. She lovingly submitted to his 'final say so' in decisions he needed to make. She also was the nurturer of life. In her body the seed of the man would unite with her seed and the child of this union would be loved and welcomed as part of the family. The wife by nature is a nurturer, a lover of beauty and art and color and harmony. She provides a place where her husband can safely entrust his dreams and visions for his family and the dominion God has given him. The wife joyfully embraced her duties and responsibilities over the dominion God had given her. Children are a blessing from God. They are to obey and honor their earthly father and mother that things go well for them and they have a long life.


Level four: I learned about God's design. Design is the purpose for which God, the creator of all things, made everything. Why am I here? What is the big picture? Did God make a world in complete harmony with Himself? How is God's creation supposed to relate to the One Who sits in the heavens and who dwells in light unapproachable? Exactly how does my relationship to the One Who created all things fit in with my day to day living?
Our next post will delve deeper into Level four observation. This will give you much to think about as you are perhaps formulating some goals for 2010. Interested in becoming a better person? Becoming a bit more concerned about the others around you? I think you will enjoy tomorrow's post. I will write it with my own life in mind.
Mrs. B.

Photos:
(c) realityimaging uk

Looking Ahead: 2010 Country Roads, Sunday Afternoons, GPS

As we look forward to entering 2010, many of us will want to chart a course and reach some new goals. As I reminisced today I remembered some times when my dad would take us out on Sunday afternoons for a drive in the car. Many times this was out some country road. We would just drive along, turn when we reached a fork in the road, continue on until it was time to head home. It was delightful seeing the sights and smelling the smells of the country. I was totally disoriented by so many turns, but Dad always got us home.
In many ways "life" reminds me of these trips into the country. Now we did not have a map or a GPS device in our car or anything like this. I guess we had the sun on a sunny day, but no compass or other instrument with which to navigate or chart our course. Our destination was "home". Home, that place where we would clean up, have a nice meal my mom prepared and talk over the things we had seen and experienced along the way.
I was never fearful that we would not reach home. I trusted Dad. He was my daddy. I was his daughter. Of course he would get me to a safe and happy place.

Many of you know that I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I have turned myself over to Him and He is the One who is guiding me to my final destination. I would like to share how exactly this has been working out the last thirty some years. First, we don't travel in the dark. I used to live in the kingdom of darkness. My final destination was not going to be a nice place like home. I was charting my own course and certainly did not consult God about His plan for my life. But in His mercy, my blind eyes were opened and I saw Grace and Truth. I knew from the Law of Moses, written on my heart, that I had done bad things. Things that I was ashamed of. But I had no idea how to change for the better. I tried to change myself. That failed. Then one day the Word of God reached my heart and I realized that Christ Jesus had died on the cross to take the penalty for all my sins. And to give me grace [grace is the desire and power to do God's will] and truth. Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled God's Holy requirements found in the Law. He did that so I would not need to. Good thing, since no man can be right in God's eyes. No matter how hard we try. God counts what Jesus did as though I had also fully obeyed God's Holy Laws.
God also extended grace that covered all my past, present,and future wrong doings or sins. God accepted the willing sacrifice of the blood of Jesus Christ, put to death on a cross, as 'payment' in full for my sin debt. In addition, I repented.. had a change of mind regarding who God is, who I am and God's remedy for my helpless condition of rebellion and hatred toward God. This repentance was also a gift from God by way of His grace.
So how is life different in my new kingdom? I now sit in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus. I am in the kingdom of light. Even though I live in the body on planet earth, I am also born into a new kingdom. One of truth and love and grace and mercy. One that I am so happy to tell others about. It is called the Kingdom of God. I trust God, my heavenly Father to get me to His Home. He has given me His Guidebook, the Holy Bible. His Spirit is like headlights of a car along a dark road, illuminating passages in the Book that show me the Way. Sometimes I am not always sure of exactly where I am.. God has numbered my days and until He determines it is time to turn toward Home, I continue on His planned path on earth.
As I grow older I am so excited to note that some of the early country roads are getting connected with the current road we travel. Of course God saw the connection all along. A road that was designed to mature me into conformity with the Character of Jesus Christ.
One example is how 25 years ago I had a dream. In this dream I saw a woman and boy on their knees. They were praying. Asking God for food. Just basic needs. Bread. And I woke up. Wide awake. I had been asking God if He would answer a prayer. I wanted to know if there was a certain nation I should pray about that had not heard much about the Kingdom of Light. I thought the people looked Chinese. But I asked God if China was the right country, then please tell me the name of the province. I knew very little about China! This is many years before Wikipedia or Google Search or even personal computers! And China had not been "open" to the West for very many years. I heard in my head the word that sounded like "henan".. much to my surprise there actually was a henan..as well as hunan.. so I began to pray for China. God gave me a great love for the nation and the people. Resources became available where I could learn more about the 450 plus people groups who called China "home". I continued daily searches in
God's Book to find His Way of Truth. His Word provided not only 'food' for my spirit, but also correction and training in the right ways of God. It would do no good to have a desire to see good things happen, if I did not learn to wait and do what God wanted His Way and His Timing.

