Topics: Evangelism, Imitation, Jesus

Years ago, in a far-away land, a young man began to announce the availability of a new kind of bread. Consumers were skeptical at first, but some of them took it and found that it tasted far better than any of the other kinds on the market - and really satisfied their hunger.

They were happier in themselves, and really admired the young man who was willingly giving this Bread away to anyone who wanted it - refusing to charge! This bothered some of the rich people, but the poor folk loved it. But the other bread manufacturers were angry. All this was hurting their business.

Soon, the young man had followers who were traveling all over the place giving away this new Bread to anyone who wanted it. It was an instant success. Thousands of people were sold on this Bread, and formed small groups everywhere to spread it around. The other bakers tried to force the young man to charge for his Bread, but he refused. He simply said, "It didn't cost me anything - my father gave it to me."

Despite their attempts, many people kept getting it. "It really satisfies - and you can't beat the price!" they kept on saying. The other bread manufacturers plotted to kill the young man. They paid a 'friend' to betray him and witnesses to testify against him falsely. They got him convicted and executed. They assumed that the whole thing would now be forgotten. But to their dismay, the young man's followers kept distributing the Bread. It really got out of hand - as if the young man wasn't dead at all. He had certainly started something that was going to be hard to stop.

The other bakers came up with a clever substitute for the true Bread. It looked the same as the young man's, but it didn't satisfy. They used the same name that the young man had used, and got many of his followers to join them. But people had to buy this counterfeit bread - and so small groups of them everywhere continued to discover and distribute the true Bread for free. Thousands of them were killed for their efforts - but the young man's Bread was here to stay.

Thousands of years have passed now - and his Bread is still available. it is still free, and people are still discovering it and experiencing its unique benefits. Sure - there are still those who are trying to sell counterfeits. Others are saying the Bread is not needed because people aren't really hungry. Still others say a little bit of it is O.K. - so long as you don't go overboard on it. Then there are people who worship books about the original Bread, and others who have the true Bread but won't let anyone else have it. But the young man's Bread is still available for those who really want it. And there is absolutely nothing quite like it for taking away the awful hunger that gnaws at the insides of every person on earth! "I am the bread of Life. No one coming to me will be hungry again. Those believing in me will never thirst!" (Jesus - John 6:35).

(Inspirational submitted by: Graham Ashby)