In doing some early preparation for this coming Sunday’s message I was struck again by some of Jesus’ great skills in connecting and inspiring. The first part of my text for Sunday is the feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew 14. I love the bit where the disciples are clearly a little tired and basically overwhelmed by the great crowds and ask Jesus to send the people away. I often say to people, ‘Look for the parts of the gospels where Jesus smiles.’ I reckon that this is one of those moments.

Jesus turns to his harassed and bewildered troops and says, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’ We have here only five loaves of bread and two fishes,’ say the disciples.

I think that the world has very effectively harnessed us into the ‘we have here only’ way of thinking and so we do nothing, considering ourselves powerless and impotent against all that confronts us. I think that Christians (me very much included!) need to remember that we follow one who says that less is good! We are part of the ‘where two or three are gathered’ movement. We belong to Him who says if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to that mountain “move” and it will!’

I have been wearing glasses to assist my eye sight for a number of years now; but I have been using spiritual lenses for a fair while also. One of my favourite Old Testament passages is in 2 Kings 6:8-23. Here we have the prophet Elisha – a guy who shared my tonsorial splendour (check 2 Kings 2:23-25 and beware of riled prophets!) – and his servant surrounded by a great army. The servant is terrified; but Elisha comes out with a classic line; ‘Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ I don’t know if this was much encouragement to the servant, so Elisha prayed; ‘O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’ And we read that the Lord did open his eyes and as he looked he ‘saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.’

When I return from leave I am going to be doing a great deal of teaching about ‘the kingdom of God.’ Jesus was often asked about this kingdom and I believe it is a journey that must be taken for us to truly be people who make a difference in this community. At the very beginning of his ministry Jesus announced; ‘The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.’ I have this strange theory that following the ministry of Jesus 2,000 years ago the kingdom of God is MUCH nearer than we think.

I see the kingdom of God at work so much among our children. I was inspired last Sunday witnessing the growth of our kids as a number of them lead us in the Oasis celebration. Theses kids have so much to teach us about the kingdom of God if we will only pay attention. I see the kingdom of God at work in our various ministries to adults. I have enjoyed seeing it at work over the past seven weeks of the Marriage Course. The growth of our ladies networks are another inspiring example.

So, Jesus says to his tired and harassed disciples, ‘They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.’ The world is full of experts nowadays with degrees up to their eye balls in various areas of people skills and therapies. Experts are good and useful from time to time; but what the world could really use right now is a whole bunch of authentic, vulnerable and transparent Jesus followers who are foolish or brave enough to get fitted for some new lenses!
People won’t need to go away for help if we can begin to view things in a new way. The problem today is not a lack of resources or skills. It is a lack of vision! Our eyesight needs sorting!

The disciples brought what little they had to Jesus and he blessed it and broke it and gave it back to the disciples to serve the people. And at the end the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of scraps!! I reckon that made Jesus smile? It could even make a community smile?

Cheers - John