The Bread of Life (John 6)

 

The Bread of Life (John 6)

 

A Russian stood in a bread line for over two hours, when they ran out of bread. Frustrated he started to complain loudly, “I have lived in this country my whole life. I have always supported the party. Communism is a failure! I hate this country.” A man in a trench coat appeared at his side and put his arm around him and said, “Comrade, Comrade, Don’t say such things. Remember what is was like in the old days.” He put his hand in the shape of a gun and pointed it to his forehead. The man went home. Seeing he had not bread, his wife asked, “What’s the matter? Did they run out of bread?” “Worse” he said, “They ran out of bullets!”

 

I went to a zoo and there was a baguette in a cage

The keeper said it was bread in captivity.

 

Jesus feeds a crowd of 5000 miraculous bread and fish from only 5 loaves and 2 fish. They picked up 12 basketfuls of leftovers. We’ve discussed in the past the meaning behind the numbers. 5 represents God’s grace. Grace is in action here as Jesus has mercy on a hungry crowd. Like God fed the Hebrews with manna from heaven, the Son of God miraculously feeds the 5000. The 12 basketfuls represent the 12 tribes of Israel, symbolizing that there is more than enough grace for all. The 2 fish may represent the 2 divisions of the Jewish people, the Judean kingdom and the kingdom of Israel to the north. The number 10 means completeness. 5000 is a product of 10s and 5. Complete grace for all.

 

Let’s explore grace today. Some traditions define grace as unmerited favor, that benevolence God gives his underserving people. But for Wesleyans, Grace is power. It is God’s loving action at work in our lives and in creation restoring all things. The work of grace gives way to new creation, transformed lives and the healing of the world. I define grace as the love of God making us more and more like Christ. Grace can be described as an acrostic.

God Restoring All Creation to Excellence.

Jesus display divine power by feeding the 5000 and by walking on the water and calming the storm. But John uses these miracle stories, well known to us from the other gospels, to teach us about the true source of life, Jesus.

 

When Jesus encountered the crowds after he’d crossed back over the Sea of Galilee, he told them that they were seeking him only because they witnessed the miracle. They’re looking for more food, and perhaps a chance to see another miracle. Jesus told them to work for food that lasts.

 

Work for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. (Jn 6:27)

 

We work for a lot of things. We work to feed, clothe and shelter our families. But what are you striving for? What are you reaching for in your life? I don’t think much past the next Star Wars offering or Marvel movie. My needs are simple. Seriously though, Jesus is inviting the crowd to reach for something greater than their next meal or the next spectacle. Reach for life in Christ!

 

Jesus tells them that the manna Moses gave them to eat led to hunger the next day. But if you eat the bread that Jesus gives, you will never hunger again.

 

It is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. (Jn 6:32b-33)

 

I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (Jn 6:35) 

 

 

 

Jesus challenges their disbelief and says that no one can come to faith in Christ, unless The Father draws them. And no one who comes to Jesus will ever be turned away. Those who put their faith in Christ will never find a lack of sustenance, the kind of food that endures to eternal life.

 

What is food anyway? It is an energy source for our bodies. We treat food as more than that. Eating is communal. Eating is a dining experience. Food is crucial to our holiday celebrations. And we eat too much of the wrong kinds of food and starve ourselves of the food that brings the best nutrition. Jesus is offering an energy source that comes from the throne of God, God’s grace. God’s love in action empowers our lives and transforms us to shine like Jesus with all His energy.

 

The crowd is not convinced. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son? How can he say he came down from heaven?!” And Jesus said, I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (Jn 5:51)

 

That opened up a whole new can of worms. Jesus sounds like he’s encouraging cannibalism!

 

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.  (Jn 5:53-56)

 

Those within the Church understand the symbolic nature of his words. For during the Lord’s Supper, we offer bread saying, “This bread is the body of Christ broken for you.” And we offer the fruit of the vine saying, “This cup is the blood of Christ shed for you.” Take, eat and drink, and do this in remembrance of Jesus. But for the crowd, and even for some of Jesus’ own followers, they could not understand him and turned away.

 

Jesus offered himself that they might have eternal life, but they turned away empty. So the truth of Jesus’ words is revealed. No one comes to trust in Jesus unless God has drawn them. They remain separated from the living God, and go on searching for their next meal, the next spectacle around which to gaggle. They will continue in their religion and go hungry for Him who feeds the soul.

 

Some of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

 

And Jesus was quick to assert, “Are you offended? What are you going to do when you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven?” “Spirit gives life. Flesh counts for nothing. My words are spirit and life.” The Word made flesh speaks the words of God and those words connect us to the Spirit of God, the very fountain of life.

 

Some turned away, ceasing to be his followers. Jesus turned to the 12 apostles, “Are you going to leave, too?” And Peter answers, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6:68-69)

 

Philip P. Bliss composed the hymn Wonderful Words of Life. He was a traveling musician who served at evangelistic events like revivals with preachers like Dwight L. Moody and Major Whittle. In 1874 he was involved in producing a Sunday School paper called Wonderful Words of Life. So Bliss composed the hymn for the first edition. As a children’s hymn, it grew is popularity around the world. It is included in our United Methodist Hymnal. No 600.

 

Sing them over again to me

Wonderful words of life

Let me more of their beauty see

Wonderful words of life

Words of life and duty. Teach me faith and duty.

Beautiful words. Wonderful words. Wonderful words of life.

Jesus’ heart was encouraged as he looked at Peter and the other apostles. “Have I not chosen you?” But he adds a sobering insight, “yet one of you is a devil.” Jesus knew he would be betrayed by Judas and handed over to the authorities to be crucified. And though it grieved him, he understood that God was offering Him as a sin offering. He gave his life to give us life, life everlasting. Philip Bliss died in a train wreck. He survived the wreck, but his wife was trapped in a burning carriage. He went in to save her and they both perished. Following the example of Jesus, Philip Bliss literally gave his life trying to save Lucy’s life. He was only 38 years old.

 

In this Lenten season we are given an opportunity to reset, reorient and realign our lives with Jesus who gave His life for us. Following His example, we practice self-denial, giving up something during these 40 days. Often it’s some kind of food. Some give up sweets, others red meat, still others caffeine. One year we gave up television. We found other ways to entertain ourselves. But the whole point of self-denial is to reorient our hearts to seek the bread that lasts unto eternal life, to seek Christ Jesus, to learn to rely upon His energy.

 

All other items on the menu satisfy only for a short while. We will hunger again. But when we partake of Christ, we find a source of energy for living that cannot be diminished. So take and eat of the bread of life and you will never hunger in your soul again.