In Jesus Holy Name August 19, 2018
Text: John 6:47-50
“I Am” “The Bread of Life”
Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! The Good news of Easter is not that Jesus lived and died but that “Jesus Died and Lives” and He will return again. (read the text)
Every year Americans spend about 500 million dollars on Twinkies. Yes, you heard me right. TWINKIES. Those golden cakes, tasty cream filled treats that taste so good but have no nutritional value. You can even buy them fried at your local fair. This truth about Twinkies reminds me that many people are hungry to have peace with God. Yet so many things they try have no nutritional value and they are left empty like the crew of the Pirates of the Caribbean.
If you watched the movie “The Pirates of the Caribbean” then you know that the crew of the “Black Pearl” was cursed. No matter how much they eat, they could not be satisfied. They cannot taste. They cannot enjoy. They cannot be filled. The bread turns to ashes in their mouth. This is the plight of the world. They eat but will not be satisfied. They seek happiness, but will not find it. “Augustine said, “our hearts are restless until they rest in Jesus.
On the island of Molokai which is not often visited by many tourists there is a wonderful bakery. People will start arriving after midnight just to line up for their bread when the doors open at 5 a.m. There is nothing like the aroma of fresh bread early in the morning.
Did you know that 1777 was the first time wheat was first planted (as a hobby crop) in the United States.
Here is an interesting fact. Did you know that 1928 Was the year pre-sliced bread was invented in Chillicothe, Missouri, after being worked on for 16 years.
Did you know that 3,975 feet was the longest loaf of bread in the world. It
was made at a bakers' party in Portugal in 2005. When sliced, it fed over 15,000 people.
Fresh Bread. Perhaps it’s white or wheat or rye or sourdough or pumpernickel. Some prefer Italian bread, others French bread. My guess is that some of you may still have a bread making machine in your cupboard.
Fresh bread. There is nothing like the aroma that can fill a kitchen. Just the smell of fresh bread can cause your mouth to water. Did you know that you can now order those dark European and German breads made in Germany or Italy or France, shipped frozen to your door? There is an advertisement on Facebook… and they will send you the frozen dough and you can bake it yourself.
On our cruise last week you could have freshly baked bread every day.
So I did a little research. I discovered that the cooking chefs on the ship used 600 lbs. of butter every day. 250,000 eggs per week. 170,000 lbs. of fresh fruit and vegetables and 5,330 lbs. of bacon. Each day we had our share of bacon.
We love what tastes good, but like those who eat Twinkies, people often forfeit what we really need for healthy bodies and minds.
It is estimated that more than 20 million people in the United States need professional treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. U.S. citizens spend over 50 billion dollars each year on illegal narcotics to dull their pain or for momentary happiness. People are searching for happiness, fulfillment, relief from pain. We are hungry souls. We are a hungry nation but often for the wrong things. We need the Bread of life.
Tony Evans a famous Baptist preacher of Oak Cliff Fellowship in Dallas, Texas writes: “When Jesus told His followers that He was the bread of life, He was giving them a solution—not just for their physical hunger but also for their emotional, mental, and especially their spiritual hunger.
We all experience cravings—things we long to have. Many of these cravings are God-given. Acceptance is certainly something God wants each of us to experience. The need to feel secure is a primary teaching for the Savior.” (Tony Evans)
In the opening words of John chapter 6 Jesus has just fed 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and two small fish. When Jesus and his disciples reached the other side of the lake, those who were part of the 5,000 recently fed where waiting for him. Jesus said: “You are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
Jesus accuses the crowd of ignoring the message of His miraculous signs and only following Him for the “free meal.” In other words, they were so enthralled with the food, they were missing out on the fact that their Messiah had come.
The rest of chapter 6 Jesus explains to the crowds that he is the bread of life; whoever comes to him shall not hunger, and whoever believes in him shall never thirst.” Jesus said: “I am the bread of life.” Anyone who comes to me I will give eternal life and raise him up at the last day. These words are a problem for the religious Jews following Jesus. (read 6:41-42) Why are the Pharisees muttering against Jesus. He is a carpenter’s son… He hasn’t attended the correct Pharisee seminary. He has created nice miracles…but he cannot promise eternal life.
Here’s the theological problem. 1st. The Jewish Rabbis when referred to the first 5 books of the Old Testament. (Genesis –Deuteronomy) as the “The Bread of life”. In other words in the Jewish mind if you were on a spiritual search for truth. If you wanted to know God, then your spiritual hunger would be satisfied if you read the word of God.
