Christmas

The Bread of Life

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

The Bible is rich with symbolism, and few metaphors are as profound as Jesus’ declaration in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life.” When paired with the meaning of Bethlehem—“the house of bread”—the depth of God’s plan for humanity comes into focus. These two ideas are intricately connected, pointing to Jesus as the ultimate provision for our spiritual hunger.

Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, carries a name that means “house of bread” in Hebrew. This small town was known as a fertile region, producing grain and sustenance for its people. However, its greatest gift to the world wasn’t earthly bread but the Savior Himself, who would be born in its midst.

This setting wasn’t coincidental. Bethlehem’s identity as a provider of physical sustenance foreshadowed the arrival of the One who would provide eternal sustenance. Just as Bethlehem once offered earthly bread, it became the birthplace of the Bread of Life.

In John 6, after feeding the 5,000, Jesus used bread as a powerful metaphor for His mission:

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35).

Jesus wasn’t speaking of physical hunger but the spiritual longing that only He can satisfy. Earthly bread sustains the body, but Jesus, the Bread of Life, nourishes the soul, offering eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Jesus’ birth in a manger adds another layer to this symbolism. A manger is a feeding trough for animals, and it was here that the Bread of Life was first laid. This humble beginning highlights God’s provision for humanity in the most unexpected way.

Just as animals came to the manger to eat, humanity is invited to come to Jesus for the sustenance that leads to eternal life. His humility and accessibility make the Bread of Life available to all, rich or poor, near or far.

The connection between Jesus as the Bread of Life and Bethlehem’s meaning is deepened by the Passover tradition. During Passover, unleavened bread symbolized God’s provision and deliverance for Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus fulfills this symbolism.

At the Last Supper, He broke bread and said, “This is my body, which is for you” (1 Corinthians 11:24). Just as the unleavened bread reminded the Israelites of their physical deliverance from Egypt, Jesus’ body—broken for us—secures our spiritual deliverance from sin.

Bethlehem, the house of bread, provided physical sustenance to its people. Jesus, born in Bethlehem, offers Himself as the true Bread of Life, nourishing all who come to Him. This divine connection reminds us of the completeness of God’s plan:

• Just as bread is a daily necessity, Jesus is essential for spiritual life.

• Bread must be received to sustain life; Jesus must be accepted by faith to bring eternal life.

• Physical bread satisfies temporarily, but Jesus provides lasting satisfaction.

The connection between Jesus as the Bread of Life and Bethlehem, the house of bread, is a powerful reminder of God’s provision. In a world full of spiritual hunger, Jesus offers Himself as the only source of true and eternal fulfillment.

This time of year, as many reflect on the birth of Jesus, let’s remember that He came not just to be born in the house of bread but to be the Bread of Life for all who believe. He invites us to partake in this bread and experience the abundant life only He can provide.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him” (Psalm 34:8).

Will you accept His invitation to be spiritually nourished today? Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.

Why I switched trees

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

About 9 years ago my wife and I had an encounter with some new information that caused us to really evaluate how we celebrate God. Those of you who have been reading my posts for a while already know the faith journey I’ve been on.

Almost a month or so ago, I was sitting in my living room. My children, wife and I had just wrapped up a night of reading scripture, singing praises, and talking about what it meant for Jesus to be the light of the world. It was so good. Messy. But so good. Anyone who has tried to have quality devotion time with three little kids knows it can be an adventure to say the least. But it was so nice none the less. And the other cool part was, we had done the same thing the previous seven nights. And on this night, my wife snapped a really cool photo.

I used to lay by the Christmas tree and play with the ornaments. I loved decorating it even as a child. But I always wondered what it had to do with Jesus. I still think the Christmas tree is beautiful. But when my wife and I discovered the origins and meaning of the first Christmas trees, we just couldn’t look at them the same. I understand that a lot of people discount the origins of many of the Christmas traditions because it doesn’t mean the same to them. And honestly, that’s up to them. I don’t want to point fingers or ridicule anyone, I just want to share my journey with you.

For my wife and I, the Christmas tree’s origins (use in pagan idol worship and Baal worship) and the simple fact that it’s meaning and relevance towards Jesus was completely absent. To make any connection whatsoever would really be a figment of our imaginations. But there is a tree, given by God, used to honor and celebrate Him.

When the tabernacle was being instructed, God ordained a very important piece in the Golden Lamp stand. It would serve as the light that illuminated the entire tent of meeting and guided the priests towards the holy of holies. It was the representation of God’s own light. It also holds the significance as being the illustration of the tree of life seen in the garden and later in the new heaven and Earth. Gathering around this tree is far more than about celebrating the miracle for the Maccabees that Hanukkah is generally associated with. It’s about honoring the miracles of God. It’s about recognizing that He first brought light into the void. It’s about celebrating the entrance of the light of life entering the world in the form of a baby. It’s about commemorating the relationship between Jesus being the light of the world and Him passing on the mantle to His followers to be the same. My wife and I would never be able to say the same about a Christmas tree. In fact, the only mention of setting up trees and decorating them in the Bible is the instructions not to do so (Jeremiah 10).

