I don’t know why “bird-brain” is an insult. In some ways, the birds are pretty smart. I know the robins who built a nest on my downspout, just under the eave, were enjoying their decision in the middle of several hailstorms. But here’s where they are really smart: they only feed the babies for so long:

These aren’t pictures of our robins; their location prohibited photography. But we saw them. Little heads up, beaks open, “Feed me! Feed me!” Even as they got bigger and could look out of the nest, the beaks were still open: “Hey! I’m here! Where are you? Where is my worm?” Pretty soon, of course, they’re bigger than the nest. We saw one of them take his first “flight” if you can call it that. They don’t fly, and they don’t fall, they kind of fly down.

The point is, the robin parents don’t feed the babies forever. They push them out of the nest and teach them to feed themselves. And it’s not long before those fledglings are parents themselves.

It’s the same with our children, is it not? We feed the babies. Children feed themselves. We teach young adults to cook and feed themselves, and parents feed others.

I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one. (1 John 2.12 – 14, NKJV, emphasis mine)

So why is it in many churches that the pastor looks out and sees a sanctuary full of baby birds, beaks open, saying, “Feed me! Feed me!” and both the pastor and the people like it like that?

Just last week I wrote about a Denver Bronco football player who has been suspended indefinitely for gambling. I thought an emphasis on “policy” was misguided. We should be teaching these young people that gambling is bad for them in every way imaginable.

I’m on the wrong side of society again. A July 26 article in the Wall Street Journal captures it all with this headline and sub-headline:

The NCAA’s Interest in Gambling Is Growing. Its Penalties for Athletes Who Gamble Are Shrinking.

The NCAA recently eased its penalties for athletes who gamble on sports, even if it’s legal. The association is also indicating that it wants to profit from legal wagering.

Instead of continuing to discourage college athletes from gambling, now the NCAA wants a piece of the action. The article has two photos of betting companies advertising right in the stadium where the games are played. And what are the new guidelines?

For violations in which the total amount wagered is $200 or less, the guidelines call only for mandatory gambling prevention education and no loss of eligibility.

I’m not a college student, but I think $200 is a fair amount of money. Too much to throw away on a bet. And make no mistake, “throw away” is the right expression. Last year, I pointed out that Alabama might not win the National Championship despite their very high odds in favor. In 2018, the odds were higher, and Alabama lost to Clemson in the championship game 44 – 16. Last year, they lost twice and didn’t even win their division of the SEC. I wonder how much money was lost on that “sure thing.”

But gambling is becoming more normal and some of it is considered “innocuous:”

Officially, college athletes are still prohibited from betting on any sport offered by the NCAA at any level, even seemingly innocuous activities like a tournament bracket pool or picking squares at a Super Bowl party.

A friend of mine came to faith in his 60s right after, in his words, “Coming off of a 3-day drunk and dropping $50,000 in the Super Bowl.” And how did he get his start gambling? Playing penny poker in the Marines – a “seemingly innocuous” activity.

The real message here is that just because society’s standards are changing doesn’t mean that something that used to be considered wrong or unwise is now OK. We need to be careful not to get sucked in.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5.15 – 17, ESV)

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. (1 Timothy 6.9 – 11, ESV)

We started yesterday struggling with the “eat my flesh and drink my blood” section of John 6, where we saw that Jesus himself links the idea, the metaphor, with abiding:

Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. (John 6.56, ESV)

And how do we abide? Again, what does Jesus say? In John 6, it’s clear he’s talking about his teaching:

It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. (John 6.45 – 48, ESV)

And it’s never just about knowing his teaching, it’s about obeying it. That’s what the parable of the wise and foolish builders is about. And here’s a time when Peter actually gets it right. Again, the answer is right in the text:

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6.66 – 68, ESV)

“You have the words of eternal life.” He got it. It’s the words – important as food.

But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4.4, ESV)

Moses came and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he and Joshua the son of Nun. And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, he said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.” (Deuteronomy 32.44 – 47, ESV, emphasis mine)

Every now and then we run across a passage that causes us to say, “What?!” Here’s such a passage that had that effect on its initial hearers as well as on some of us:

I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (John 6.48 – 58, 60 ESV)

“This is a hard saying…” Indeed it is…unless you’re Roman Catholic. In that case, it’s easy. “No problem. I eat his flesh and drink his blood every time I go to Mass.” It’s not hard to see how this text supports their teaching of transubstantiation.

With all due respect, I don’t think Jesus is referring to the Eucharist, where transubstantiation occurs, and I’ll share with you my reasons why not. It might take a day or two! And these thoughts are mine, derived a few days ago during my daily reading. This might not be THE answer, but it certainly is AN answer. See what you think.

