39-5000-4000Families-A

And We Thought We Knew You:
Soul Journey With the Real Jesus

5000 and 4000 Families
HEART HUNGER

AD 29
Outside Bethsaida, Galilee [1]

"Where is everyone going?"

"To the king!"

"King Herod is making an appearance?"

"No, Jesus is!� He's going to be our next king.� Everyone knows it.� He said so himself.� He is calling it the kingdom of God.� That name should shake the other nations." [2]

"What about King Herod?� And Caesar?"

"Jesus is powerful!� No one has ever seen anything like it.� He heals the sick.� He grows people's limbs back.� He demands demons leave people.� He even raises the dead.� You know all that." [3]

"But can he fight wars?"

"With his powers, he can zap his enemies dead.� We won't ever have to go to war again."

"He's sure staying far from Jerusalem.� That doesn't make sense."

"We'll fix that.� We'll insist he become our king, then we'll all escort him to Jerusalem for the Passover in a couple weeks.� Then the final takeover." [4]

"You've talked me into it.� I'm going with you."

People from everywhere.� Thousands.� Past their city gates, past Herod's soldiers, and Caesar's.

Jesus is out in the desert away from the city.� A perfect place to assemble all his supporters and plan his strategy for the takeover.� Praise God.� He has finally answered our prayers.� At last. [5]

That is not why Jesus is here.� All Jesus and his apostles want is time to rest and mourn.� They have just completed a long and hard tour.� [6] And on top of that, disaster hit.� Jesus' closest friend in all the world ~ John the Baptizer ~ has just been executed.� All Jesus and his apostles want now is peace and quiet. [7]

But the people.� The people do not have it ~ the peace and quiet.� Show us how to get it, Jesus.� We don't get it.

Please teach us, Jesus.� You're going to be our next high priest and king.� You can get rid of the foreign soldiers for us.� But the spirit part.� We don't know how to do that.� Could you just explain it to us, Jesus?� We promise to try.

Life so empty.� What is it all for anyway? �What is life all about?� Give us some meaning, Jesus.� Some reason to live.� Some reason to go to work every day, and run the rat race, and get hassled by the boss.� Some reason to have kids and subject them to corrupt government and world starvation and attacks from foreign soldiers.

�� Jesus.� Help us.�

The thirteen men get out of their boat and pull it up on shore.� But as they do, the crowd rushes at them.� The crowd coming out of nowhere.

Jesus is amazed at their desperation.� He's opened a Pandora's box and all their nightmares are rushing out to be conquered by love.

"They're like cattle without a herder," Jesus tells the twelve. [8]

"Don't they go to synagogue, Philip?"

"Most of them probably go every week.� But for what?"

Andrew kicks a pebble in frustration.� "You're right.� These people are like we used to be ~ frustrated with our religion.� No substance."

"Frustrated with the synagogue."Philip takes up where Andrew left off.� "Basic philosophy from the rabbis; the same sermons could be preached by Confucius, Buddha, an atheist, philosophers."

"Temple politics.� Priests pre-occupied by their positions, they forget why the religion exists in the first place."

Jesus motions to his apostles that he is going to the top of a nearby hill.� There must be thousands of people all wanting to see him.� Jesus wants to see them all too.

"Do you know how many times I was tempted to quit synagogue altogether?"

"Yes, Philip.� I knew."

"I have some friends who did quit.� Religion just didn't apply to their lives.� Empty.� How can empty fill emptiness?"

"Attention, everyone!"� It's Judas the organizer.� "If you'll move in as close as possible to the bottom of this hill, everyone will be able to hear Jesus."

The twelve circle the crowd, much like shepherds directing aimless sheep.

"Please move closer."

"How many do you think there are, Matthew?� You're the mathematician," Philip asks.� They have joined Jesus at the top of the hill.

"Yeah, how many do you think there are, Matthew?" Thaddeus repeats. [9]

"Well, looks like they're averaging about 100 people in one row."� Matthew sees rows.� No one else does.� To everyone else they're just clumps of people.� "Uh, maybe 100 rows.� I'd say we've got us a crowd of 10,000 people here." [10]

Jesus, begins to teach.� About love and loyalty and lofty attitudes.� Of heaven, but in a down-to-earth sort of way.� Of a creator who knows each one of them by name. [11]

The twelve circulate among the crowd.� Is everyone okay?� Thomas takes a little boy for a brief walk.� He needs to go to the bathroom.� Simon runs into some Grecians who are having difficulty understanding.� He sits with them and helps interpret.

