Remember the game you used to play as kids before technology made everyone mute? One kid thought of a person, place or thing and everyone else guessed who it was from the clues that were given? Riveting huh!
Jesus did that. He healed the sick, cast out demons, brought dead people back to life. One day, he turned to his disciples and said, “Who am I?”
Once again there was a great multitude camped out for three days listening to Jesus speak. He called his disciples over and told them he felt compassion for the people because they had been there for three days with nothing to eat. If he sends them away now, they might faint from hunger on the way home. The disciples say, and I quote, “Where will anyone be able to find enough to satisfy these men with bread here in a desolate place?”
Not one, not one hairy man said, “Hey, this happened last week or last month or sometime in the past, Jesus, and YOU fed them! Five loaves, two fish, 5000 men ring a bell? Yeah…and 12baskets full of leftovers? YOU feed them…do it again, Jesus!” Not one.
Jesus said, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven.” So they all sat down, ate and were satisfied. Seven large baskets, full of what was left, was picked up which means women must have been present.
Since they are much like we are, whatever they learned,( i.e. this man must be God because who else could possibly do this) evaporated when they got in the boat, when the situation became personal. They did not do well in boats.
They realized they forgot to bring food and all they had in the boat was one loaf. They began to discuss this among themselves, meaning how can we divide this one loaf twelve ways or more realistically since these are young men, how long will we have to fight before one wins and just takes the whole thing?
Jesus is incredulous and says (my paraphrase), ” Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Don’t you see or understand? I supplied over and beyond what the 5000 could eat and the 4000 could eat and you’re talking about just 12 men without enough food?”
They get to the other side and on the way to a village, Jesus probably takes a deep breath and asks, “Who do men say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist, Elijah.” Ok…but “Who do YOU say that I am?” Peter answered…and Matthew 16:16 gives a more complete statement, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Bingo. Right answer.
Then he began to teach them what would happen to him. He would suffer, be rejected by the ruling religious authorities, be killed and then after three days, rise again.
Peter rebuked Jesus. In other words he said something like, “ I can't believe you're even saying this..this won't happen to you."
Do you see the inconsistency? They watch five loaves and two fish turn into food for 5000+. They watch seven loaves feed 4000+. When asked, they correctly identify him as the Christ, the Son of God . But it’s in name only. It doesn’t transfer to the next event. It has no bearing on the next crisis. It doesn’t make a difference in their own lives. He’s just kind of a figurehead.
Reminds you of a lot of church people today. Are you a Christian? “You bet. Check that box. Do not check the box beside Other. I’m definitely not an Other. “ What impact does being a Christian, meaning a believer in and follower of Christ, have on your life…everyday? “Ummm.” Do you pray to him? “Oh yeah..before every meal, sure do.”
As God, He determines future events. As God, He calls the shots. As God, He can do anything He wants . As God, He makes the rules, develops the plan. That’s just a basic assumption don’t you think? So Jesus does just that. Listen up guys, this is the plan, this is what will happen. And you can know it’s going to happen because I’m God and whatever I say is going to happen….will. So I’m telling you…what will happen to me.
Peter who was I’m sure Jesus’ biggest fan, steps up and says in effect, “No way I’ll let anyone do this to you…God. “
Any inconsistencies?
Isaiah is replete with statements like “Thus says the Lord, the Lord of hosts, I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.” “I, the Lord, am the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself and spreading out the earth all alone.” “Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock? I know of none.” “I am the Lord, there is no other.” And Jesus…was this God’s son. Jesus claimed to be his son and God identified him as his son.
Second time a large crowd assembled and the preaching went past 12 noon, don’t you think these men would have started grinning, watching Jesus, punching each other? When they got in the boat and realized they’d forgotten to pack dinner and just had one loaf, wouldn’t you think they would have pitched the one loaf overboard and said to each other, “Wonder what he can do with crumbs?” When Jesus told the 12 about his future, don't you think they would have asked what they could do…how they could support him?
This is 20/20 hindsight. But we can benefit from it if we don’t just look at these stories as great bedtime material if we’ve read all the other books to our kids 100 times.
Who do you say I am? He didn’t ask the disciples this question the day after they chose to follow him. They’d been hanging around him for over two years. They’d seen a lot, heard a lot. So have you. So who do you say he is? The thing is, if he is who he says he is, that has some ramifications doesn’t it.
It is interesting that although these men were with Jesus every day, the right answers remained in their heads but had not permeated their hearts and moved into their lives changing the way they thought and the way they lived. It seems to me they were only attached to him emotionally. They loved to sing the songs.
“Christian” can be a mighty empty label.
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