At this the
Jews began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down
from heaven.”
John 6:41
The
classic game show, Let’s Make a Deal,
is centered on deals offered by the host to select studio audience participants.
The traders weigh the offer in hand to an unknown prize behind one of three
curtains. Sometimes it’s a trade up. Sometimes it’s an unwanted prize like a
junked car. Always there’s the draw that the deal behind the curtain is better
than what they possess right now.
There’s
nothing new under the sun. In John 6 the people were pursuing their deal
breaker: bread. On a mountainside located on the far shore of the Sea of
Galilee Jesus fed 5,000 with five small barley loaves and two fish. After they
had eaten, they envisioned what they hoped was behind curtain number one: a
king who would give them their fill of bread and other physical advantages.
Jesus
knew their motives and withdrew from the crowds. The next day they tracked Him
down on the opposite side of the sea. They were hungry for more bread and
benefits. They craved what didn’t satisfy. Jesus offered them something
infinitely better.
He
revealed what was behind the next curtain. I
am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who
believes in me will never be thirsty. 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 (v. 35, 40).
Here’s
the deal. You can have temporal bread or living bread. You can eat physical
bread like manna and yet die or you can eat the bread from heaven and live
forever.
Their
response? They grumbled! They were offended. Many of His disciples turned back
and no longer followed Him.
Think
about it. How many times has God’s best gift been right in front of us like
Jesus’ physical presence was to these Jews, and we’ve grumbled instead of
receiving it with gratitude, we walked away instead of giving thanks?
What
elusive deal are you and I chasing that we think will make life better than it
is right now? May the cry of our heart not be for more bread, money, time,
recognition, success, fame, or _____________________ whatever you’re chasing.
May the cry of our heart be, “Just give me Jesus!”
Think on it: What is the last thing
you grumbled about? Will you trade it in for gratitude today? If so, how?
Give me, Jesus. Give me, Jesus. You can have all this world, just give
me Jesus.
African-American Spiritual
grace and peace,
Lenae
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