My main problem with the transubstantiation interpretation is that it requires a special person to make it happen. As I saw on a poster in a Catholic church recently, “Support our seminarians! No priests, no Eucharist.” That viewpoint seems to contradict the priesthood of all believers (see 1 Peter 2.9) So we move on to what Jesus said…

“I am the Bread of Life.” Jesus has already demonstrated his penchant for metaphor. I wrote about his use of metaphor just last week. In addition, he told Nicodemus, “You must be born again,” a metaphor, which Nicodemus interpreted literally. He told the Woman at the Well he would give her “living water,” which she interpreted literally.

What do we do with bread? We eat it? How do we eat this Bread of Life? It’s right there in the text:

Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. (verse 56)

“Abides” – we have a whole chapter on that later on (See John 15.1 – 17). And how do we abide? Stay tuned…

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. (John 15.9, 10, ESV)

We looked yesterday at the different responses of Nicodemus (John 3) and the Woman at the Well (John 4). Why did Nicodemus not follow Jesus in John 3? There’s actually evidence that he did follow Jesus…eventually and secretly:

The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” (John 7.45 – 52, ESV)

As an aside, I wrote back in November that everything the Pharisees said in that paragraph was wrong. Look it up! Have any of the Pharisees believed in him? Yes, actually. Nicodemus did. Here’s more evidence:

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. (John 19.38 – 42, ESV)

Yes, Nicodemus was a “secret” disciple. Why? Why was the woman at the well out changing her village while Nicodemus stayed hidden? It’s simple. The woman had nothing to lose. Nicodemus did.

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19.21 – 23, ESV)

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. – Jim Elliott

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8.34 – 38, ESV)

In John 1, the text says clearly that some believe and some don’t; this is illustrated beautifully in John 3 and John 4. Who would your money be on if all you knew was that one was a pious, law-keeping Bible teacher and the other was a Samaritan woman not even well-regarded in her own village? But we all know the outcome:

• Nicodemus, the religious leader, heard a long “born-again” speech and walked away. The Chosen depicts Jesus inviting him to travel with him and his followers, but Nicodemus sadly opts out.

“Everyone’s here?” Jesus says, scanning the square. “Yes.” Mary looks around. “This is all of us.” All of them? Nicodemus wonders, is he making a mistake? Should he show himself, take the step? He cannot. But how he longs to! “Is there anyone else?” Jesus calls out, as the one they call Simon splashes his face from the well and playfully flicks water on John. Nicodemus knows Jesus is looking for him, waiting for him, hoping he’ll come. “Look at this!” Simon squats to retrieve a purple bag at the base of the fountain. “What is that?” another says. “I don’t know,” Simon says. “Let’s find out.” He opens it to reveal coins. “Gold.” One of the men, dressed differently from the others, leans close to see. “A friend of mine left that for us,” Jesus tells them. “That’s enough for two weeks of food and lodging,” the finely dressed one says. Jesus looks toward the wall and shakes his head. “You came so close,” he whispers, and Nicodemus winces, weeping. (Nicodemus is a consistent character in Season 1. This exchange is in Episode 8 and is from the novelized account of season 1: I Have Called You by Name.)

• The Woman at the Well heard the message and joyfully invited the entire village:

So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him. (John 4.28 – 30, ESV)

One disappears back into his “normal” life; the other leaves her water jar (and her former life) to become a spokesperson for Jesus. Besides their responses, what’s the difference? Stay tuned.

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” (John 4.39 – 42, ESV)

Today, the Catholics remember the anniversary of the death of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. This brief summary captures his importance:

Throughout his life, Ignatius exhibited deep humility and a strong devotion to God. He emphasized the importance of finding God in all aspects of life, encouraging his followers to seek “the greater glory of God” in everything they did. His spiritual insights and teachings continue to inspire individuals from around the world. – from the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies

Ignatius had aspired to be a war hero, but a cannonball changed that:

Five hundred years ago, a cannonball wound to one man changed millions of lives. When asked, “Would Ignatius’s conversion have happened at all without the trauma of his wound in Pamplona?” Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ, responded:

Who knows what might have happened if he had not been wounded? Whatever the case, in the life of any individual there are many instances that offer us the chance to open up to the transcendent, as happened in the conversion of Ignatius…There are times in life that shake you up and kick-start this process.

In any case, conversion never really happens in one fell swoop but is really a life-long process. Ignatius, for instance, never saw himself as having converted but as being a pilgrim. He never believed that he’d reached his goal. Christian life is a pilgrimage in which you put aside your plans to set out on a journey, allowing yourself to be guided, accompanied, open to surprises. —Excerpted from Walking with Ignatius

The movie Ignatius of Loyola: Soldier, Sinner, Saint does a good job of summarizing his life.

