WEEK FOUR

March 8 - March 14
Theme: The “I Ams” of Christ

The majority of people count Christ among the greatest human beings that have ever lived.  Almost all religious traditions acknowledge Him as one of the most profound teachers of all time. But Christ claimed to be much more than a prophet sent from God. With authority He boldly insisted, “Before Abraham was, I Am” (John 8:56). What a daring claim to deity, a claim that all Christians have come to embrace. Early creeds of the church state that Jesus Christ is “very God of very God.” The Gospel of John records the seven powerful “I Ams” of Christ, statements Christ made about Himself that are rich metaphors, filled with multisensory beauty, that enable us to grasp a bit of who this God/Man was and is.

Sunday, March 8

Scripture: John 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

SURRENDERED BREAD
My mother, Joy, grew up during the depression and married young. My parents endured nearly two decades of childlessness due to miscarriage and stillbirth. During that time, Joy turned to Jesus and His Word for strength, memorizing many Psalms and other scriptures. She put her dreams in Jesus’ hands and poured herself into teaching her Sunday School class of fourth graders, among other ministries. Eventually they would have two girls in less than two years through adoption and birth. During the waiting years, she learned to bring her hurts to Jesus and put them in his hands; in the process, her soul was fed and the overflow was shared with others. Here is one of nearly 200 poems she wrote during her lifetime. . .

I Am the Bread of Life
by Joy E. Merkley

I Am the Bread of Life, He said,
Heaven’s true and living Bread;
Eat thereof. . . and live forever
Eat, and be completely fed.

I will be your needed manna,
Manna for your hungry soul;
My flesh for all the world I give. . .
Bread. . . to feed and make you whole.

Gather fresh each day’s bestowment
Satisfy that urgent need
Crying out for satisfaction,
For my flesh is meat indeed.

As the Living Father sent Me,
And I live by Him alone,
So will you who eat the true Bread
Live and grow by Me alone.

Yes, I have an inner hunger
That no food can satisfy.
I would eat this Bread of Life
Which You for all the world supply.

Eric Feather’s artistic rendering of Christ Feeding 5000 shares a similar message in visual form. The piece swirls with light, color, and reconstituted fragments, opening the viewer’s mind to Jesus’ power to multiply the surrendered bread. This miraculous event shared in all four gospel accounts looks back to God’s provision of manna in the wilderness and looks ahead to Jesus’ promise to become the Bread of Life.

Spirit eyes comprehend that the miracle wasn’t just for the 5000, it is for us. By faith we learn that the things we see and touch are merely shadows of eternal realities.

Listen to the soothing tones of John Michael Talbot’s song and let these thoughts soak in. Jesus became the Bread of Life. His body was broken that we might be healed. In Jesus’ hands, the surrendered bread of our life can be multiplied and used to accomplish His kingdom purposes.

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, thank you for being broken for me. I confess that I have often tried to find soul satisfaction in a variety of empty earthly things. Humbly and gratefully, I thank you for your love and mercy. As I receive Jesus’ gift of life and healing, will you help me live this day in remembrance of you? I place my hopes and dreams in your hands. Please take them, and remake them and use them to accomplish your kingdom purposes, for your honor and glory. Amen.

Melanee Gallina, Educational Loan Specialist, Accounting Department