“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) After feeding the five thousand with five loaves of bread, Jesus withdrew himself from the crowd, knowing that they intended to make him king by force.(6:15) But the crowd went in search of him and found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered,”The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” How simpler can it get than this! Every other charity a man does is of no greater value to God than believing in his Christ! But they asked, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you?” How could they ask this dumb question because they just ate from the five loaves that had multiplied and before it could be digested, they were asking him for another sign! That sounds like their forefathers grumbling: “Give us water to drink” (Exodus 17:2)They probably hadn’t finished eating the quails before they started doubting whether he would provide them with water too! “Do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you … For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” – (John 6,27,33) All of life seems to be about earning our bread but “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”– (Matthew 4:4/Deuteronomy 8:3)

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit whom those who believed in him were later to receive. – (John 7:37,39) He had offered this living waters earlier to the Samaritan woman by the well and said to her: “The water I give will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” -(John 4:14) That’s the best part of the offer! It never runs out! When the wine ranout at the wedding in Cana, Jesus offered the new wine and the master of the banquet tasted the water that was turned to wine and said, “Everyone bring out the choice wine first … but you have saved the best till now.” – (John 2:10) The sooner we realise our shortfalls, the better because then Jesus can offer us his best! “But no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is better.'” (Luke 5:39) Let go of the old and begin to revel in the new! The best is yet to come, if we would ask for it today!  “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” – (Luke 11:13)

“Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of the light.”– ( John 12:36) Jesus spoke these words just six days before his death. It was said of him earlier : ‘In him was life and that life was the light of men …The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.’– (John 1:4,9) The world was literally plunged into darkness at his death. ‘It was now about the sixth hour and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining.’ – (Luke 23:44) Once again the world is going to be plunged into darkness both spiritually and physically and its harbingers (something that signals approach) can be seen in the happenings around the world. ‘The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.’ –  (Joel 2:31) Let’s dare to walk in the light because “whoever lives by the truth comes into the light but everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” – (John 3:20-21) Let’s remember that we who have put our trust in the light are the ‘light of the world’ too! (Matthew 5:14) Amen.

“Unless the kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” –  John 12:24) After Lazarus was raised from the dead, the word spread and his popularity increased such that a great crowd went out to meet him as he entered Jerusalem before the Passover (12:17-18)  Some Greeks who came for the feast wanted to personally meet with Jesus and send word through Philip (12:21) but Jesus didn’t seem excited by the new found popularity. Unlike the celebrity ‘servants of God’ of today, he didn’t receive the dignitaries on stage and give them time to felicitate him for his achievements. Instead he spoke to the crowd about his imminent death which would result in many more being like him in his stead ! ‘When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.’ – (12:36) His enemies thought it would be over with his death but to their horror, they found many more like him take his place after the day of Pentecost! “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” This has been the history of the Church because ‘the blood of the saint is the seed of the Church’. During his time on earth, Jesus did many notable things but his only mission in life was to take upon himself the sin of the world. It is not about being popular but in getting many to be like Christ, starting with us! ‘Be imitators of God … just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God ‘– ( Ephesians 5:1)

“Do you want to get well?” – (John 5:6) That might seem like a ridiculous question to ask because who doesn’t want to get well ! As Jesus came to Jerusalem, he found many disabled people around the pool of Bethesda, waiting for the waters of to be stirred and learned that a certain man had been hopelessly waiting for 38 years to be healed. Jesus wanted to know whether he had the mind to obey instructions but the man had many excuses to say. Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!” What a silly instruction to tell a man who can’t even get up! Nevertheless, he did and ‘at once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.’ Our miracle is only an instruction away, if we have the mind to obey a seemingly ridiculous instruction by faith! Let’s stop making excuses and have a mind to get up and start doing what he had told us to do. Let’s stop superstitiously waiting for better days and make a difference now! ‘For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ – (Ephesians 2:10) Amen.

