Follow, notice, sit with, receive from Jesus
(devotional given at Harvest of Hope high school gleaning mission trip at Camp Occohannock, Eastern Shore, Virginia)
Today as we read our Scriptures, we are going to do something a guy called Ignatius of Loyola drew attention to 500 years ago. We are going to use our imaginations and notice what’s going on in the Bible as we read the story. So as I read, close your eyes and picture the scene. Notice who is there, what they’re doing, where you are, what catches your attention. Listen to Jesus’ words and notice your responses to what He says and does. Try to be still and quiet on the inside so you can experience what the Holy Spirit wants to give you today.
John 6:1 – 11 (NLT) – ‘After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!” Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.’
Keep your eyes closed and listen as I read the passage again, this time in The Message translation. Pay attention to what you notice.
John 6:1-11 (The Message) – ‘After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews. When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread to feed these people?” He said this to stretch Philip’s faith. He already knew what he was going to do. Philip answered, “Two hundred silver pieces wouldn’t be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece.” One of the disciples––it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter––said, “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this.” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted.‘
As I read over this portion of John this week, four things stood out to me. You may have noticed other things. I want to invite you to reflect on what God is showing you today. I gave my life wholeheartedly to Jesus when I was 11 years old, almost 40 years ago. I struggled for many years feeling that I wasn’t able to hear the Lord personally. I want to encourage you that if this is something you struggle with, to relax and rest in the assurance that God loves you deeply and personally and does speak to you in a way that is intimate and fitted to the way He wired you. Job 33:14 – ‘God does speak, now one way, now another (NIV) … though we may not recognize it (NLT)‘. God loves it when we boldly approach Him and ask … Like any devoted parent, He loves to say “yes” to us when we ask for something good, like hearing His voice!
So as we consider what we noticed in today’s reading, here are some questions for each of us to reflect on, to think about, based on some things God highlighted to me … You don’t need to have quick and ready answers … I encourage you to sit with these questions today, as you’re gleaning in the field, on the drive, wherever you are, enjoying the gift of today.
* people were following Jesus
Where is Jesus inviting me to follow Him?
What would it look like for me to follow Jesus in this season of my life?
* the people had seen what Jesus was doing
What do I see or notice Jesus doing? We all notice different things. You might be the only one in your arena of influence to notice a particular individual or issue or injustice.
What is Jesus asking me to join Him in doing?
* Jesus wanted them to sit down
Where in my life is God inviting me to sit with Him, to be still?
What anxieties, worries, or fears am I holding onto? What would it mean for me to lay those down, give them to Jesus, and live in a place of rest?
* Jesus gave each one as much as they wanted
Do I trust that God wants to and will give me everything that I need?
Do I doubt or despair that God will not have enough for all of His children’s needs?
What am I hungry for? What are the desires of my heart?
This is a simple exercise that you can do any time you read your Bible devotionally. When we make room for God, He loves to lavish more of His love, grace, and presence on us. He loves each of us so very much, far more than we could ever imagine.
Lord, help us to follow you, to notice what You are doing and join You in that, to sit with You and be still, to give you all of our anxieties, worries, and fears, to stay in that place of rest. Please give us a deeper hunger for You and grant us the desires of our hearts. We trust You, we love You. May our lives bring you great glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
