lenten 40: day 38 - satisfied?

image 38.

scripture.
²⁰They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ²¹The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
~Matthew 14:20-21

reflection.
Jesus feeds the 5000. is a fascinating example of how Jesus offers food for the body and food for the soul. i love that after the food had been distributed and consumed, not only was there leftovers, but they all ate and were satisfied.

satisfied.

As noted in the book, The Teaching of the 12 a book about the ancient Didache Community, the same words Jesus uses when he blessed the fish and loaves are the same ones used when he broke bread with the disciples the night of the Last Supper. I am willing to bet that after that fellowship meal, the disciples, too, were satisfied. other than Judas, and despite the shortcomings of the other 11, they recognized the greatness of Jesus and found satisfaction in Him.

but perhaps the satisfaction found in Christ wasn't fully realized, i presume, until after his death, resurrection, ascension and arrival of the Holy Spirit.

you and i have the advantage of knowing the whole story - of seeing the big picture - and yet how is it that some of us never seem to find total satisfaction in Christ Jesus? are we having a hard time letting go of those worldly things? are we unwilling to empty ourselves so that Christ may fill us? why do we look to the wrong things to bring satisfaction?

Mick Jagger said it best: "I can't get no, satisfaction... and i try, and i try and i try and i try..."

sometimes we consume things that bring about a false sense of satisfaction. in other words, satisfaction is short lived. big macs. alcohol. material possessions, etc. these things leave us satisfied only for a little while.

but the sacrifice that Jesus offers us - the bread and the living water, so to speak - gives us full life. true life. eternal life. what more could we ever want?

i don't want the death of Jesus to be in vein. i want to grab hold of the One who satisfies all of our wants, desires and needs. i pray that on this Holy Thursday, we will all cling to the love of Jesus - and then be compelled to share that love with others.

scripture.

The Lord's Supper

¹⁷On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

¹⁸He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " ¹⁹So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

²⁰When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. ²¹And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."

²²They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"

²³Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. ²⁴The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

²⁵Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."

²⁶While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

²⁷Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."

³⁰When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

~Matthew 26:17-30