At this point I did not know a single Chinese person. Then several years ago, God opened a way for me to meet over Skype a young woman who lived in Hong Kong. How very exciting. God did a marvelous work of grace in her life and in spite of the fact that I speak no Chinese and she speaks limited English, she is a sister in Christ Jesus. The story does not stop. Father just kept taking new turns on that country road. I am involved with other Chinese women over skype, encouraging them in micro enterprise. I desire to see the rural Chinese women be able to keep their hand craft knowledge and young women stay in the home or near by until they marry. I have the privilege of praying with them as they seek out the Father's planned journey for their lives. Our God is incredible.
If you are looking for a change in 2010.. you are not so happy on your current road in life..
Consider Jesus Christ. If you have any questions about what I am saying please contact me.
I am not talking about religious stuff. I find religion very boring and harmful.
To whom will you look for direction and purpose in life? Will you reach life's end with a pile of regrets.. or with the excitement of a life spent well..
Christ Jesus pleased the Father always while on earth. How so? He always did only what He saw the Father doing. He submitted His will to be under the will of God the Father.
If you are a fellow pilgrim on His Way, keep looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith walk. Ask for and receive His grace to press on. Take time to say a kind word to fellow travelers.
Simply trusting..
Mrs. B.

You Have the Words of Eternal Life

Ok, for my many friends, Please listen to this. Write me and let's dialogue about it, ok? God loves you and so do I.

Jesus... The Revolutionary.. Merry Christmas 2009

Have you been hearing the words to the familiar Christmas Carols as you finished up your Holiday buying? What is this holiday all about? What is the meaning of "Christmas" to you? Santa? Presents? Commercialism? People pretending to enjoy being with relatives they see only one time a year? I have experienced 62 times of the anniversary of an event that happened at least 2010 years ago!
"Christmas" is a shortened form of "Christ" plus "mass". "Mass" here is related to the celebration of the Eucharist among followers of Jesus Christ. "Christ" is not the surname or last name of Jesus; it is His title, meaning Messiah. "Messiah" means "anointed one". It refers to the expected Jewish king who was prophesied to come and deliver the Jews from their enemies. Jesus came however to undo the works of satan and to deliver man from his own sins. His is a kingdom of the heart, not a political kingdom.
"Eucharist" comes from a Greek word meaning to show favor, gratitude, grace.. to rejoice. Eucharist is celebrated as a time of communion. Each individual who participates in the communion celebration symbolically partakes of the Life of Jesus Christ. Collectively, each member is considered part of the Body of Christ. Christ is the "Head". His Body is also called the Church or Called Out Ones. We are speaking of life here, not buildings or statues or representation of early saints. The "church" often meets in buildings or homes. However, the building is NOT the church.
The symbols used in the Eucharist are generally a piece of bread and a small cup of juice of the grape. Communion is sharing; perhaps you know the word "communication". So what is shared in the communion time? How can that have anything to do with celebrating Christmas and the Title of this blog, Jesus as a Revolutionary?
Let's dig a little deeper into the Words of Jesus prior to His crucifixion death. The Gospel of John chapter 6 records how Jesus miraculously feeds 5000 men plus women and children from just 5 loaves of bread and two fish. Of course the people were thrilled and wished to make Jesus King right then! Everyone likes a "free lunch", yes? But strangely, Jesus withdrew. This was not the way He would rule as King. The next day Jesus gave perhaps the most revolutionary teaching any man had spoken. Let us hear the exact word of Jesus from the ESV Bible. John 6:22 to 69 says:
²²On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. ²³Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. ²⁴ So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

²⁵When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" ²⁶Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. ²⁷ Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." ²⁸Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" ²⁹Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." ³⁰So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" ³²Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." ³⁴They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."

