Object Lesson for Adults: August 12, 2012

1 Kings 19:4-8, Psalm 34:1-8, Ephesians 4:25-5:2, John 6:35, 41-51

This week’s object is a potato chip (or perhaps a peanut).

Eat one yourself and start to take another. Stop yourself.

If your group is small, you might put some chips or peanuts in a bowl and pass them around the congregation with the admonition that they eat just one and stop, just as you did.

Play off the well known advertising tagline (Lays), “Betcha can’t eat just one.”

Compare this human craving for more of a good thing to what was happening along the Sea of Galilee in the last few Gospel lessons.

It started with the miraculous feeding of the multitude with five loaves and two fish.

The similarities to a key story of the crowd’s heritage is not lost. The people were familiar with God sending miraculous food supplies in various Old Testament stories. In the most memorable, God sent manna from heaven in adequate, if not abundant, supply and saved them from starvation.

That they had just witnessed a similar miracle had the impact of a gold rush. Jesus, the man who had grown up near them in Nazareth, could feed them for the rest of their lives! Who would have thought!?

The frantic fans followed Jesus along the shore line, hopping into boats — any way to stay close to the miracle worker. Following Jesus could change their lives forever. “Count me in!” they might have been crying.

Jesus had their attention and he knew it. Now was the time to introduce a new concept.

He continued to teach more than preach.

Aha! You like the bread I gave you. What’s that? You want more! Try this idea on for size. “I am the Bread of Life.”

Jesus stretches the minds of his new fan club. They can have a piece of the Bread of Life.

It was not clear what Jesus meant. It is debated even today. But one thing is clear: To participate any further in this miracle, they must make a connection with the Father if they want the sustenance of the Bread of Life.

Look down at the bowl of chips or nuts. Ask: Are you ready for some more? What are you willing to do?