It had been morning when they decided to cross the Sea of Galilee to be alone.� It was near noon when they arrived on the other side.� He's taught an hour.� Then the questions.� He takes his time answering each question fully. Then another question.� More questions.�

Hungering for the truth.� Some kind of definition of truth.� Some kind of truth to live by.� Hunger and fulfillment for the heart.�

But the sun is getting low.� People have gone all day without eating.� Realizing this, Jesus stops talking.� The twelve make their way up to him for instructions, for the people aren't moving.

"We're out in the middle of no where, Jesus.� It's already late.� Send the people away so they can go to the towns and get something to eat." [12]

Jesus replies, "You give them something to eat."� That is not what they meant.� He turns to Philip.� "Philip, where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" [13]

Numbers race through his head.� His half grin reflects only disbelief that Jesus would ask such a question.� It is only rhetorical, but Phil does not yet realize it.

"Eight months wages wouldn't buy enough bread for each one of them to have just one bite!" [14]

"Well, how many loaves do we have in this crowd?� Go find out."

Jesus sits down on a rare grassy spot, his knees drawn up under his chin, and waits in delight.� He is up to something.� He has a twinkle in his eye.� Why does he keep doing things like this?� He has a miracle up his sleeve.� Why make everyone work so hard to solve the problem themselves first?

"Man, I didn't find any food.� What about you, Nathaniel?"

"Not me!"

"There's none out there."

"We've just wasted another hour.� Everyone's another hour hungrier."

Why do the people just sit there?� Can't they fend for themselves?� Handouts.� They just want handouts.� Well, they're not getting any here.

"Uh, Jesus.� Here's a little boy."� Andrew gently nudges him ahead, clutching his miniature basket with a carved toy donkey in it.� "He's got five rolls and two dried fish."

Jesus kneels down in front of the boy as he opens the lid and looks over the little lunch.

"How far can they possibly go among so many?"

Ah, friend, Andrew.� You've done fine so far.� You brought what you could.� Good job.� Don't go doubting now, Andrew, just before the big payoff.

Jesus, eye-level with the boy grins broadly in approval.

"This is all I've got, sir Jesus.� But you can have it."��

Jesus ruffles the boys' hair, and puts both hands on his little shoulders.

"This will do just fine, son.� But it's just a loan.� As soon as I'm done with it, you can have it back." [15]

Jesus takes the lunch basket, stands up, then takes the boy's hand and directs him over to his side.

"Have everyone shift over into smaller, more manageable groups ~ 50 in each." [16]

This done, Jesus holds up the little basket and looks into heaven.� Deep into heaven.� Way deep where the guardian angels are.� They're smiling.� They're in on it. [17]

Thank you, Father, for the food you have provided for us all.� Thank you for caring for us and loving us in this way.� Amen. [18]

Bring me your baskets, men.� The twelve each have one in their boat to keep personal belongings in.

Now Jesus takes the rolls and pulls pieces off of them.� He does the same with the little fish.� Bite-size pieces.

What in the world are you doing, Jesus?

"Okay, men.� Give me your baskets."

One piece of bread and one piece of fish goes in each of the twelve baskets.

"There you go!� Feed the people!"

Jesus is still grinning.� But not Andrew and Philip and the other ten.

"Is he about to make fools out of us?" one whispers.

"There's nothing here!"� He dangles the remains of a fish tail from two fingers.

They look over at Jesus sheepishly.

"He's gotta be kidding!"

"Go ahead," Jesus urges.� "It's dinner time."

"But...."

"I know.� Feed them anyway."

"How?"

"They'll figure it out."

Jesus arrives at the first group.� Give me your basket, Andrew!� Then Jesus walks through the people.� Here's your bread and fish.� Here's yours.� Here's yours.� And yours.� And yours.� And....

One at a time the people take their roll and fish and begin to chew.� Delicious food.� Food for the starving.

The twelve stand to the side astonished.

At first the people do not understand what is happening ~ not until they realize the food for all fifty of them in their group is coming out of one basket.

The silence of unknown anticipation breaks into laughter.� Soft, guarded laughter.� Then wild, hilarious laughter.� Group after group.� Across the wave of people.� Giddy laughter.

"Look!� It's a miracle!�

a miracle!�

a miracle!"

"He's performed another miracle!

another miracle!

The words bounce off the nearby hills, and the hills too laugh in approval.� Jesus laughs.� The whole world seems to laugh.