³⁵Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. ³⁶But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. ³⁷ All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. ³⁸For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. ³⁹And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. ⁴⁰For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

⁴¹So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." ⁴²They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" ⁴³Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. ⁴⁴No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. ⁴⁵It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— ⁴⁶ not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. ⁵⁰ This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

⁵²The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" ⁵³So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. ⁵⁵For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. ⁵⁶Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. ⁵⁷As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." ⁵⁹Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

The Words of Eternal Life

⁶⁰ When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" ⁶¹But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? ⁶²Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) ⁶⁵And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." ⁶⁶ After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. ⁶⁷So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" ⁶⁸Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, ⁶⁹and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
I encourage you to study these words. There is some confusion in our world about who Jesus is. Many think He is a good teacher with similar words to Confucius and Buddha and Mohammed and Chief Seattle. But none of these men said we find life by "eating of their flesh and drinking their blood"!
What are the promises of Jesus in this part of the Word of God? First, no one can come to Jesus and receive life eternal unless God, the Father grants it. Second, whoever eats of His flesh and drinks of His blood, Jesus will raise up at the resurrection of the dead. Raised up with a new, imperishable body. Third, whoever eats of the flesh of Jesus and drinks of His blood abides in Jesus and Jesus abides in that person. Intimacy with God, relationship, not a bus ticket to heaven.
"Revolutionary" means that which brings about a major or fundamental change.
No matter who you think Jesus is, most acknowledge that He certainly brought about and continues to bring about a fundamental change. But Jesus changes the inside of a person. We are not talking about external ways to please God -- religious observances such as prayers, alms giving, fasting, pilgrimages, reading Holy Books or forms of self flagellation. Eternal life begins with the change that occurs inside the human heart, which the Word of God says is desperately wicked. Beyond man's attempts to clean and make good. Jesus brought not a sword with which to rule and conquer people. He brought His own flesh and blood body. A body which would be willingly put on a Roman cross of execution. Yes, Jesus went to the cross. Yes He died there. Yes, He is who He said He was--the only One who has seen the Father. Son of Man, Son of God. Son is talking about relationship. Jesus is NOT the son of Mary and Joseph. His miraculous birth made of Him a new man, a second Adam, the firstborn among many brothers. Jesus --perfect God, perfect Man--died as a substitute for all who will put their trust in His blood sacrifice and will repent of their sins.
Maybe you have been thinking about Jesus. Maybe deep in your heart you know you are not right with God. You know a Holy, Sinless God will not allow you into heaven when you die. You are faced with a decision. Accept God's way to become right with Him.. Unless you eat the flesh and drink His blood, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Or depend on your own good works and try and someway earn a place of favor with God.
Jesus is a revolutionary because He said that He is the ONLY way to the Father. The ONLY way to become right with God. The ONLY way into the Kingdom of God. But what could He mean that we get to God by "eating His flesh and drinking His blood"?
In Chapter Six Jesus prophesies His upcoming sacrifice on the cross. Remember, the Old Testament teaches that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Sin required a burnt offering of an animal as well as shed blood. For the life is in the blood. God's Words spoken to Noah. Jesus body would be broken but not burned. His blood would pour out in atonement for man's sins. Jesus, the Sinless Man, would take in His body the full wrath of God against man's sin. God would look upon the perfect, sinless blood of His Son and accept that as full payment for OUR sin debt. That is revolutionary, yes?
He gave His broken body and shed blood willingly as a sacrifice that man might have life eternal.
