Living Water - Bread Of Life

What Is It That’s Really Important To You?

Illus: Two friends were walking near Times Square in Manhattan. It was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people. Cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing, sirens were wailing, and the sounds of the city were almost deafening. Suddenly, one of them said, "What an interesting place to hear a cricket." His friend said, "What? You must be crazy. You couldn't possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!" "No, I'm sure of it," his friend said, "I heard a cricket." "That's crazy," said his friend. The man, who thought he had heard a cricket, listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes, beneath the branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed. "That's incredible," said his friend. "You must have superhuman ears!" "No," said the man who heard the cricket. "My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you're listening for." "But that can't be!" said the friend. "I could never hear a cricket in this noise." "Yes, it's true," came the reply. "It depends on what is really important to you. Here, let me show you." He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk. And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed every head within twenty feet turn and look to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs. "See what I mean?" asked the man who heard the cricket. "It all depends on what's important to you." In the end the Pharisees heard from Jesus what they were listening for.
Rev. Keenan Kelsey, "Making Choices"

I’ve thought about the many Biblical metaphors dealing with hunger, thirst and bread, like:

"It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"

– Jesus said this AFTER 40 days of fasting! (Matt. 4:2-4)

And: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Matt. 5:6) –A Paradox

I’ve been thinking about this and asking myself:

What is of utmost importance in life? What are the biggest priorities in MY OWN life?

READ - John 4:6-35: (Woman at the well)

Jesus rests by Jacobs well, Samaritan woman comes to draw water, and Disciples go for food.
Could talk of all kinds of fascinating historical and cultural information here. - Samaritan conflict, Jacobs Well, Mt. Gerizim etc. But What was Jesus’ message?
Jesus: "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." (v. 10)
She didn’t get it yet! You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do you get that living water? AND "Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well…” (vs. 11-12)
Jesus: "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.” Not only will you never thirst BUT “[This water] will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (vs. 13-14)
She STILL didn’t get it! "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." (v. 15)
She perceives He’s a prophet. She questions the different worship of the Jews and Samaritans.
Jesus: "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (v. 24)

Note: You see the Samaritan woman could not see beyond the physical realm. She saw:

Water for the body instead of water for the soul.
Did not understand that what was true and eternally everlasting was spiritual not physical.

READ - John 6:24-35: (“I Am the bread of life”)

Follows the Feeding of 5000. Only pre-crucifixion sign in all 4 Gospels.

"This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world." Wanted to take and Make Him King. (vs. 14-15) They thought He was a prophet or the Messiah.
“…you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” (v. 26). He had just miraculously given them food. Galileans were generally a poor people. As King he could provide a sort of welfare system for them. They also likely looked forward to being freed from the tyranny of Roman rule.
"Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life…” They didn’t get it either. They set their sights on earthly concerns and well being.
He tells them to believe in Him. They ask for a sign. "Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" (vs. 29-31)
Jesus tells them: “Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.” (v. 32).
They ask for the true bread. Jesus says: "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (v. 35) They STILL didn’t get it! Jesus tells us that even though they saw Him and witnessed His miracles They “have seen Him and yet do not believe” (v 36).

Conclusion:

Have you ever been desperately hungry? I mean really famished? How about really thirsty? You can only go about a week without water. BUT did you know that you can’t last a single second without God! That’s Right! God sustains even sinners by His power every day (Common Grace)! Common grace won’t last forever.
Matt. 5:7 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled”. Hunger and thirst are natural physical drives. When you don’t eat you get irritable and will start fights with people until you finally get something to eat. Fact is, you can’t live if you don’t eat or drink! Is your desire for Jesus something you can’t live without?
"Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.” (John 6:49)
"This is the bread which came down from heaven-not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever." (John 6:58)

Illus: Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator.

Answering an ad in the newspaper, and went to a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background. A sign on the receptionist's desk instructed applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office.

The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants in the waiting area. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room and walked right in to the inner office. Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering what was going on. They muttered among themselves that they hadn't heard any summons yet. They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and would be disqualified.

A few minutes later, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, "Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled." The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and one spoke up saying, "Wait a minute, I don't understand. He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That's not fair!"

The employer said, "I'm sorry, but all the time you've been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the message: 'If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.' None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The job is his."
Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Copyright 1994 by
Youth Specialties, Inc.

What is it that you desire to hear or see in life? Better health, Better home, More money? OR Jesus, His Word (the Bible), and helping others who need help and eternal life?
Are you focusing on the things of this life or the life to come? Do you focus on how you will live now? This is temporary. We are all going to leave this world and take none of the things we amass with us! OR do you focus on seeking Jesus and His righteousness? This is eternal and leads to everlasting life
To those who have amassed physical wealth: “Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire.” - James 5:2-3
Don’t misunderstand me. We are to work for our physical well-being but don’t emphasize it more than you do Jesus Christ and your relationship with Him. Read your Bible, pray and meditate on eternal things