By Dr. Jessica Johnson
Guest Column
During Easter, many of us look forward to what is traditionally called breaking bread, having a delicious, full-course spread with family and friends. One of my church sisters describes her Easter dinner as a “mini-Thanksgiving meal.”
I can definitely relate to this being from the South, as a customary Easter Sunday dinner can consist of a honey-glazed ham or baked turkey as the primary dish. Scrumptious sides often include potato salad, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, buttermilk biscuits, yeast rolls and cornbread. Top dessert choices can range from apple pie, carrot cake, coconut pineapple cake or key lime pie.
Now, I’m by no means an exceptional cook, but I am excellent at baking meats, so a 12-pound turkey will be the centerpiece of my Easter dinner. Thank God for the frozen vegetable and food aisles in grocery stores because strolling through these sections is where I’ll get my collard greens or spinach, and I’ll pick up a can of Pillsbury Southern Homestyle buttermilk biscuits for a nostalgic taste of my Georgia roots.
As you can see, I truly enjoy dining on great food during Easter. In thinking about breaking bread this year, I reflected on what it means to be spiritually nourished by focusing on Matthew 14:17-21 and John 6:35, where Jesus proclaims to be the Bread of Life. This is one of the seven “I Am” declarations of Jesus found in the Apostle John’s gospel, and Jesus firmly asserts His deity to the multitude of 5,000 who were fed from His miracle of multiplying two fish and five loaves of bread. I appreciate this story so much more now since I am learning to build up my faith in God as my sole Provider and Sustainer.
Faith is shown in two powerful ways in this account as “the lad” who had just five loaves and two fish willingly gave up his small lunch to the Lord. Some Bible scholars speculate the fish may have been perch or sheatfish, which were common in Galilee. The five loaves of bread were barley loaves, which was a basic meal staple for people who would be considered working class during this time.
I’m sure the young boy probably wondered what Jesus was going to do with so little food after the multitudes had sat down, but he didn’t hesitate to give when Jesus asked. That’s childlike faith in action. The disciples, on the other hand, were doubtful because they were looking at the situation before them from a natural perspective regarding what they lacked.
Jesus tested Philip, who said that “two hundred pennyworth of bread,” basically 200 days’ wages, would not be sufficient to feed such a large crowd. Yet, Jesus knew how He would bolster the disciples’ faith when He looked up to Heaven, gave thanks and then blessed and broke the bread as He distributed the fish. This was a miracle buffet before the people’s eyes, as everyone had plenty to eat with 12 baskets of leftovers remaining.
The only sad part of the multitudes’ encounter with Jesus is that they sought Him for the wrong reasons after they had eaten to their satisfaction. Jesus points this out when they follow Him to the other side of Capernaum, telling them that they were not seeking miracles but only physical fulfillment.
The discussion escalates into a contentious debate when Jesus declares that He is the Bread of Life, the Bread that came down from Heaven. The people failed to comprehend this revelation, which was really simple, due to their carnal mindset.
Using my imagination, I believe that if there had been a Galilean version of the Gallup Poll to survey the multitudes on what they wanted most out of life, in addition to the blessings of God, their answers would have included more money and a profitable trade to support their families.
Jesus had previously taught that seeking the Kingdom of God first would result in provision of these needs. He was illustrating to the multitudes that covetously toiling for food and other material things only brings temporary gratification, but if they fed on the Bread of Life, they would be spiritually sustained.
As I break bread in my home this Easter, I am not just grateful for tasty food to eat but even more so for the Bread that gives me divine strength. I can feed on it to my heart’s content with the joy of knowing that my soul will always be full.
Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer in the English department at The Ohio State University-Lima. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @JjSmojc. Her opinion does not necessarily represent the views of The Lima News or its owner, AIM Media.
