It is a new week and we are back to John chapter six with a powerful biblical account to kick off a new week. It is the feeding of the 5000. The Passover meal was drawing close as Jesus and the disciples traveled along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Great crowds of people were following so they could listen to the teachings of Jesus. But there was a problem. They had no food and the people were getting hungry.
You know the rest of the story. Andrew finds a small boy who has fives loaves of barley bread and two small fish. From there it is all in the hands (literally in the hands) of Jesus. He blessed that small quantity of food and everyone ate until they were full to overflowing.
Let’s shift the story just a bit. What if we brought this same theme into our worship space here at Wilson United Methodist Church? What if we moved the calendar forward to a time twenty days from today? It would be April 24, 2011. That date is best known as Easter Day 2011.
Now, let’s imagine people, crowds of people, who have been invited to hear about Jesus. They come with various degrees of expectation. They arrive in the parking lot with anxieties and a bit of confusion as they get out of the car and try to find the right door to enter for worship. The kids are nervous, the parents are wondering if they are dressed correctly, and there is a heightened sensitivity that is best expressed in one word, FEAR!
Now, imagine that we are here to greet them. We welcome them in, make space for late arrivals, and provide food for their souls. Do you think folks who show up on Easter are hungry? Let’s get ready!
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