From the desk of Pastor Ben.
Manna Compared to the True Bread

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”         (John 6:32-33)

Our Lord proceeded to rebuke the people for their misunderstanding of manna as it related to the true bread.

First, the people did not realize that it was God rather than Moses who gave their ancestors the bread out of heaven.” In Exodus 16:4 “the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you.’” Moses simply told the Israelites God’s instructions for the gathering of the manna (Exodus 16:15-30).

Second, the people did not understand that manna had not ultimately been the true bread from heaven. Jesus’ words indicate that the true bread was not the manna of long ago, but what God presently gives. The manna, though an actual physical bread from God, merely foreshadowed the ultimate true bread from God — His Son, the Lord Jesus.

Third, the crowd did not discern the life-giving differences between manna, which gave physical life, and “the bread of God,” which gives spiritual life. Manna provided physical nourishment to sustain the people in the wilderness, but Jesus Christ is the one and only giver of spiritual and eternal life (John 5:29; 6:53; 10:10; 14:6).

Finally, the people did not grasp that whereas manna came only to Israel, the true bread from heaven comes to the world. Salvation through Christ’s death is for all who believe (John 3:15-16, 18, 36; 5:24), regardless of nationality (John 4:39-42; Romans 1:5-6, 16). Thus, Jesus is the true bread from God and infinitely superior to Moses or anyone else!

Ask Yourself:
We have a tendency to look to others for our feeding — to anyone who keeps us spiritually taught and mentored and encouraged. What are the dangers of putting unrealistic hope in the teachers of truth rather than its Source?

From the desk of Pastor Ben.
The Response of False Disciples – Part 2

Therefore, they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”     (John 6:28-29)

People in the crowd processed Jesus’ words through the prism of their sinful minds and concluded that the Lord wanted them to do something to get eternal life. This was a parallel to the rich young ruler’s question, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16), or the lawyer who “stood up and put Him to the test, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Luke 10:25). Questions like these were fairly common for the Jews who pursued eternal life through the duties and rituals of their religion.

Of course, we know authentic salvation does not come through good works (Titus 3:5). Therefore, Jesus told the people that the only work God accepted was for them to “believe in Him who He has sent.” Salvation comes by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), through faith alone (Romans 3:28), in Christ alone (Acts 4:12), “because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight” (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16). Salvation is truly a divine gift (John 4:10; Romans 6:23), thus it does not come from any human striving or morality, but from a sincere faith that results in good works (Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 7:16-20; Luke 6:43-46). So-called faith, without any spiritual fruit, is dead and was never biblical faith at all (James 2:14-26).

Unlike the apostles, who responded to Christ’s power with faith, the crowd was initially curious but ultimately unwilling to repent and abandon its unrighteousness, proving they were never true disciples of Jesus.

Ask Yourself:
It is hard for us to grasp that “where there is no law, there also is no violation” (Romans 4:15), that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). But it’s true. How does this saving grace become the living grace that keeps us resting in His righteousness?

From the desk of Pastor Ben.
The Response of False Disciples – Part 1

Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”             (John 6:26-27)

Jesus’ answer here actually bypassed the crowd’s irrelevant, superficial question concerning His arrival in Capernaum (vs. 25) and probed the real issue of the people’s sinful motives. Just the previous day they had wrongly attempted to make Him king after the miraculous feeding; telling them about the latest events on the lake would have only further incited their misguided messianic fervor. Jesus never did commit Himself to such thrill-seeking false disciples(Psalm 25:14; Matthew 13:11; John 2:24).

Jesus’ rebuke to the crowd for seeking Him merely because it enjoyed eating the bread and fish, exposed the people’s materialistic hearts. Although the people had seen the miraculous feeding of the large crowd (John 6:14), they did not understand the spiritual implications of that miracle or other signs.

Instead of pursuing perishable food as they did, Jesus urged them to seek “the food which endures to eternal life,” which was none other than the Messiah Himself, the Bread of Life (John 6:35, 54). He certainly knew that people needed physical nourishment, but He was much more interested in their spiritual welfare (John 4:14; Matthew 16:26; 2 Corinthians 4:16). As God’s beloved Son, only He has the authority and power to bestow genuine spiritual food from the Father that truly satisfies the hunger for righteousness (Matthew 5:6).

Ask Yourself:
What are some of the temporary delights you sometimes seek, mistakenly hoping they’ll be enough to keep you satisfied on a daily basis? What are they missing that only Jesus can provide? What does He give you that none of us can do without?