Part of my wife’s ministry is leading people through the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. Here’s a description of an excellent resource, suitable for non-Catholics:

In Journey with Jesus, spiritual director Larry Warner guides us through the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, similar to the way he’s been leading people through them in person. Here’s what he’s observed: “The Spiritual Exercises helped people reconnect with Jesus and with themselves in life-giving ways. It was powerful.” Ignatius wanted to help everyone, no matter what age or stage of life, experience Jesus. Through prayers and Scripture readings that largely focus on the life of Christ, the Spiritual Exercises that have been so powerful and growth-inducing for so many, including Warner, can be a tool for transformation in you as well.

I was moved to publish this blog when I saw this quote this morning:

A rough and unshapen log has no idea that it can be made into a statue that will be considered a masterpiece, but the carver sees what can be done with it. So many do not understand God can mold them into Saints, until they put themselves into the hands of the almighty Artisan. – St. Ignatius Loyola

The Apostle Paul said it first:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2.10, NIV)

Continuing in John chapter 1…

On the next day, He desired to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” And Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (John 1.43 – 46, LSB)

The best evangelistic technique of all time: “Come and see.” How?

• By reading the Gospels with an open mind? That’s one way to “come and see,” but there are others…
• By coming to a spirit-filled gathering? When my daughter was in a now more closed country teaching in an international school, I preached in their large “fellowship” (not a “church,” mind you!). Of the 400 people there, at least half were new believers and seekers from that country, many of whom were attracted to the love and enthusiasm they sensed there.
• By observing a community of believers living life together? The blog Blessed to Be a Blessing talks about how a chemistry tutoring party in Kuala Lampur became a “come and see” experience.  

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5.16, NIV)

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. (Acts 13.47 – 49, ESV)

A Denver Broncos player was suspended for betting on NFL games:

Broncos second-year defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike was suspended indefinitely by the NFL on Tuesday for violating the league’s gambling policy, the league said in a statement.

The NFL said Uwazurike, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft, bet on NFL games during his rookie season.

“We were informed by the NFL today that Eyioma Uwazurike has been suspended by the league indefinitely for violating its gambling policy,” the Broncos said in a statement. “Our organization fully cooperated with this investigation and takes matters pertaining to the integrity of the game very seriously. The Denver Broncos will continue to provide all members of our organization with the necessary education, resources and support to ensure compliance with the NFL’s Gambling Policy.” – Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, July 24, 2023

What bothers me about how this is being handled is the emphasis on “policy:” The article continues:

First-year Broncos coach Sean Payton said they used time during the offseason program to educate players on the league’s gambling policies. By that time, of course, violations from the 2022 season would have already been months in the past.

“We’re professional teachers. The packet we received, we looked at, studied it closely and then we presented it in our own PowerPoint,” he said. “I probably had 20 minutes on it to really make sure everyone has it. If you’re a teacher and half your class gets a ‘D,’ you better look at yourself. It’s not the policy, but it’s the implementation, the understanding, and the educating of the policy.”

The “policy” emphasis takes me back to my days as an instructor in an Air Force leadership school. We were told every class something like: “Be sure to tell the guys about the penalties for driving while intoxicated (DWI). Tell them they could be fined $1,000. Remind them of Air Force policy that a DWI will hurt their career, etc., etc.” I smiled and nodded, but when I was with each new class I said something like:

I’m supposed to tell you not to drink and drive because you could be fined $1,000 and mess up your Air Force career. I’m not going to tell you any such thing. I don’t care about your $1,000 fine, and I don’t care about your career. What I care about is that if you’re out there driving drunk, you could kill someone, and it could be me or one of my kids.

I’m wondering why the NFL can’t teach these young players who have more money than good sense something like:

Guys, you’re making a lot of money playing an inherently dangerous sport. Your career could be over tomorrow. You need to live simply and not waste your money, especially on gambling. Then maybe you won’t join the long list of professional athletes who made a lot of money and died broke.

It’s not “policy,” which feels arbitrary. It’s real life.

See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. (Deuteronomy 30.15 – 18, ESV)

They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” (Deuteronomy 32.47, NIV)

It’s fun to get back to reading the gospels after slogging through Leviticus. That said, a reason to read Leviticus is right there in John 1.

On the next day, he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1.29, LSB)

We have to cut through a lot of detail in Leviticus, some of which doesn’t appear relevant, but one thing is relevant: a sacrificed lamb or other animal was required to take away sin.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. (Leviticus 17.11, LSB)

If you knew nothing about the Old Testament, John the Baptist’s sentence wouldn’t have made any sense.

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy places once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9.11 – 14, LSB)