“If you knew the gift of God and who is it that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” – (John 4:10)  To a woman in a parched land, who had to spent part of each day hauling clay jugs in and out of a well, Jesus said, “Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again but whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst.” Attracted by that offer, she says, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” But why did he ask her to call her husband? Because Jesus wouldn’t give this living water until he deals with her  past. When he exposed her adulterous life, she didn’t feel embarrassed but rather inquisitive to know more!  “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see you are a prophet .. I know the Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.” She at once  left her water jar and went back and brought the entire town to meet Jesus with her testimony, “Come see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Jesus wants to meets us at our place of need today and through us to reach a community but we need to ask for the living waters ! “Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete.” – (John 16:24)

“Let us go over to the other side.”– (Mark 4:35) Led by the Spirit, Jesus got on to a boat to get to the other side of the sea of Galilee to deliver a demon possessed man. Suddenly a furious squall broke out without any warning and tried to swamp their boat in order to stop him from his mission but Jesus rebuked and stilled the wind and the waves.This man lived in the tombs and no one was strong enough to subdue him. His cry was heard night and day as he cut himself with stones. To the horror of the demons who possessed him, the man ran to Jesus on seeing him, instead of running away from him because the yearning within to be delivered, drove him to the feet of Jesus. Left with no choice but to leave, the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs instead but neither could they stand these filthy creatures! Let’s not run away from Jesus but run to him and be delivered today from all our bondages! He will go any length to save and is unstoppable! ‘When the people came to Jesus see they found the man sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind and they were afraid … and asked Jesus to leave.’ –  (Luke 8:35-37) Jesus made him stay back as a witness, when he wanted to go with them. ‘So the man went to the Decapolis (ten cities) and told everyone how much Jesus had done for him.’ – (Mark 5:20) Just as nothing stopped Jesus from saving us, let nothing stop us from witnessing him!  ‘Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.’ – (Isaiah 59:1)

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (John 20:16) The voice was too familiar to be mistaken! Mary loved Jesus more than any of his other disciples because none of them experienced ‘salvation’ in the way she experienced it, when he saved her from the mob that wanted to stone her to death. Now that her Saviour was dead, she wanted to accord him a proper burial by embalming his body with spices, in accordance with the custom but had to wait for the Sabbath to get over. ‘Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, she went to the tomb and saw that the stone was removed.’ She hurried to tell his other disciples and they came and saw for themselves. ‘Then the disciples went back to their homes but Mary stood outside the tomb crying.’ In the face of that love, Jesus, the High priest of the new covenant, wouldn’t enter heaven with his own blood (Hebrews 9:12) without first appearing to Mary, because Love mattered more to him than the rule book! It says that the high priest must not be touched but then love doesn’t defile! “Do not hold on to me for I have not yet returned to the Father.” – ( John 20:17)  Her love for her Saviour has become the epitome (a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type) of human gratitude but the world cannot understand the beauty of this undying love! ‘Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus with an undying love.’ – (Ephesians 6:24) Amen

“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” –  (Luke 7:50) These words were probably said to Mary (called Magdalene) from Magdala because Luke narrated her story just before introducing her by name in the very next chapter (8:2). As Jesus travelled from Capernaum (Luke 7:1) to Nain (7:11), he went through a town the Bible doesn’t name but probably Magdala, as it was along the way. ‘When a woman who HAD lived a sinful life in that town, heard that Jesus was eating at a Pharisee’s house, she brought a jar of perfume and stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair and kissed them and poured perfume on them.’ –  (Luke 8:37-38) She had a previous encounter with Christ that changed her life and now she came back to show her love. She was caught in adultery at Jerusalem and brought to Jesus to be stoned but none of her accusers could condemn her. “Then neither do I condemn you”, Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” – (John 8:11) Let’s not forget the mercy he has shown us and come back to show our love. “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much.” – (Luke 7:47)

“I am willing”, he said. “Be clean!” – (Mark 1:41) When the man with leprosy came and fell on his knees before Jesus, he didn’t doubt the ability of Christ but the willingness of Christ to heal him. ‘Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man’, instead of just speaking a word over him, so as to physically assure him of his willingness. Yet Jesus rebuked those who doubted God’s ability, for a man whose son was possessed by an evil spirit came to him and said, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can?'” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” – (Mark 9:22-23) We might not doubt the ability of God but we are often not sure of his willingness.  ‘Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.’ – (Hebrews 11:1-2)  Like them, let’s be assured  of His willingness and let our faith be found complete. Amen.