From the desk of Pastor Ben.
True and False Disciples Contrasted

“He said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.” So they were willing to receive Him into the boat.”        (John 6:20-21a)

The apostles’ worshipful reaction to Jesus’ miracles on the lake and their willing reception of Him back into the boat — along with their obedience in heading for the other side of the lake — demonstrated their true discipleship. Their behavior showed they ultimately loved Christ more than anything else, even life itself (see Matthew 10:38-39; Luke 9:23-24; John 12:25). Only genuine disciples are willing to submit to Jesus Christ’s lordship in everything — even if it means persecution, execution, or death in a storm on the Sea of Galilee.

On the other hand, false disciples by definition are not receptive to the demands of real discipleship that the Lord sets forth. And when “affliction or persecution arises because of the word” or “the worry of the world and the deceitful ness of wealth choke the word” (Matthew 13:21-22), such people reveal their true allegiances and forsake the Lord Jesus.

The accounts of Jesus walking on the water, rescuing Peter from drowning, and calming the storm, illustrate the final response true disciples will have toward their Lord. But as we will see in the coming days, false disciples do not pursue Christ with the goal of recognizing and obeying Him as their Lord and Savior. Rather, they think only of personal gain, and when they don’t receive their selfish desires, they abandon Jesus altogether (see John 6:60, 66).

Ask Yourself:
You may have already gone far with Jesus, clinging to Him steadfastly in difficult times, suffering ridicule and misunderstanding for bearing His name. But is there any line you’re not sure you could cross? Ask God to keep your heart open and submissive, whatever the cost.

From the desk of Pastor Ben.
Proof of Divine Power

When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”     (Matthew 14:32-33)

Jesus accomplished this spectacular miracle without uttering a word or raising either hand. It was as if the wind was merely waiting for the miracles on the lake to happen. When the wind had served its purpose in these dramatic events, it just stopped.

Just as abruptly, “the boat was at the land to which they were going” (John 6:21). According to normal human experience, we should hardly be surprised that the apostles “were utterly astonished” (Mark 6:51).  But because those men had witnessed many miraculous displays of Jesus’ powers over the previous two years, the present events should not have been that astonishing to them. However, Mark explains why the disciples reacted with such amazement: “They had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened” (Mark 6:52).

But now, the Holy Spirit softened those same hearts and opened their eyes as never before. As a result, “those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘You are certainly God’s Son!’” The Lord took them past mere amazement and prompted them to worship Him, which was the original purpose of His signs. Finally, the disciples were beginning to see the lofty role of Christ as the Son of God and creator of the universe:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created . . .visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”     (Colossians 1:15-17)

Ask Yourself:
What if you could condition yourself to see every twist and turn in life as a fresh opportunity to worship — whether to thank Him for His help, or to fall back into His strong arms, or to renew your trust in Him for obedience and resistance to temptation? Ask God to help you see things this way again.

From the desk of Pastor Ben
Divine Love: Peter and Jesus – Part 3

Immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”     (Matthew 14:31)

Peter’s love for Jesus was sincere, but he did not grasp the extreme nature of what he was about to attempt. Once he got out on to the water, the situation changed radically, he took his eyes off of Jesus, and he began to sink. Peter then could think of nothing else but drowning, and Jesus had to reach out and pull him up. The Lord then rebuked him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” But that would have been obvious to Peter. He was weary from rowing all night, frightened by the storm and what he thought was a ghost, and now, he’d almost drowned before reaching Jesus. Peter’s weak faith, bolstered by a genuine love for Christ, was better than no faith. At least he did not cower in the boat as the others did; rather he made an attempt to join his Master.

When we get frustrated, anxious, or frightened during trials, Satan tempts us to question God’s providence in allowing such difficulties. And if we focus on our circumstances rather than God, we will begin to sink just like Peter did. But our Lord’s abundant resources are available to us, just as they were for Peter.

Years later, he would write, “In this you greatly rejoice, even tough now for a little while . . . You have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”     (1 Peter 1:6-7)

Ask Yourself:
What advice do you often receive from. Those around you when life overwhelms you and the swimming is nearly impossible? If faithless people are too often in your ear, seek out those whose counsel and perspectives are laced with biblical principles. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus.

From the desk of Pastor Ben
Divine Love: Peter and Jesus – Part 2

Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”         (Matthew 14:28-31)

Our Lord, displaying the greatest of compassion, commanded Peter to come to Him on the water. Christ was greatly pleased that Peter wanted to join Him. So, we can be certain that Jesus wasn’t inviting Peter, much less commanding him, to do anything sinful, even though it involved something bold and unprecedented. Just as the Savior always accepts and builds upon a Christian’s weak faith, He always accepts and nourishes imperfect love such as Peter’s. With much patience and care, He takes believers’ love and, through sufferings and trials as well as blessings and triumphs, molds that love into more perfect conformity to the divine love.

