Sunday Service | "I am the Bread of Life" | May 2, 2021
I AM Series: I am the Bread of Life
“Food is freedom.” - Jason Streubel
Knowing where your next food comes from becomes empowering, and if you don’t, it becomes all-encompassing.
A few truths about food:
• Food is complicated.
• Food is political.
• Food is spiritual.
Food is Complicated
Food involves many moving parts: grower/producer, processors/ storage, buyer & sellers, consumers. How many of you have grown a garden? It’s not easy!
Food is Political
Those In power are those who determine who has it and who does not. It is the root of the power structure of the world.
We see these two truths in the Bible:
Joseph and Pharaoh--Joseph had power right alongside power, and he control the food storage and distribution during a widespread famine.
Jesus feeding the 5k from a few loaves and fish made the people want to make him king by force by overthrowing Rome and have their own food security, instead of depending on Rome for it.
Food is Spiritual
Hunger and poverty will cause us to self protect over trusting and serving.
Examples of this in the scriptures:
In Leviticus and Deuteronomy, it was commanded that people not cut/harvest the corners of their field so that the poor, aliens, and widows could eat. How much they cut was a reflection of their generosity and faith in God as their provider.
Story of Ruth--the stage is set at first during a famine, which drives Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi, and her husbands and sons into Moab--where Ruth is brought into the family. The second movement of the story, and the ultimate resolution, is set against the backdrop of the barley harvest. Ruth also benefits & meets her redeemer/husband because of the law from Leviticus & Deuteronomy.
In Joshua 5, when the Israelites were going into the land of Canaan and they circumcised themselves and consecrated themselves- that day the manna stop and from then on they are the produce of the Land
Food as freedom looked like eating from the land. In Exodus, after only 3 days in the desert, the people would rather go back into slavery. But God provided manna. In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were caretakers of the land and were able to eat freely (except one tree, of course).
Food security is essential for a thriving life. Jesus has come to bring us the bread of life: a security we can count on.
John 6:25-40
In context, Jesus has already fed the 5000 and crossed the sea to the other side. The following recounts the people's reactions to this miracle and person.
Verses 25-27
“When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him, God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
So we see that Jesus begins to make a distinction between physical food and spiritual food.
Which do we work for? Strive for? What’s our focus?
What do we spend our time, energy, and money on?
What are we looking for: Things to fill our bellies and make us momentarily satisfied--or are we seeking for what will last?
In other words: Are we willing to find fulfillment from Jesus? In our personal lives? Career, relationships, finances, sexuality, parenting, marriages?
OR
Do we seek what we think will fill our bellies in the moment?
The latter, the temporary, that is what so often brings us into conflict with the Kingdom of God.
Verses 28-29
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the work God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
So what could our work look like?
To believe in Jesus as the Son of God. To believe in his resurrection and his way of life for us and humanity.
The work for us is to believe Jesus is who he reveals himself to be. He keeps interrupting our ways of thinking, believing, and being.
In later verses, Jesus challenges the crowd to feast on his flesh, and many turn away. He was not calling people to cannibalism but to dependency.
It’s a larger perspective on life. Not just momentary fulfillments but choices made with loving God and others at the center. This is the work. And it is good.
Our lives have been interrupted this last year. Where did we go for fulfillment?
Verses 30-31
So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
We want God to come down and do for us what is the right thing, but we have to remember that that is slavery and not freedom.
The manna came for a period and then stopped. Why? Because we are made to be creative and to work together for provision. This is the image of God.
Jesus had to go away for one to come that is better: the Holy Spirit. This is a real loving relationship!
Many times when we ask for a sign we are wrestling with belief. But asking for a sign is not usually out of humility, but out of a pride that says: Prove that my way of thinking is wrong.
I think Jesus senses this out of the crowd. It's like the meme with the guy who makes a statement and then says prove me wrong.
Jesus loves you. He will debate you but we have to remember that his goal is relationship--not being right. That’s something we need to learn from him!