So when it came down to it. My wife and I chose to switch trees because one was empty in meaning (at best) and the other was splendid and a beautiful picture of who Jesus is. One had suspect origins and the other came directly from God. One looks an awful lot like something we’re instructed not to do, and the other appears all throughout scripture as a picture of life and light. One could be lined with material gifts for us while the other points us to the ultimate gift. Because, in the grand scheme of things, we want to honor Him and point our children towards Him. And that’s why we chose to switch trees.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters!

There should be no stress when celebrating Jesus

~ ForCommonGround ~ 2 Comments

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Time and time again, I hear people talking about the stress of the Christmas season. I don’t understand. Aren’t we celebrating the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us in the person of Jesus? What is stressful about that? Could it be all the things that people do that have nothing to do with Jesus is what makes this time of year stressful? To keep our eyes of the Savior should alleviate all stress and anxiety. Celebrating the birth of the Messiah has nothing to do with black Friday deals, credit card debt, Santa Claus, putting up trees, and having the perfect party or family gathering with all the right food. If we would only give up the things that don’t celebrate Jesus, we would find so much freedom.

Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.

Psalm 100:2 NLT

The Gifts we Give

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

So much of this time of year is devoted to spending money on gifts for everyone. But how many people have stopped to think about why? Is it fun to give gifts? One hundred percent yes! It’s one of my favorite ways to show I care for someone. But why do people choose a celebration that is supposed to be about Jesus to make it about everyone else? Think about it. The average American will spend $700 on holiday gifts and goodies this year, totaling more than $465 billion. What?!?

Let’s not forget that it was Jesus who received gifts upon His birth. It wasn’t humanity, but the Savior of humanity that was honored. As we celebrate the birth of our Messiah, throughout this fall and winter season, let’s keep it about our Messiah. The last thing kids need is to be showered with presents. Materialism is an enemy of the soul. What our kids need is to love Jesus. What our family members need is to love Jesus. That’s the greatest gift. Think about what one person can do for the cause of Christ with $700 rather than buying stuff that has zero eternal significance. Or what one nation could do with a half a trillion dollars. Americans could provide clean drinking water to the entire world in one holiday season. Just one. We could provide a billion kids with a free education in impoverished nations. Those are causes worthy of honoring our Savior.

Celebrating the birth of Christ is celebrating the greatest gift, which has already been given. God became flesh and dwelt among us. We already received the gift. It’s our turn to give the gifts back to Him and to raise up our children to love and honor Him with their lives. I love giving things to my kids. I really do. And I’m not saying that kids shouldn’t get gifts. But why, for a celebration that is supposed to be all about Jesus, do we make it about anything other than Jesus? Let’s give the gifts of love, self-sacrifice, and service to those in need. Let’s devote our heart to Jesus as our gift to Him. He gave all of Himself to us. Now it’s our turn.

Peace in Christ, our Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, and Almighty God!

The Gifts we Give

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

So much of this time of year is devoted to spending money on gifts for everyone. But how many people have stopped to think about why? Is it fun to give gifts? One hundred percent yes! It’s one of my favorite ways to show I care for someone. But why do people choose a celebration that is supposed to be about Jesus to make it about everyone else? Think about it. The average American will spend $700 on holiday gifts and goodies this year, totaling more than $465 billion. What?!?

Let’s not forget that it was Jesus who received gifts upon His birth. It wasn’t humanity, but the Savior of humanity that was honored. As we celebrate the birth of our Messiah, throughout this fall and winter season, let’s keep it about our Messiah. The last thing kids need is to be showered with presents. Materialism is an enemy of the soul. What our kids need is to love Jesus. What our family members need is to love Jesus. That’s the greatest gift. Think about what one person can do for the cause of Christ with $700 rather than buying stuff that has zero eternal significance. Or what one nation could do with a half a trillion dollars. Americans could provide clean drinking water to the entire world in one holiday season. Just one. You could provide a billion kids with a free education in impoverished nations. Those are causes worthy of honoring our Savior.

Celebrating the birth of Christ is celebrating the greatest gift, which has already been given. God became flesh and dwelt among us. We already received the gift. It’s our turn to give the gifts back to Him and to raise up our children to love and honor Him with their lives. I love giving things to my kids. I really do. And I’m not saying that kids shouldn’t get gifts. But why, for a celebration that is supposed to be all about Jesus, do we make it about anything other than Jesus? Let’s give the gifts of love, self-sacrifice, and service to those in need. Let’s devote our heart to Jesus as our gift to Him. He gave all of Himself to us. Now it’s our turn.

Peace in Christ, our Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, and Almighty God!