The Source of Life

Imagine our entire Wesley body, all 1000 + of us climbing up a mountain together. Now imagine that times five. Climbing up the mountain step by step, a crowd so thick forming not even the mountain top is visible anymore. Can you imagine the sweat dripping down our backs, the dirt on our feet, the grumbling of our bellies…the wonder in our hearts as we made our way up the ascension in search of Jesus?

I imagine this to be like the five thousand seeking the One who could perform signs on the sick and leave their eyes astonished at the miracles before them.

Who could this man be? How could it be? When death hovered so closely, when thirty years of illness lingered, just His word alone brought forth life that should have been impossible.
 
Every step they took on that rocky hill marked by the anthem of their search “who is He?”

As they searched, He saw them. One by one arising to the ground He stood on, and He didn’t miss the emptiness their journey brought.
 
His first thought when He saw them lingered around filling their stomachs: “Philip, where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?” - John 6:5

Now can you sit with me here and imagine Philip? Jesus knew He was asking a trick question, but here’s Philip staring at the horizon of the mountain watching person after person making their way up. I would’ve thrown my hands up and laughed like Sarah. The impossible things you say, Lord!!!

Here is Philip. “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”  - John 6:6
 
Have you ever been in a position where even the best solution you could dream up wouldn’t really even cover the need you see in front of you?

Same.
 
Sometimes I will let myself dream of the best solutions…the ideal ones that make my heart giddy. I see colorful life building up, lights shining bright, every good thing coming forth and I drink it all in. Gosh, yes, this would be perfect.

And then I get a scary dose of reality and all the bright lights dim, all the color fades, and I just see the black and white. But…it won’t work. It’s not working.
 
It’s in those moments that the emptiness deep in my heart, deep in my belly creeps back in again, and I realize just how much I’ll need God to come through to make any kind of ends meet to my dreams, to my reality, to my life.

So, with empty bellies shouting loudly, what did Jesus do?

He gave them their fill. As much as they wanted. And nothing was lost. No one was missed. No stomach wished for more.
 
Yet, even on the mountain getting their fill, they had only guesses for their search of who He could be.

“He’s the prophet!” they declared. But, even their best guesses of the king he could be, didn’t compare to the King He was. They still didn’t understand. All they could think about was their history- the way God had provided for Israel in the Wilderness and the way He had provided for them on the mountain. But every moment they deemed Him provider was based solely on temporary sustenance.
 
Jesus is the King who permanently sustains our lives not the king who temporarily fixes our emptiness.

He is the source of our lives.
 
So just a few days after they took bread from His hands and ate their fill, they heard the words of life spill out over His tongue as He said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” - John 6:35

This statement was radical. He was telling them who He was- the kind of King He is. The source of all life.

Whether you’re in a season of ascension, seeking out more of Him, wondering at who He is, wondering at the miracles He’s done before you…or if you’re in a season looking at what’s ahead and not even your dreamiest solutions could handle the multitude before you…I encourage you to dwell in His presence and remind yourself of the kind of King He is.
 
He’s the King who doesn’t let emptiness get the last word. He fills every gap and nothing is missed. He speaks and life springs forth.

He is and life flows.
 
Jesus, we are in awe of you. You are the King of Life. The One we so long for, the One our deepest cravings are satisfied with. Thank you for never leaving us thirsty or hungry. Fill us to overflowing, Lord. Fill our hearts, fill our minds, fill our emptiness. Where we doubt provision, may Your presence break open doors of impossibility. You are our everything. Thank you for who You are, King Jesus.

Author | Emily Goldin