February 14 Eat Good Bread

Luke 12:1 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
 
MY wife and I were comparing the labels on two loaves of bread recently. Both types of bread listed the same calories, carbohydrates, sugar and protein content. Our first impression was that it didn’t seem to matter which bread we chose. We concluded, “Let’s eat the cheaper bread.”
    But then we read the label more closely. We noticed the higher cost bread contained levels of vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients that are essential to a body’s good health. This bread had more food value. The cheaper bread looked good but had none of those nutrients. Such “food” would not truly feed us. It could even harm us as we missed the needed nutrition.
    With the yeast comparison, Jesus teaches us to be good bread to nurture and give life to others. Good yeast is necessary for bread to rise well. In addition, Jesus’ yeast image also points to a symbolic cleansing of sin during the Passover. All yeast must be swept from the house before the Passover begins. This is to remind Israel they had left behind Egypt’s pagan culture. A sin-cleansed house would prepare the household for a new life in God’s care to the Promised Land.
    Jesus wants us to be clean of the Pharisees’ yeast, their hypocrisy. Yes, these men looked good; perhaps they even taught well with eloquence and some knowledge. Their words could even at times sound like Jesus’ teachings regarding God’s law, sin and future promises. But, in truth, on close examination, their words were a label of hypocrisy. As they kept false laws, rejected God’s law and rebuked Jesus, their teachings were empty of God’s nutritious, life-giving power.
    Too often we eat food that looks good and tastes great but has no lasting value. These foods fill us, and we have no appetite for the health-nurturing foods we should eat. In a like manner, the world pours out appetizing words, “Have it your way. You deserve it. You are number one. You can believe any religion. They’re all the same.” But these words keep God’s people filled with deadly food. We must help all receive the soul-nourishing Bread of Life:
John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty…47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life… 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
    Let’s pay attention to the “label”. Know the difference between the Good Bread and empty bread. Consume the One who feeds you eternally.
    Luke 22:19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
    Is there any reason we wouldn’t want this?
 
Prayer: Alert my mind, Holy Spirit, to the sufficiency of Jesus, the Bread of Life. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.