Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Fill Yourself With the Bread of Life

Then Jesus declared, “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.”

-- John 6:35

The Bible is full of symbolism. The stories of old are alive today, living and breathing truth into us. We can read something again and again and, suddenly, it all makes sense in a whole new way and we wonder what took us so long to get it.

In his book, The Journey, Adam Hamilton points out a symbolism that I never noticed before. Jesus, the bread of life, was born in Bethlehem, which means “House of Bread.” I never knew that small fact which means is so significant.

But let’s take it a step further. After Jesus’ birth, Luke tells us three times that He lay in a manger. Unlike the wooden one that most of us imagine, it was likely cut from stone. It seems so hard and cold, much too stark for a newborn baby. Somehow that doesn’t fit the picture in our minds.

What was a manger used for? To feed the animals. The bread of life born to feed His people. Do you get it? I know. I can’t believe I missed it all these years either.

The hustle and bustle of Christmas can seem so overwhelming sometimes. We get so focused on gifts and parties, food and commitments that we miss the real story. We rush right past the manger and don’t take time to stop, and eat, from the bread of life.

We think that somehow giving the perfect gifts will fill us with joy. We believe that wonderful presents will make us happy. We know that contentment comes from a table groaning with food and a festive tree standing nearby. We wonder why we still feel so empty inside when the day is done. It’s because all those things can never fill us up inside, in that place where joy and happiness and contentment reside.

So how do we reclaim what is ours for the taking? Perhaps by taking the focus off the external and turning it back to the baby who was born that day. It’s not our birthday. It’s His. Do you really think He cares about all those things that will be gone in the blink of an eye?

Hamilton noted that his church gives its Christmas Eve offering to two projects benefiting children in need. One is in Africa and the other is in their hometown area. It reminds them -- and us -- of what Jesus would likely want for His birthday. He would want us to care for His sheep, to provide for His people.

This Christmas season take a few moments and think about all those gifts you’re giving and receiving. Ask yourself what you think Jesus might want you to give to Him. That’s where you’ll begin filling up that empty space inside of you with the bread of life.