Yes, eat everyone!� Eat! [9]

The guardian angels are no longer smiling.� They, too, are laughing with delight.� Delight with the Son of God.

"Time to pick up the scraps, men!"

The scraps?� They have leftovers, Jesus?� You must be kidding, Jesus.

The twelve walk among the crowd.

"Uh," Philip says half embarrassed.� "Uh, anyone here who didn't want your food?� We mustn't waste any.� If you didn't eat yours, put it in the basket I am now passing around."

He is amazed.� Everyone is amazed.� As the basket is circulated among the group, nearly everyone has left overs.� They couldn't even eat it all.

Jesus has since returned to the top of the hill.� The boy had been waiting for him there.� He and the boy sit once more, but this time Jesus is on one of the many boulders jutting out of the rocky soil.� He watches.

At last the twelve return to Jesus, each with his basket full of bread and fish.� The leftovers. [20]

Only they are not laughing.� They are solemn.� Jesus had to force them to act, and turned it into an act of God.� They are filled with awe.

At the same time, momentum is building among the people.

"A miracle!� Another miracle!"

"He is the prophesied one!"

"He is our king!� Not Herod!� Not Caesar!"

"Hail, King Jesus!� Hail, King Jesus!"

No!� This cannot be!� That is the wrong kind of king!

Jesus, realizing what is going on, sends his apostles back to their boat to return home.� He is frustrated.� Not only that, but he remembers his grief.� He remembers his cousin, John the Baptizer.� What horrible thing.� They decapitated him.� Oh, John....� Oh, John....

Before anyone realizes it, the apostles are out in the lake, and Jesus has disappeared somewhere in the hills beyond. [21]

Jesus prays and mourns for hours.� His spirit wrestles with evil that causes hunger and starvation, torture and death.� A storm brews.� It has been brewing.� The winds whip around his head.� The waves whip around his apostles trying to get back home in their boat. [22]

Capernaum, Galilee

Jesus becomes more and more depressed.� He needs to take more time off.� He does not.� He has taken a lot of rejection the last few months.� Rejection by the religion leaders whom he opposes anyway does not bother him; he expects it.

But the other rejections.� By the common seekers and by people he has always loved.� Those are the ones hard to take.� First his own family.� Even his mother.� It was one thing for the theologians from Jerusalem to accuse him of casting out demons by the power of Satan.� But his mother and brothers trying to get him to stop claiming he was going mad ~ it was a real blow. [23]

Next was the very people he grew up with.� He had gone to school with a lot of them, and to synagogue.� He had eaten at many of their homes, and they in his.� He had made furniture for many of them.� He had gone to their weddings and circumcisions and funerals.� After all that, they tried to kill him.� How could they?� They were supposed to be friends. [24]

Then his cousin and closest friend, John the Baptizer ~� imprisoned and beheaded.� Why?� Because he said God objected to King Herod taking his brother's wife from him.� All alone in that dark prison wondering if he had carried out his duties well enough.� All alone in that dark prison to anticipate his death.� Oh, John, how Jesus misses you. [25]

Now this.� People keep misunderstanding him.� They keep thinking he is going to be a high priest and king ruling from the Temple in Jerusalem.� They nearly force him to become an earthly king.� It's not an earthly kingdom, he keeps telling them.�

Hadn't he told them that people who realize their spiritual poverty have the kingdom of heaven?� Hadn't he said that if he drove out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has already come?� Hadn't he told them not to worry because God is now their Father and has already given them the kingdom?� Hadn't he said the kingdom of God was within them? [26]

How can they not understand?� Earthly kingdoms cannot endure.� Spiritual kingdoms do.� Why do they keep wanting him to rule from the Temple in Jerusalem?� Oh, God, why?

Jesus returns to Capernaum the next day and preaches in the synagogue.� Perhaps this is the wrong decision.� Too many things piling up on him.� He needs to do more mourning.� He's spreading himself too thin.� There's his human side; he needs to remember that.

The synagogue is so crowded, people stand around outside, hoping they will be able to hear.� Jesus should not be preaching yet.� He does anyway.� "You're not looking for me because of how I can change your life for the better, but because I fed you for free."

"Don't you realize I can feed you on much more?� I can give you bread straight from heaven so that you will live forever?" [27]

"Hey, Jesus!" someone calls out.� "Give us this magic bread so we'll never hunger again!"

