Summer 1995
A Greater Depth in our Spiritual Life
Wade E Taylor

"And a great multitude followed Him, because they
saw His miracles which He did on them that were
diseased" John 6:2.

When they became extremely hungry, the disciples wanted to send the multitude into the village for food, but Jesus said they were to feed them. They reported that they had only enough to feed themselves.

One of the disciples mentioned that a lad was present who had with him five loaves and two fishes. Jesus took this limited supply and multiplied it until all were fed to the full, with twelve full baskets left over.

There is within in this report of the feeding of the multitude a truth that is far deeper than appears on the surface. Through these specific numbers, Jesus is telling His disciples that something of eternal, lasting importance has taken place. Within this is a principle that has an application for the last days. This speaks of an extremely limited ability and supply in the presence of tremendous need. Yet, when placed in the hands of Jesus, every need is met.

This multitude had been fed the best meal they had ever eaten. Yet several hours later they again became hungry and returned, looking for another meal. Rather than again feeding them, Jesus spoke a word of correction that they were seeking on the level of their temporal needs, when they should be seeking on a higher level for eternal values.

"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but
for that meat which endureth unto everlasting
life, which the Son of man shall give unto
you" John 6:27a.

Later, He offered that which would eternally satisfy them.

"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of
the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have
no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and
drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I
will raise him up at the last day. For my
flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink
indeed" John 6:53-55.

They had returned looking for another meal that would satisfy their stomachs, and were willing to take Him by force to make Him their King. They had received something that cost them nothing, and openly sought for more. Yet when Jesus offered them His very life, they scorned Him and left.

"The Jews therefore strove among themselves,
saying, How can this man give us His flesh
to eat? ... many therefore of His disciples,
when they had heard this, said, This is an
hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus
knew in Himself that His disciples murmured
at it, He said unto them, Doth this offend
you?" John 6:52, 60-61.

Even today, many will respond to a ministry on the level of "loaves and fishes" and become excited about the "multiplication" of limited resources. But they do not have ears to hear His Words in the deeper vein of eternal life and purpose.

Jesus had fully met their need. But when He attempted to lift them into a higher realm of truth by telling them that He Himself was the loaf from heaven, the "Bread of Life," they rejected Him and left.

"This is that bread which came down from heaven:
not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead:
he that eateth of this bread shall live for
ever ... from that time many of His disciples
went back, and walked no more with Him. Then
said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go
away? John 6:58, 66-67.

This was indeed a very difficult saying, and Jesus was not able to explain it, for He had yet to come to Gethsemane where He would drink the cup of our sin. Nor had He been to Calvary, where He would pay the full penalty for our sin; and in resurrection become the very source of our life, that "quickening, life giving spirit."

Jesus was looking forward to the time when He would be able to say,

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if
any man hear my voice, and open the door,
I will come in to him, and will sup with
him, and he with me" Rev 3:20.

The Lord first "sups" with us, as our resources are soon exhausted. In "supping" with us, He receives our worship and adoration, along with accepting the sacrifice of all we are, given to Him. Then we sup with Him, partaking of His very flesh and blood.

When He "feeds" on the lower level, the multitudes are there, responsive, excited, seeking to take Him by force to make Him king. But when He ministers in the deeper vein where it becomes costly and difficult, He is rejected.

"For many are called, but few are chosen" Matt 22:14.
Another way to say this is, "Many are called, but few will pay the price in order to be chosen."

There is a "depth" into which the Lord desires to bring us that involves an entering into and partaking of His very life.

"That I may know Him, and the power of His
resurrection, and the fellowship of His
sufferings, being made conformable unto
His death" Phil 3:10.

To enter into the fullness of this progression requires that we go through a process of death, just as was required of Jesus before He could offer the partaking of His flesh. Those who have gone through this processing of the cross are able to offer to others a level of "spiritual substance" that is not available through those who can only offer "loaves and fishes."

This progression begins with information about Jesus, but leads into an intimate "knowing" Him. To enter into "the power of His resurrection" means we first have died in identification with Him. Then follows an area into which few have entered, "the fellowship of HIS sufferings." We know much of the fellowship of our sufferings, but little of the higher level of partaking of His flesh and blood.

In this last hour, the Lord is yet seeking those who will personally, intimately relate to Him; overcomers, who will go beyond the surface of blessing and provision. Many are starving for more and sadly, only "loaves and fishes" are being offered to them. In the Charismatic visitation, multitudes came to the first level, but few continued on to partake of His very life.

May we say "YES LORD" to the offering of Himself. Only then can we become a partaker, and move beyond the surface into the depth of His present purposes.