The text this morning is from the Gospel according to John, the 6th chapter:
On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.Thus far the text.
My dear friends in Christ,
The people of Israel were really no different than the people who had gathered to hear Jesus that day. Even though God had provided such wonderful things, manna, quail, and now the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fishes, the people didn’t understand, they grumbled, they complained. In Mark’s Gospel accounting of the miracle of the loaves, we discovered that the people were hungry for the Word of God, and they received it in full. But, now, in John’s Gospel, these same people, and perhaps even with a few more as the crowds kept growing, their bellies had been filled and they wanted more and more and more of that, and not that which would actually keep them unto eternity.
Isn’t that the way it always is? You get a taste of something and all of the sudden, it’s the driving force of all your desires? I’m this way with candy. It’s a serious problem. I get one little taste of the stuff, and I mean, like, that overly-sweetened, tooth-rotting deliciousness, and I’m hooked on it for days, weeks even. I’d rather eat candy than good food. I’d rather eat candy than just about do anything else. The people with Jesus were there for the Word, they got fed a free meal, and all of the sudden, it’s all they can think about.
In fact, it’s all they can think about to the detriment of everything that had come before it. Think about this: you have 15,000 people racing through the desert to catch up with this decent, if not strange, teacher to hear what He has to say. When they finally get to Him, they stand for hours and hours and hours to hear all that He’s got. Back in Israel’s day, it was common for the teacher to sit and the students to stand; we’ve reversed this today, which is fine. But, think of the energy required to stand for 12 hours at a time. And then, on top of that, they’re learning. Have you ever sat through a great class or seminar? It’s amazing and it’s wonderful, but you end up getting so tired because you’re putting all your mental energy towards hearing and understanding. So, these people were willing to put up with physical and intellectual exhaustion, but then, like a dog distracted by a squirrel, they leave it behind because they have food in their bellies.
This food took over everything they were learning that day, and it so to such an extent that they missed what it all meant. Remember the word “recapitulation.” This means that Jesus is refulfilling all that Israel did; He is Israel itself, not as it was, but as it should have been, obedient, joyful, thankful to God, and blessed. And the food that was to sustain the people was given to them the same way that God gave the manna and quail to the people in the desert. And what do they say? Thank you? No, they ultimately demand more and more, getting sick of God’s provision and wanting what they want.
Here’s the thing: does Jesus act like He’s not going to give them what they need? I don’t think so. He already gave them bread and fish. He already supplied a wedding with free wine. Why wouldn’t He do that again? Jesus delights in giving His creation all the good things, and there’s no reason to think He won’t keep doing it. But the people want more. They want it now. In fact, they even try to bargain with Jesus. We want this food they say, and then they ask what they must do, almost like they’re asking what they need to do to earn the food, to get more, to make sure they’re taken care of.
Jesus gives them basically the same answer He gave to the woman at the well, “If you’d known who you were talking to, you would’ve asked, and He would have given living water to you. If you knew who you were talking to, you would ask, and I would give you bread from heaven.” This isn’t just the physical food we eat and drink that He’s talking about, but the food which flows from heaven itself, the food that brings us to heaven itself. And He’s not saying that if they just ask for anything, He’ll give it, but that if they ask for the right thing, the specific thing, He will deliver it a hundredfold.
See, the people missed the bread of life for bread that tastes yummy. They saw and ate delicious bread, but missed that Jesus is something greater than wheat and yeast. They saw the miracle, but missed the sign. There’s a difference in the Scriptures between these two things, miracles and signs. Miracles are the result of a supernatural intervention upon the physical world. A sign is an event or action that points towards the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah of all humanity. The people saw the supernatural intervention on the bread and fish and were filled, but they missed the fact that this pointed to Christ as God Himself. They saw the miracle, but missed the sign.
I think I understand that temptation. You get so focused on what’s happening that you miss why it’s happening. Jesus did the miracle of the loaves to point to Himself as the bread of heaven. Then, when the people don’t get it, He points to His Father, who has given the authority to give eternal life. Then when they miss that, He explicitly states that He’s the bread of heaven. Then when they don’t understand that… well, that comes next week. Suffice it to say, the people just aren’t getting it. It makes you wonder why, when they gathered together to hear God’s Word, they did so. Why gather to hear the Word of God if you aren’t going to take the opportunity to try to understand it?
Have you ever thought about this for yourself? Why do we gather together as the Church? Why are you here? Is it because your physical, emotional, or intellectual needs are being filled? Are you seeking more of that? Or are you seeking the one who is Bread of Life? Are you seeking the sign that He is the Messiah? Are you seeking where He may found?
You see, the people were surprised to find Jesus on the other shore. They thought He would be where they expected to find Him. I remember this after 9/11. Where was God in all of this? “Oh, well, God was comforting the families of the victims even as they died,” or, “Jesus was making it so the planes didn’t do any worse.” I mean, come on. We don’t tell Jesus where to be, and we don’t look for Him in any other place than where He’s promised to be. The people were surprised to find Him in Capernaum when they expected Him to be giving out bread like He had been. It’s like they were telling Him where to be and what to do. Instead, He had His own agenda.
His agenda followed His Father’s and no one else’s. His Father has the authority to do whatever He wishes, and more than that, has given His seal to His Son, Jesus Christ. This means that the Father has given the Son all authority in heaven and on earth. And what’s amazing is that Jesus takes this authority and, instead of running roughshod with it, or instead of making it super mystical, He binds Himself to specific things in which He may be found. He binds Himself, not to Capernaum, not to unexpected places, but to mere words and mere bread and mere wine and mere water. He binds Himself so that, if you are looking for Jesus, you will find Him.
And when you look for Jesus, when you are seeking Him, you will be seeking Him in the bread and in the wine and in the water and in the Word. Because that’s where He’s promised to be. I don’t know why these are the means that God chose to give Himself to you, but they are. And when you seek Him, if you’re truly seeking Him and not just looking for the fun of having a church family or the feeling of belonging or because you like to hear nice things, you will seek Him where He’s promised to be found. Bread. Wine. Water. Word.
And the amazing thing is that He gives you the bread to eat, but it brings you the Bread of Life, life eternal, bread from heaven, everlasting bread, thirst which never comes. This is because when we have what we need in our spirits, the physical world is also taken care of. It’s not to say we’ll always be full. It’s not to say we’ll always have food. But, when our souls are tended to by Christ, we have faith also to look to the life which is to come, which brings us to eternity, where we shall never die, never hunger, never thirst. He care for you, and gives you exactly what you need because you need only what He’s promised. You certainly can decide if you think it’s enough, but I guarantee you it is. It’s enough and it’s more than enough forever. It’s enough to bring you to where He is forever and ever. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord! Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment