I m the Bread of Life

WELCOME SCREEN

CALL TO WORSHIP

Heavenly Father, your will reigns in our lives. May we be glorified in Jesus’ name. Let your kingdom come and your presence be in our lives. As we gather, together today, visit us with your presence and help us to increase our knowledge of you. May we always grow in maturity and strength and as we do so. Bless us beyond measure and fill us with your peace.

HYMN

Empty Broken, here I stand (StF 421)

PRAYERS

Your forgiveness is total, no notebook, tape recorder or post-it note.

to remind you of that moment when we failed to do the right thing putting our own desires above yours.

You take our confession, offered with hands outstretched and gently,

like the loving heavenly Father that you are, put it to one side to be forgotten.

No grudges, no itching for judgement.

No resentment or ill-will.

Not like us, who find it easy to say sorry, but so hard to forgive, absolutely.

Forgive us, Father, that we are often more willing to accept forgiveness, than to forgive.

More willing to accept your love, than to share it with those who have hurt us.

Teach us to forgive, as you forgive.

Amen

HYMN

God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name (StF 424)

READING

Exodus 16: 1-21

John 6: 24-35

HYMN

Christ, from whom all blessing flow (StF 676)

SERMON

“Nothing is certain but death and taxes,” A famous quote by Ben Franklin. I would point out that in our reading this morning gives us another option the option of eternal life.

In John’s Gospel reading we hear the message to the people and ends with one of the first of the seven “I am statement spoken by Jesus” This would definitely annoy some of the Jewish people as the words “I AM” are used to signify the name of God.

So, as we look at today’s reading, we can explore what Jesus had to say to the crowd.

If you recall it begins with the people saying to Jesus “How did you come here?” we can first ask why they said this, well if we go back a couple of verses you can see why they would ask this question.

“22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus”.

So, they knew the disciples had gone across to Capernaum the base from which Jesus travelled, but Jesus hadn’t gone with them, this was the time when Jesus walked across the water.

Hence the question in my Bible reads “Rabbi, when did you come here?” at the beginning of today’s reading.

But what does Jesus do, does he tell them he walked across the water providing them with a miracle to ponder on.

Jesus understood the hearts of the people who asked the question. They were concerned about Jesus' location because He had fed them with free food, and they wanted to be around the next time that happened. They did not see that the feeding of the five thousand was a sign of Jesus' identity as the Messiah, the Son of God. Instead, these saw Jesus as some sort of good luck charm - someone who could make their life on this earth a whole lot easier. They saw Jesus as a meal ticket.

There are still a lot of people who treat Jesus as a good luck charm. Few people look to Jesus for free food because food is not a big problem for most people in our country. This doesn’t mean that there are not many other desires that we wish God would fulfil. Now, the problem is not that people look to God for their needs. Jesus Himself tells us to pray Give us this day our daily bread. The problem comes when we see this as God's primary function.

Jesus goes on to tell the people not to seek out the temporary fix. That we too should, seek something permanent.

These days people are striving for the bigger car, bigger homes, bigger bank balances. In the end these are temporary things, the car will eventually rust, the house will need to be maintained, which in turn affects your bank balance. But we see it all around more wants more in today’s world the desire for instant gratification is evident.

Here again is a lesson to all of us, everything we have is temporary we cannot hold onto anything forever. Many try to turn back time by cosmetic surgery and the like but its only on the surface, underneath the body is in decline. So, what can be done?

Jesus reminds the people in the crowd of their ancestors and points them to our OT reading which we heard this morning about the Israelites in the desert as they cried out for food.

God responded to the call and provided bread from heaven or manna.

But this gift of God this Manna only lasted the day, in fact it says that some of the Israelites tried to keep some for the following morning but found it rotted. This Manna was provided to feed all the people what they actually needed for the day. Except for the Sabbath. When the bread would last two days but no more.

Sometimes I look at the waste we produce as individuals and as a country in 2020 we produced around 9.5 million tonnes, how many hungry mouths could this fill? And I wonder what God thinks about that.

If you recall the feeding of the 5000 all the remnants were taken up so nothing went to waste.

As we move on to verses 27-29 Jesus tells the people and us today not to work for food that perishes, but for food that leads to eternal life, which he will give anyone who asks.

The people like the idea and ask how can they earn it?

Jesus answers them and us that we need only to believe in him this is not something we can earn in our own strength that is the work God sets before us to believe in the one whom he sent.

Amazingly the response of the people was to ask for a sign so that they would believe in him, I mean he just fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish, what more do they want?

The people indicted it was Moses who fed them in the desert but.

32 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. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

Then they receive the great “I AM statement”

As Jesus replied, He began to show that He Himself is the true bread from heaven. He is the one who gives life to the world. As we come to the last verse in today's Gospel, Jesus makes this crystal clear. 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.

Bread provides life when it is consumed. Jesus provided life when He was consumed by shame, torture, and death, even death on a cross. As the Bread of Life that was consumed by death and the grave, Jesus gives us a life that is so sure and certain that we shall live forever without hunger or thirst. That is, we shall live in eternity. Jesus Himself certified this when He rose from the dead.

When the Holy Spirit brings us to this Bread of Life, He is producing faith in us. Those who come to Jesus can only come by the power of the Holy Spirit in faith. There is no way to Christ other than faith. Through faith Christ is closer to us than even a mother to her child. He is always with us and will never forsake us.

We need to choose if we take this Bread of Life. Jesus wants to fill with more than the food the body he wants to feed out hearts and minds with God’s love.

When the Israelites in the OT first saw the manna from heaven what was their reaction? They ask what is this?

They didn’t understand they didn’t realise that this was food provided by God to save them.

Jesus wants to provide for all the people of the world and us today the bread of eternal life and many people may well ask “what is this”

Some will refuse to even taste it, whilst other gratefully except this gift of grace and forgiveness from God. But it is this bread is open to everyone.

God’s promise never changes he is willing to forgive all our failures, he offers you and I the bread of life, and there is only one response, but to say thank you.

Lord, we thank you, that through Jesus we can receive your forgiveness and blessing, help us to always work for the bread that does not perish AMEN

HYMN

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds (StF 322)

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION

Lord, we come to you the creator of all,

Here the prayers we bring before you now, join us together that the world may come to believe.

Grant each one of us here today that we may humbly serve you: that the love of Christ will be seen within us.

We ask that you will, strengthen all who share God’s word and those who minister Christ’s word for your people. Give your people the courage to proclaim your Gospel.

We pray for those who hold authority in the nations of the world, that they will make decisions that will be of benefit to all people. Guide them in the way of justice and peace.

We pray that you make us alive in our community, that we can share our faith with those around us. Help us to share each other’s joys and burdens.

Lord look with kindness on our homes and families, bless us and keep us under your wing secure in the knowledge that you love us. Grant that your love will grow in our hearts.

Help us to show compassion for those who suffer from sickness, grief or trouble. And in a moment of silence, we bring them to you now……………………………………………….

We also remember those who are no longer with us and bring them to you in our hearts…………………….

Heavenly Father,

You have promised to hear what we ask in the name of your Son,

We pray you accept and answer our prayers,

Not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness,

But as you know and love us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven

Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth,

As it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,

The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen

HYMN

I, the Lord of sea and sky (StF 663)

BLESSING

The Lord bless us and keep us,

the Lord make his face shine on us,

and be gracious to us,

the Lord turn his face towards us and give us peace,

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among us and remain with us always. Amen.

END