The Search for the Bread of life

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Why did he feed them?

Compassion, Glory, and to show them he is God. Mount Sinai God with the people feeding them manna

Here is God with us! Generous and glorious. He can provide all our needs! But the question is what do we need?

Why did he leave them?

They answered the question wrongly they wanted him to be a king and a prophet. To lead them to glory! To be on their side.

Jesus knew what they needed was more than a king and a prophet. they needed a savior. They had remembered that Moses had been on that mountain in exodus.. they had forgotten that God was there too.

And then Jesus walks across the water of the sea of Galilee!

Why- he didn’t feel like swimming. Also to remind us that he is God. The one who parted the waters of the red sea. the one the winds and waves obeyed.

So we as the readers find ourselves looking at the glory of God- Not just a prophet- not just a King. But God in Flesh.

These are the two miracles that John paired as one sign in today’s text. Understanding what is meant by the signs takes paying attention to the conversation that happens after the crowds of people find Jesus and his disciples on the other side of the lake the next day.

They find him the next day teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

The New International Version (1984) Jesus the Bread of Life

26 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

30 So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

The New International Version (1984) Jesus the Bread of Life

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 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 him up at the last day.”

What can we learn from his words (short and simple)

Jesus is not a Prophet to give us power. Nor is he a king to lead us to worldly victory! Jesus is God in flesh who has come to be our savior.

To come to Jesus we need to recognize that we need to be saved. That there is a hunger that we cannot satisfy with ambition, lust or legalism. and that there is a thirst that can not be quenched with companionship or entertainment.

We need more than worldly promises of satisfaction we need peace with God!

But it isn’t as easy as just “trying God” to see if he satisfies. Because as soon as we turn to him we see the great gulf between us and him that was created by our sin.

In jesus’ time the religious ones were convinced that by keeping the rules of righteousness they could achieve salvation. And it is to them the rest of this chapter is written. What Jesus was saying sounded nice enough at first. “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” But It wasn’t intended as a nice little metaphor. It was intended to show them the scandal of the Cross.

Bread is torn. Cut. crushed and broken. there is nothing pleasant about being the bread! And this is what Jesus wanted those of us who where particularly good at the religion part to understand. Faith in Jesus is a scandalous and bloody affair. Jesus Said.

“I tell you the truth, 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 him 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 him.

And remember that in his day and age Cannibalism was just as frowned upon as it is today.

But the point that Jesus is making is true. Our salvation is a horrible bloody affair. Jesus is whipped, beaten mocked and bruised. And killed hung from the Cross. It is nothing we could earn. Nothing we deserved because we are nice people! It is all his love his sacrifice and his glory!

We are saved not by our works, only because of what he has earned.

Then for us to be saved means for us to deny every idol as a broken cistern. To turn our eyes towards the horrible terrible bloodied cross and recognize that it was our sin the kept him there!

And it isn’t just that we needed him to die for us. Rather we need him to live for us still.

There is one other image that comes to mind as we reflect on this passage, and as we take communion. And that is the image of an infant babe suckling at its mothers breast. It is a beautiful peaceful image of contentment and love. of peace and community. But we as believers need to understand is that that who we are in Christ. Completely utterly daily dependent on him. His spirit gives us life, wisdom and grace enough for each day.

In For in him we live and move and have our being.

Jesus reminds us of this truth when he says, ““I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

The call to Christ is not just walking down an altar once. Or being baptized or born again. It is a life of childlike dependence Running daily to the one who made us, who loves us, who died for us and who lives for us still.

Learning to know and enjoy him and his presence and purpose is the journey of the christian life. As we grow in wisdom grace and Righteousness we do not become less dependent on Jesus but more so!

So today as we end this service at the lords table let us end it mindful of the what we are doing as we come to the table. We are teaching our hearts and our spirits to be dependent on Christ even as we physically partake of the elements.

And so we must ask ourselves as we do so.

Am I chasing after the bread that perishes? Idols that Promise the life that only Christ can give.

Am I trying to obtain salvation through what I do? Am I making little of Christ’s work on the Cross my exalting my self-righteousness?

Do I believe the story of the gospel and yet fail to embrace the person of Jesus Christ?

The Search for the Bread of life

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