But Jesus is much more than this. He can become YOUR life now! Bread is called the "staff of life". Jesus called Himself both the Living Bread and the Bread of Life. Perhaps the dual meaning here means just as we eat food [bread] daily and our bodies digest and use it for energy and rebuilding our cells, we can be spiritually nourished by the Life of Christ who abides in each one who has by faith repented of sins and trusted in the shed blood of Jesus to atone for their sins. There is also a deeper meaning. In some mysterious way, God by His Spirit lives in each believer. We are still individual humans--retaining our own personalities. But God can abide and rule in our hearts and we are quite aware of this. If anyone abides in Christ Jesus, He becomes a new creation; the old ways of living pass away, a new way comes. Through the revolutionary new birth brought through the Spirit of God, a person has new desires, new direction, new ways of relating to God and man. There is a fundamental change in direction from being self absorbed to God focused. We become most satisfied with God Himself. Jesus gives life meaning and purpose. When we meet together with other believers in a time of corporate communion and share the broken bread and the cup, we celebrate not only the sacrifice of the broken body of our Lord Jesus Christ, but also the sustenance of His life provides me as well as the shared life we have with each and every believer world wide. Truly globally revolutionary. Part of a world wide family each member a part of one another through the sharing of the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus.
But what about "drinking blood"? "Eating flesh". Ugh.. Makes me think of the cannibals of the 1800s that John Paton encountered on the New Hebrides islands.
“Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life … For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him … so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.’”
Thankfully, Jesus explains, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” Jesus specifically stated that His words are “spirit.” Jesus was using physical concepts, eating and drinking, to teach spiritual truth. Just as consuming physical food and drink sustains our physical bodies, so are our spiritual lives saved and built up by spiritually receiving Him, by grace through faith. Eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking His blood are symbols of fully and completely receiving Him in our lives. [thanks to www.GotQuestions.org for this explanation]
Author Dr. Paul Brand in his book He Satisfies My Soul adds the idea of the life giving properties of blood in a blood transfusion. Jewish law prohibited eating the meat with the blood in it or drinking blood, so obviously Jesus was not talking about a literal drinking of any blood. Just as a blood transfusion is a share life, a transferred life, so one by grace through faith appropriates the Life of Christ. What else does blood do in the human body? In addition to the energy we get as food is eaten and digested, blood also cleanses the human body. How we desperately need the cleansing power available only through appropriating the shed blood of Jesus which cleanses us from ALL unrighteosness. Hebrews 9:14 speaks of how the blood of Jesus cleanses us from dead works to serve the living God. Another exciting function of blood is it is a great fighter against invading enemies, such as germs which cause disease in our bodies. Revelation 12:11 speaks of how by the blood of the Lamb [another name for Jesus.. behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world] defeats the armies of satan, the enemy of God and mankind. The life of Jesus living in me also gives me power to resist temptations to do wrong. He suffered temptations so that He might help those who are being tempted. Truly there is "power in the blood."
So let's 'wrap this up.' Pun intended. I want to close by sharing a story from Paul Brand's Book He Satisfies My Soul. An Arabic Baptist church in Israel celebrates the communion of the Lord's Supper by each member bringing a handful of grain. Perhaps from his own farm. The grain is collectively put together, ground into flour and baked into a loaf. When taking of the bread, representing the broken body of Christ Jesus for the remission of sins, the group of believers experience a oneness of fellowship that they explain like this: As individual seeds of grain, we remain alone, isolated. After being mixed together and ground into flour and baked as one loaf we experience the life of one another. We experience full fellowship.
So we need daily to be broken and crushed of our sense of pride and self sufficiency and see the need we have for fellow believers.
So for my many other individual members of His Body, I wish you Merry Christmas; thank you for your many prayers for our family. My fellow members of Christ's Body, whether in China, the Philippines, Korea, Mongolia, Burma, Canada, Germany, Holland, the US, Brazil, Slovakia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza Strip, Jordan, African countries--Egypt, South Africa, Uganda, Tunisia, Algeria, Ivory Coast; Romania, UK, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong or Taiwan. Sorry if I forgot your country. In Christ we are one. In Christ, there is no separation. Take, eat, This is My Body, broken for you.. so we remember Him Who came to give us His Life. We also remember one another and the bond of fellowship we enjoy in Him. Let us look forward to the time when we together will rejoice around His throne.. peoples from every tongue, tribe, language group [ I want to be able to speak Chinese and Arabic. :) ] all gathered at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb.. oh what a Eucharist that will be!