4 December 2013 - well fed

4 December 2013 - well fed

During the season of Advent Jesus is willing to spend time with us "up on the mountain".  He wants to make his healing power manifest.  Let us take advantage of his presence and come to him on the mountain.  As we see him work in us and our friends and family let us be amazed together with the crowds.

The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking,
the deformed made whole,
the lame walking,
and the blind able to see,

We need his healing touch, no matter how healthy we think we are.  We need to have our tongues loosed to proclaim the name of Jesus.  We are fragmented and partial, chasing after a thousand things.  We need to be made whole.  We need our legs strengthened to be able to walk in the ways of God.  We need our eyes enlightened that we might see him with those who are pure of heart so that we may be transformed into his likeness.  Jesus spends time with us on the mountain to cure us of these ailments so let us glorify the God of Israel.

However after he finishes with cures there is still more to be done.

“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
for they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
I do not want to send them away hungry,
for fear they may collapse on the way.”

Is it possible to spend time with Jesus and yet be hungry? We experience him curing us and those around us but forget that the source of these cures is the blood of the cross.  We experience the new life he brings and allow ourselves to forget the cost at which it is purchased.  Yet in these three days, while physical healings are abundant, they are outward signs of something deeper happening within us.  In three days our sin and selfishness is put to death. Jesus knows that we can't survive these three days without the food that only he can supply.  Food gives strength within.  It sustains life.  It is more fundamental than speaking, walking, or seeing. Even as our bodies are healed and our lives show the signs of his grace in the victories we experience over sin we do not have the endurance in our hearts to survive this process without continual reliance on him.  We collapse on the way.

Fortunately, even though we forget about this need to be fed, he does not forget to feed us.

On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
A feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.

This is the table is spreads before us in the sight of our foes.  It is more than anything we can ask or imagine. He anoints us with his Holy Spirit and fills our cup to overflowing with his Precious Blood.  It is more than mere food.  This is the feast by which God transforms a dying world.

On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.

Because he feeds us with his own body and blood we can have great confidence that "goodness and kindness follow" us throughout our lives and that his grace will bring us to "dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come" and, indeed, for eternity.