"You did in the desert yesterday," someone else says.� "We believe you.� Give us this bread!" [28]

"Don't you get it?" Jesus tells the crowd.� "The bread:� It is me.� I am the bread of eternal life.� I am the one who came down out of heaven." [29]

"Come on now, Jesus," someone objects.

"Give him a chance.� Listen to him."

"He's just Joseph's son.� Everyone knows both his parents."

"Get off this kick, Jesus, that you came down from heaven.� We don't need a mad king." [30]

The next thing Jesus knows, the whole town has walked out on him and his sermon. [31]

Rejected again.� This time from thousands.� He goes back to the house where he is staying.� His twelve apostles go with him, staying close, staying protective.� Pray for him during his times of temptation, during his times of doubt, during his own times of heart hunger.

Now the deep depression.� Has it all been for nothing?� He asks his apostles if they intend to leave him too.� Peter speaks for them all.� "Where would we go?� Yours are the only words who give us life ~ real life." [32]

Even now Jesus knows one of them will indeed desert him.� It will be Judas.� Oh, Judas.� Jesus only wants to love you.� He can do it better and more permanently in a spiritual kingdom, not the kind you want him to rule. [33]

How Jesus' heart hungers.� How he needs his heavenly father to encourage him right now.� How he needs to hear his voice.� He will get his wish.� Soon. [34]

Late Spring AD 29
Hills of Decapois [35]

Jesus have left Herod's territory.� He killed John the Baptizer.� He is after Jesus next.� It is not yet time for that.� They have been in Phoenicia awhile.� Now they are in Decapolis.� They feel safer here.

Mountains.� Head for the mountains.� Even in hiding the common people find out where Jesus is.� They do whatever is necessary to follow him.� Although nearly all Greek here, they too want Jesus to be their next king, not Caesar. [36]

So Jesus teaches again.� The word is in him.� He cannot control it.� How hungry they are for it.� How hungry they always are.� Spirit hunger.� Soul hunger.� Nothing to chew on at synagogue any more, or any of the Roman temples.� No real meat.

The search is over.� No need for angels when people can have the real thing.� No need for the occult when people can have the real thing.� No need for other-world spirits when people can have the real thing.� Keep feeding us, Jesus!� You're what we've been searching for!

Then there are the healings.� Jesus is not afraid to touch the scabs and their stumps and their leprosy.� Jesus is not afraid of infirmity and maiming and disease.� Oh Jesus, you love us so.� Such a benevolent king.� We love you, too, Jesus. [37]

Then back to the teaching.� On and on.� Over and over.� they cannot get enough.� Their heart hunger is still not filled.� Hour after hour.� Morning.� Noon.� Night.� One day.� Two days.� But they have come prepared this time.� They have brought food with them this time. [38]

....Is that the sun again?� Are the shadows beginning to dim?� Is there a light just getting ready to slide up the walls of the sky?� And sit on the window sill of the horizon?� Golden sun?� Majestic sun?� Sun of God?

Whispers.

"What do you think he'll do today?" [39]

Everyone works their way to the same spot.� The spot where they listened to Jesus all day the day before.� The spot where they beheld resplendence in the flesh.�

Once seated, they wait.� Wait for their Jesus.� Yes, they claim him.� He's theirs.� Their hero.� Their folk hero.

"Whatever he does today," someone whispers, "we'll have a hard time explaining it back home."

"True enough.� Miracles aren't the easiest things to explain."

Small stools and blankets are put back in place.� Where Jesus demonstrated his power yesterday.� Would he return?� He promised he would.� Jesus, do you keep your promises?

Once more Jesus appears.� The crowd applauds him wildly.� Whistles.� Excitement pops like lightening. �Explodes like fireballs.� There's no containing the crowd!

At last.� A king who understands them and won't demand such high taxes.� At last.� A high priest who understands them and treats both their body and soul.� Who could ask for anything more?

You're our hero, Jesus!� Our hero!

But Jesus must calm them down.� No more healings.� He's got more important things to tend to now.� There will always be the sick and diseased and maimed.� There won't always be this young man with the miracle birth standing on this hill.

He must speak.� The words of life.� He must feed them with the bread of life.� He must make them understand what the new nation of God will be like.� What kind of citizens they must be.� Dual citizens of Palestine and of heaven.� All at the same time.� He tries to explain.�

All morning he explains.� All afternoon.� He answers questions.� And explains some more.� All evening.� Until they cannot see him any more.

Jesus once again has kept them spellbound.� He has spelled it all out for them. �He has spelled compassion.� He has spelled knowledge.� He has spelled the divine.