Verses 32-34
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but 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.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
Also, let’s get the story correct: The Jews held Moses as the pinnacle of their faith. He was the man who knew God.
And so we will follow the way of Moses…..sort of.
Jesus is saying here, “Yes look to Moses, but remember that Moses was just a man and the bread that came down was from God and not Moses.”
It's easy for us to look back and think that it was so much easier “back then” when Jesus was here or when Jesus was on earth.
But what Jesus is explaining is that all the good was from God, and not just in those moments or people.
So if God was moving then He is still moving now!
The manna came as the Israelites were grumbling about not having food and provision from God. So God met their physical need as he was leading them from slavery into freedom.
That journey was a spiritual journey far more than it was a physical one.
Verse 35
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Last week we began to look at how powerful the I AM statement is for the Israelites. It is the name of God.
Jesus is using this I AM as a declaration that he is God and to look right now and see the work of God!
I am the bread of life. Come to me and never go hungry or thirsty again!
We look for fulfillment in so many things but we can find it in Jesus!
Not in money, or a job, or a relationship, or an experience, or anything else.
We can become filled in Jesus!
Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the last: He is the great God of Israel and of the Universe.
And the invitation is for us to come taste and see his goodness.
Allow Jesus to become our treasure that our heart will follow. Let's turn our work or focus on him as the one who fulfills!
With Jesus as the Bread of life, we have security which can empower us to live whole and holy lives, bringing love and justice into our corners of our fields, our lives.
Jesus is interrupting this crowd's efforts to bring fulfillment by finding a king that can overthrow Rome and reestablish Israel as a dominant independent country, which they believe will better their personal lives…
But by inviting them to let go of that view of security and taking on the Kingdom of God’s view they can have security and true freedom in Jesus now: a freedom where moths and vermin can not destroy, nor thieves can break in and steal.
Jesus, the lover of you, is also our security and freedom.
This holds tension.
Many have fallen into the trap of thinking Jesus is the church. But the church is Jesus’ bride!
We can get disappointed and feel unfulfilled in serving at church. It happens. The work of the Kingdom of God is not played out just in the confines of the community of Saints.
Jesus says I am the bread of life, not the bride that is walking with him.
Remember the work is believing in Jesus not just serving or attending church. Many of us have fallen into the trap of thinking that going to church or serving in church is the same as believing that Jesus is the bread of life. It’s not.
But believing in Jesus enables us to serve one another as his bride with Jesus.
And we are working through this as the big Church, as many are beginning to reconcile the two.
Verses 36-40
But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
I love how Jesus continues to point our attention to what is to come. By doing so, he gives us Hope.
We do not always talk about Heaven or eternal life because I think we have a bad taste in our mouths from the Theology that calls life here rubbish and our only goal is to get to heaven. How short-sighted that is! When Jesus says it is finished on the Cross--the Kingdom of Heaven crashed into our kingdom!
The Kingdom of God is here and now…. and forevermore. And there is so much good here.
Yet, it is also short-sighted to neglect the reality that eternal life is a promise of Jesus and a resurrection of believers will come.
Jesus being the Bread of Life gives us security and freedom to walk the whole path with God-- through all of our seasons personally and as humanity.
Jesus is making all things new. He is a God of redemption and restoration. Let us wrap our hearts and minds around this truth as well.
So, what are you hungry for?
Do we have our eyes and hearts open to another reality? The Kingdom of God here and now and forevermore?
Are we willing to let Jesus interrupt our way of life?
He is the Bread of life. Whoever comes to him will never go hungry and whoever believes in him will never be thirsty.
Believing and receiving Jesus as the bread of life changes our here and now. It cultivates an honest relationship with God, with others, and ourselves.
We are made to Love God and our neighbor. To be people of Jesus, the resurrection, and justice.
What are we dependent upon to make us, us?
Jesus saying I Am the bread of life is meant to interrupt our own belief and process. He is life.
And the invitation is for our focus to be:
1. To Believe in Him and
2. Embrace living in His security.
Food is freedom. Jesus says I AM the bread of life. Let’s taste and see!