The Bread Of Life Series

It’s not clear what Joby Pool was planning for this year’s Easter feast, but if his snack plans were any indication, it would’ve been an epic celebration.

That’s because police arrested Joby Pool for stealing a trailer containing 200,000 Cadbury Crème Eggs earlier this year (2023). As you know, the sweet confectionary treats contain a mixture of white and yellow fondant resembling an egg yolk covered by a chocolate shell and are always in demand due to their limited availability in the spring.

Cadbury valued the haul at approximately $37,000, an amount that local police described as “eggs-travagant.”

Police say that Pool broke into an industrial unit in Telford before driving off with the goods in a previously stolen tractor unit. Prosecutor Owen Beale claims the crime had to have been premeditated. He said, “This is clearly an organized criminal matter. You don’t just happen to learn about a trailer with that kind of value being available” (Daniel Victor, “Thief Steals Nearly 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs in Britain,” New York Times, 2-15-23; www.PreachingToday.com).

People pursue satisfaction in many strange ways. Oh, they might not steal a truckload of Cadbury Eggs, but their pursuits leave them just as empty as Joby Pool.

Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time, but what’s left to accomplish after you’ve proved you’re the best in the world? In the 2020 documentary “The Weight of Gold,” Phelps takes a long look at life after the Olympics.

In fact, “The Weight of Gold” features interviews with several Olympians who discuss going their entire lives without normal childhoods, without outside skills or interests beyond their sport, without any plans after the Olympics, and whose entire lives have been defined by a rapid, 40-second race.

Phelps says, “We’re just so lost. A good 80 percent, maybe more, develop a post-Olympic depression. I thought of myself as just a swimmer, and not a human being, and that’s where I thought, why don’t I just end it all?” (Brian Welk, “Michael Phelps Examines ‘Post-Olympic Depression’ in HBO’s ‘The Weight of Gold,’” The Wrap, 7-20-20; www.PreachingToday.com).

Tell me. If the wealth and fame of Olympic glory fails to satisfy, what does? What truly satisfies the hungry soul? What fills empty hearts? Well, if you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to John 6, John 6, where Jesus offers to satisfy your hunger.

John 6:1-7 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little” (ESV).

200 denarii—that’s eight month’s wages!

John 6:8-13 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten (ESV).

These were not 12 little lunch baskets, no! The Greek suggests that these were 12 large, heavy baskets. But why 12? Well, that’s one for each disciple.

According to the other Gospels, the disciples wanted Jesus to send the crowd home, because they were ready to go on vacation, and they were physically and emotionally depleted. But Jesus took what little they had and used it to feed a multitude with more than enough left over for each disciple.

Isn’t that just like Jesus! When you come to the end of yourself, He can still use you to minister to others and abundantly provide for your needs, as well. The crowd certainly recognized the miracle!

John 6:14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” (ESV)