He is opening their ears to truth.� What amazing truth.� What incredible truth.� Their ears are ringing.� Their tongues singing.

Then Jesus is silent.� It is dark now.� Darkness can be important.� It is time to rest.� Rest is important.� Time to think.� Pray for understanding.� To grasp.� Pray for personification into their own lives of what they've heard.�

Their heads are swirling.� So much to grasp.� They make their ways back to their tents and makeshift booths of desert branches.

A new kingdom.� A kingdom actually ruled by God.� He makes the rules.� Clear and plain.� All are equal.� All must prepare to live forever.� After all, he will rule forever.� He said so himself.

Darkness....�

....Then an aura of light.� Sneaking mischievously.� Now it sparkles.� The window of heaven opens.� The sun so bright this morning.�

More bread.� They will be fed more bread of life today.� People clean up in a nearby stream.� Then wend their way back to their usual spots.� What will Jesus do today?

But Jesus does not come to them immediately.� He waits.� What is he waiting for?� Everyone is here.� Come, Jesus.� Come feed us again.

Uh-oh.� Another surprise.� They'd forgotten how hungry they were to hear what they've longed to hear for centuries.� But now another hunger.� Growling.� Like a wild animal.� From their stomachs.� How could this be?�

Well, it could be because Jesus showed up in town on Sunday and now it is Tuesday.� How did that happen?

"Mommy, I'm hungry."

The child has said it in a nutshell.� So is everyone else.� But it's miles back to town.� It would be afternoon by the time they got there. [40]

Now they are ready.� Jesus has been setting them up.� Setting them up for one last miracle.� It will have to do.� It will have to carry many of them through for years to come.� Probably for the rest of their lives.

This one should do it.� It's a real dandy!

Jesus now gathers his twelve around him. [41]

"I feel sorry for these people.� They've been with me three days now.� They had some food, but they're out now.� What should we do?"

Aw, come on, Jesus.� You already know the answer.� Whatever it is.� Why ask us?� We can't help them. [42]

Jesus just looks at them.� A sheepish look.� That familiar sheepish look.� They stare back questioningly.� No use asking him though.� He is not going to answer.� He is the one who asked the question.� It is up to them to figure out the answer.

Again?�

You're going to do it again?� Twice?� There's nearly as many people here as the last time.� Are you sure, Jesus?�

But he sits down on the ground with his knees up under his chin, just like last time.� He looks up at them.� Just like last time.� He waits without another word.� Like last time.

"Well, men," Nathaniel finally responds, "I guess we'd better divide up.� You know what he wants us to do."

So they do.� They go around among the crowd asking the question.�

"Anyone with any food left at all?"

"Anyone willing to give up their last meal?"

"Anyone with food?"

"Bread anyone?"

"Fish?"

"A pomengranate?"

"Food anyone?"

They keep searching.� There must be about 12,000 people this time. [42]

"Hey, does Jesus need food?" someone calls out.� "Is he hungry?� Anything for Jesus."

"I've got a little left," someone responds.� "Jesus can have it."

"Thanks," Simon says enthusiastically.� "Just you wait to see what Jesus can do with this!"

"Me too?� I have some."

"Thanks.� You're about to see the unbelievable!� For breakfast!"� Nathaniel chuckles.

"Not me!� I'm not giving up my food for Jesus.� He can just get his own."

"Anyone, food?� Extra food?"

"This isn't extra.� I need it.� But Jesus can have my food.� He needs it."

"Thanks," Judas responds.� "This is a fine investment."

A couple hours go by.� Hours they could have been on the highway.�

But everyone waits.� Waits for Jesus.

"Okay, Jesus.� This is what we've located."

"I've got a dried out roll."

"Me too."

"I found a couple dried fish."

"I found a roll."

"Here's another dried fish."

The twelve gradually return to Jesus, and put their findings on a robe he has spread out on the ground.

"Let's see here.� One, two, three, four....We've got seven rolls.� And a few fish.� That's should do just fine." [44]

That's one roll for every seventeen hundred people.� Perfect.� And one bite of fish for each thousand.�

Jesus now stands in front of the robe with the measly morsels.� He raises his hands toward heaven.� And gives thanks to God for everyone being able to eat now.� Every one of them. [45]

The crowd is confused.� Perhaps he is referring to the bread of life.

Jesus now grins.�

The twelve know the routine.� They've already got out their baskets.

Jesus divides the larger rolls in half.� And each basket gets half a fish.� Almost like last time.