“For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” – (Mark 7:29) How could a Gentile woman be certain about the identity of Jesus  that she beseeched him saying, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me”? – (Matthew 15:22) Jesus decided to check out how grounded (well balanced and sensible) her faith is before granting her request. He pretended to ignore her saying, “First let the children eat all they want for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs”, to which she replied with great wit, that as a matter of fact, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Flabbergasted (greatly astonished) by her reply, Jesus said, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” – (Matthew 15:28) If the ‘crumbs’ are a blessing to Gentiles, how much more the fullness in Christ will be to them? ‘He has redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus …’ – (Galatians 3:14) Remember today that Christ is listening to our words of faith!

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.” – (Mark 5:36) Jesus often exhorted those around him to believe before he did a miracle because miracles require an atmosphere of faith for it to happen. So he put out the unbelieving crowd from within Jairus’ house and let only the girl’s parents and his disciples to go with him inside to witness the supernatural ! Yet when he went to his hometown, ‘he could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith.’– (Mark 6:5) He couldn’t help them overcome their unbelief because of their prejudice about him. Put out those who hinder our faith and be with those who dare to believe! Set the stage for miracles and our lives will become naturally supernatural! “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” – (John 11:40)

“Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” –  (Matthew 9:22) Just a slight touch by faith at the edge of his cloak caused power to flow out from Jesus while others crowding and pressing against him couldn’t draw it out ! Not that he didn’t have the means to know who touched him but he wanted her to come forward by herself and publically acknowledge her faith in Christ, though it might have been embarrassing for her to be exposed. When she heard Jesus say, “Someone touched me; I know power has gone out of me”, and realised that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling with fear and fell at his feet. With tenderness, Jesus instantly reassured her of the healing which ‘she already felt in her body’. (Mark 5:29) There are many who crowd around Jesus but let our faith touch him today! Be unashamed to confess Christ publically and be reassured of his tender love. It was said of the Messiah : ‘A bruised reed he will not break and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out!’ – (Isaiah 42:3)

“Go ! It will be done just as you believed it would.”– (Matthew 8:13) There was nothing that excited Jesus more than faith that he had to acknowledge it publically. Yet the Centurion’s faith was so simple! He didn’t know anything about the Law and the Prophets but just believed that Christ was a man under the authority of God, just as he was under Caesar. Astonished by his faith, Jesus said to those following him: “I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” Jesus was pleased to grant his request immediately. The ways of God are so simple that even Gentiles could appropriate for themselves, the promises of God by faith but the subjects of the kingdom couldn’t because they tried to attain the promises of God by works. Let’s rediscover our childlike faith which excites God’s heart ! ‘And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe he exists and he rewards those who earnestly seek him.’ – (Hebrews 11:6) Amen.

“Blessed are you, Simon … for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Cepha (Rock), …” (Matthew 16:18) Jesus always acknowledged faith and he was spontaneous in responding to it with ‘bigger than life’ promises, made to those who boldly and unashamedly confessed their faith in Him. Just as Jesus prophesied, Peter went on to become a fearless spokesman of the early Church (Acts 2:14, 4:13), one of the reputed pillars of the Church (Galatians 2:9) and the Apostolic foundation on which the Church was built (Ephesians 2:20), because he didn’t hesitate to confess: “You are Christ, the Son of the living God.” If you haven’t made your good confession yet, don’t hesitate to confess Christ, starting today. Let Him speak a word of promise over us that will change the course of our lives forever. ‘From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.’ (John 1:16) Amen.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Jesus exhorted his disciples to be positive because just as he overcame the world, they too were destined to overcome the world, once they received the Holy Spirit.  He wasn’t speaking of overcoming death, which he was yet to overcome, but he spoke of that which he had already overcome – the world, sin and Satan. So he said: “The prince of this world is coming but he has no hold on me.” (John 14:30) We often contemplate about a victory in our next life but God exhorts us to walk in victory now, in this life! Victory is not measured by the wealth we possess but in our ability to turn our backs on this world and sin. ‘Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.’ (1 John 5:4 ) Amen.