Jesus’ telling the leader of the apostles to “Come!” was surely a loving order. John declares, “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love” (1 John 4:16). It is God’s nature to love His own with an infinite, unqualified, unchanging, and perfect love. And believers most fully reflect the love of God when they are loving, especially to one another. The apostle John instructs us, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God who he has not seen” (1 John 4:20).

Ask Yourself:
Have you had any reason lately to question the love of God on your behalf? It is so like our enemy to use negative situations to attack the sure Word of God, misinterpreting hardship as grounds for doubting the Lord’s faithful compassion. Stand firm on what you know to be true!

From the desk of Pastor Ben
Divine Love: Peter and Jesus – Part 1

Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”         (Matthew 14:28-31)

Peter undoubtedly was overjoyed to see that the figure on the stormy waters was actually Jesus. Although Peter knew Jesus could empower him to walk on the water, he did not want to presume such an attempt without Jesus’ permission. Peter’s request that Jesus allow him to walk on the water was an act of affection built on confident faith.

The ever-eager Peter could be faulted for everything from brashness to being a coward, but he also did many things out of love, courage, and faith. At the Transfiguration, this statement was not prudent, but prompted by Peter’s sincere devotion: “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Matthew 17:4). He truly loved Jesus and wanted to serve Him to the fullest. In this episode on the stormy lake, Peter sensed the comfort and relief of Jesus’ presence, and he wanted to be as close as possible.

Peter’s love for Jesus was imperfect, but it was genuine. Later on, Jesus would not contradict Peter’s three-time affirmation of love for Him, but simply charge him to shepherd the sheep of God and warn him of the cost of discipleship (John 21:15-18). According to tradition, Peter requested to be crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die as Jesus had.

Ask Yourself:
Can you tell that God is calling you to risk the safety of your comfort zone, perhaps in a business decision, or the possibility of a leadership position, or the resolution of a family matter? What might your next bold move need to look like, and how are you partying about it?

From the desk of Pastor Ben
Proof of Divine Protection – Part 2

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”     (Matthew 14:26-27)

As believers, we will always be in a place where Jesus can find us and help us, no matter how difficult the circumstances or how severe the opposition (Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5). The lesson for the apostles in the boat is the same one for us: there is no reason for the Lord’s children to fear.

Consider Paul’s experience on the ship taking him to Rome. A particularly violent storm slammed that vessel and threatened to sink it or run it aground. When everyone else on board had given up hope of surviving, an angel appeared to the apostle and told him everyone would survive although the ship would be lost. Even prior to that event, Paul confidently told his shipmates that God would work everything out (Acts 27:25). And that is what happened — the ship was wrecked on Malta, Paul and everyone made it safely to land, he ministered on Malta, and eventually, he went on safely to Rome.

The disciples on the Sea of Galilee also learned the valuable lesson of God’s protection. Even though they were reluctant to leave Jesus, they obeyed and rowed out into the path of the eventual storm — and the Lord honored their faithfulness. So, all believers can know that the place of protection and security is not necessarily the place with the best situation, but it is the place of obedience to God’s will.

Ask Yourself:
How do you determine whether or not you’re in the center of God’s will? Why would it be unrealistic for Him to decree that certain situations were always indicative of being rightly positioned and in tune with His heart? What can you mis-judge by judging your surroundings?

From the desk of Pastor Ben
Proof of Divine Protection – Part 1

When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”     (Matthew 14:26-27)

Because of the night-time storm, their exhaustion from hours of rowing, and their general fear of the wind and waves, the apostles did not initially recognize Jesus on the water. Their fear soon turned to extreme terror when Jesus’ form appeared to be a ghost (the Greek word phantasma means an apparition or imaginary creature), come to add to their torments. In their human panic, the disciples could not help but cry out in fear.

Jesus was testing the apostles’ faith, but He also understood their weaknesses and wanted to protect them from harm. So His simple statement, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid,” instantly calmed their panic and caused them to recognize it was their Lord.

Jesus did not offer any lengthy explanation of what He was doing or why He hadn’t come sooner — and he wasn’t walking on the water to show how the apostles how to do that. His purpose was simply to show His loving protection and willing ness to do whatever necessary to rescue His followers. His miraculous walking on the water was not essential to the rescue, but it was a vivid lesson on the power and extent of divine protection and a permanent reminder that Christ can and will act on behalf of His own.

Ask Yourself:
You may be at a point where the assurance of god’s care and protection is exactly what you’re needing to remember. How would this encouragement change the way you deal with uncertainties you’re facing? What causes you to forget that God is able to meet your need?