The twelve now divide up and head toward the circles of people. [46]

"Here," they instruct.� "Take one section of bread and one of fish."

The people way in the back of the crowd grumble and stare at the morsels meted out to them.� Just stare.

But the people in the front of the crowd look up at Jesus.� They're close enough to tell he is grinning broadly.� They obey.� They know something is up.

"Look!� I take a bite and it doesn't look like I did," someone whispers in delighted disbelief.

"Me too!" someone else responds.

"Look at mine!� It's bigger than it was!" he bellows boldly.

Whispers into talk.� Talk into shouts.� Snickers, then muffled laughter, and finally into guffaws.

Word spreads.� Farther and farther back in the crowd the people try it.�

"Take a bite.� Just try."

"But I feel so silly."

"Take a bite anyway.� Then pass it on."

Around the circle the baskets are passed.� Quietly at first.� Then with anticipation.�

Chuckles.

Laughter

Out-and-out hilarity.� Wonderful hilarity!� Glorious hilarity!� Hilarity that echoes through the hills!�

"This can't be done!� But he did it!"

"His words can't be true!� But they are!&"

"Wait 'till we tell the people down in town!"

They all look anxiously at Jesus.� The takeover.� He surely is ready for the takeover now.� They can have a wonderful life.� they will not have to work any more.� Jesus will just reproduce food for them all miraculously.� What a king!

But Jesus must get farther away from Herod.� His life is still in danger.� They understand.� He tells them they must go home now while they have the strength.� Reluctantly they do.� They still have crops to take care of.� Until Jesus' takeover, anyway.

Not that again.�

Magadan, Decapolis [47]

Jesus now works his way over to the hills of Magadan.� But he is being followed.� Some in the crowd had been spies from Jerusalem.� This time they sent Pharisees and Sadducees both.� They demand a sign.� A sign?� They just had a sign!� Didn't they eat yesterday?

Jesus is discouraged once more.� He goes farther north with his twelve.

Caesarea, Philippi, Decapolis [48]

They're back in private.� They have set up camp just outside of Caesarea.� They can see it with its white gleaming theaters, temples and arenas.

"So, what kind of king do people say I am?� Or do they think I'm something else?" Jesus asks, stirring the fire.

"Well, they think you're a prophet reincarnated," Thaddeus says.

"Some say you're John the Baptizer," Judas says.

"Some say you're Elijah," James Jr. adds.

"Some say you're Jeremiah."� It's John. [49]

Jesus' frustration grows.� He stands and walks away from the group.� They wait.� He returns.� He stares.

"What about you?� Who do you say I am?"

Once again Peter speaks for them all.� "You ARE the deliverer, the Son of the true God. We all believe this." [50]

Now he is ready to explain his kingdom a little clearer.� They will be left in charge.� They must understand this.

"On this foundation I will build my church.� And I'm going to give you the keys of the kingdom so that whatever you bind or loose for it on earth will be honored in heaven." [51]

�� What is he saying?� His kingdom is spiritual?

"Let's go for a walk," someone says, for Jesus is pensive again, the ever-returning depression, never far from him any more.�

After several steps, he finishes his thought.� "You know I'm going to be killed.� Crucified actually.� Are you able to take up your own cross for all this?" [52]

They walk on toward nowhere in particular.� The twelve are confused again.� Is he trying to discourage them too?

"But I will come back to life in three days!"� He is smiling.� He must not allow himself to drag them down.� They stop where they are.� "And you know what?� Some of you standing here right now will see the kingdom of God before you die." [53]

He does not say it, but Judas will not be among them.� Oh, Judas.� Your heart is so hungry.� I cannot be the kind of king you and all those others want and fill your hunger.

LIFE APPLICATION

1.�� Do you see a cycle in religion?� People start out wanting to break away from the ceremonial and traditional and be spiritually fed.� But once they find it, they create their own tradition with its own ceremonies.� What can we do to guard against that?

2.�� Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is within us (Luke 17:21) and is here now (Luke 9:27).� Still, Acts 20:6 says the early Christians met on the first day of the week in order to break bread (eat Jesus' body and blood), and Hebrews 10:24-25 says we are to get together to encourage each other to show love and good works.� How can we meet together for these two purposes in such a way that we feel filled spiritually without getting caught up in ceremonialism and speeches and performances?

3.�� We were created in God's image (Genesis 1:26).� That means we have the same emotions God has.� How do you think you discourage God?

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