Our Neediness… Hello weekend readers. I am leading a wonderful large group of ladies today down in Green Valley, AZ. I’m anticipating being with them as they restart their new gathering today and hopefully more to come. The pandemic hit many churches down in southern AZ. This coming together is so needed to encourage these women! My heart’s desire is to help them be empowered by being fed spiritually from the lives of women around the world I’ll be sharing.

This reminds me of “the feeding of the 5+thousand” where Jesus is up on a mountain top with his disciples and people are watching as Jesus performs healings, miracles, and wonders beyond human comprehension. It’s a big crowd; obviously nobody wants to leave, but after a while they have a need to eat! Jesus already had his plan to use a little boy with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish…to feed thousands of people! The onlooker would have to laugh out-loud at such a meager gesture but, with Jesus, a little can go a long way when people are in need and truly, that’s what Jesus loved to do throughout his ministry.

There is another back-story however, about this miraculous day. You see, the people were so amazed, they wanted to take Jesus forcefully to make him king right then and there! I think this had to sadden his heart because they weren’t really after him, they simply what Jesus could do for them. In John 6:26-27-35 [NLT], Jesus says to the crowds: “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.  But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval… I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

What does Jesus’ words mean for us here? He is the bread who offers eternal life to anyone who believes, but we are also invited to find daily provision, which Jesus obliged that day with the huge crowds. Our needs are daily for a physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational provision that only Jesus can provide. In his provision, we are abundant and fully satisfied. So why then, do we often work on our own independence instead of Jesus’ provision?

Think of the Lord’s Prayer where we say, “Give us this day, our daily bread” not “give me everything I need for the rest of my life so I’m good to go on my own, thank you Jesus, I’ll take it from here.” And “No way” says Jesus—he wants you to say “give me what I need today, and then I’ll come back again tomorrow.” This requires dependence and depending on Jesus is the best way to have our needs fulfilled. We aren’t so good at depending on others. But if we cannot acknowledge our needlessness, we are in trouble. Dependence with an active trust in Jesus daily gives us the incredible experience of Jesus, the Bread of Life!

Whether you have followed Jesus for many years or are new to the faith, it’s easy for this world to suck the joy and trust out you, leaving you hungry and thirsty. Take the better path to Jesus, and there you will be satisfied beyond anything the world can promise you. Drink his living water and eat of his bread and you will never be hungry or thirsty. Jesus doesn’t want you running elsewhere to find what cannot satisfy your needs. To find the satisfaction we all crave, we must become aware of our neediness and surrender to Jesus. It’s the only way, period.

It’s time we stop putting the “quarters in the food machines” that give us a few minutes of satisfaction. The only way to quench our spiritual hunger is in Jesus who knows what each one of us needs every day. In fact, Jesus took that daily need to our eternal need because Jesus wants us at his side for eternity.

As we come closer to Holy Week and Easter, think of the one need you could never ever fill: your sins. Jesus provided for that need as well on the cross of Calvary and his resurrection. He has fulfilled every need so we can live with him forever. Do you know anyone or anything in this world that has this kind of provision? I don’t think so. AMEN.