Jesus said, NO, I am the bread of life. He meant “I am the very words of God in human flesh and blood.” You do not have to read the Old Testament. Listen to my words …. (read John 6:32-33)
The Rabbis also referred to the fist 5 books of the Old Testament as “water that would quench a thirsty soul seeking spiritual truth. No. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman: “I am the living water. He who comes to me will never be thirsty again.” Seven times in the gospel of John Jesus says: “I Am”. “I am the light of the world”. I am the bread of life. I am the water of life, if you are thirsty come. In John chapter 10 Jesus says: “I am the gate, all who enter by me will be saved.” “I am the Good Shepherd.” (Harry Wendt Crossways)
When Jesus uses the phrase “I Am” …… I Am the Good Shepherd” the Pharisees knew that he was quoting the O.T. prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel repeats the words that God gave to him to speak to the children of Israel. “I The Sovereign Lord, The Creator of the Universe, Yes, I Yahweh who rescued my people from slavery in Egypt I myself will come and shepherd my people. Jesus was making that claim every time he used the “holy” name for God: “I Am”, and they knew it.
The 2nd reason this is a problem for the religious Pharisees is the use of the word “I AM” by Jesus. The phrase “I AM” is the covenant name of God (Yahweh, or YHWH), revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). The name Yahweh is translated. “I Am, I Am”. It did not go over well.
(read John 10:25-33)
(read John 6:43-48)
The Gospel of John is different. John knows that Matthew, Mark and Luke have been written. John is writing late in the 1st century. The Temple in Jerusalem has been destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. Paul’s missionary journeys have been completed. He and Peter were both martyred in Rome in the 60’s.
Did you know that John does not record any parables of Jesus. Did you know that every healing that John records in his gospel happens on a Sabbath? (read John 20:30-31) Why might that be? He is telling them to rethink who I am. My miracles tell you who I am. I am the Lord of the Sabbath therefore I can heal on the Sabbath.
The Pharisees knew that Jesus was claiming that The God of Abraham, Isaac and David was no longer dwelling in the temple but was walking in their midst. Jesus was challenging them to rethink their history.
Listen to their plans after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. John 11:45, 53
In John 11 after the raising of Lazarus from the dead Jesus says” “I am the resurrection and the life. ….he who believes in me will never die.”
If there is anything that the history of human religion tells us, it is that people seek to earn their way to heaven. This is such a basic human desire because God created us with eternity in mind. The Bible says God has placed [the desire for] eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The Bible also tells us that there is nothing we can do to earn our way to heaven because we’ve all sinned (Romans 3:23) and the only thing our sin earns us is death (Romans 6:23).
Think about it. God could have built an ark faster than Noah and his sons, but God used their simple craftsmanship to build the first boat and save the human race. God could have set the children of Israel free from slavery without the assistance of Moses, or the plagues. God could have just appeared in front of Pharaoh with a legion or two of angels and said: “Pharaoh, don’t you think you should let My people go?” Pharaoh would have helped them pack.
God didn’t need Joshua and his army to walk around the walls of Jericho to make them fall down. He could have with a slight breath knocked those walls flat. God didn’t need David with his slingshot and stones to bring down the giant Goliath. But God choose to use His people of faith to accomplish His Divine purposes.
Salvation is God’s miracle. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, it was God Himself resting in the arms of Mary. How did Martin Luther put it:
“O Lord, though you created all,
How weak you are, so poor and small,
That you should choose to lay your head
Where lowly cattle lately fed!”
“Instead of soft and siken stuff
You have but hay and straw so rough
A cradle for the Lord of all.
The Gospel of John was written to tell us that the miracles Jesus did speak the truth of His identity. His perfect sinless life quenches a thirsty guilty soul seeking peace with the Creator. That is why the Apostle Paul can write: “We have been justified through faith in Jesus, and now we have peace with God.” Isn’t peace with God what the human soul is seeking? Of course.
When Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took the dead body of Jesus down from the cross they placed his body in the tomb. It was sealed and guarded by soldiers. Three days later Jesus was raised from death with a glorified resurrected body. That is why Jesus can say: I am the bread that came down from heaven. I tell you the truth, he who believes (in me) has everlasting life. I am the bread of life.” (John 6:47)
There is one more thing. (read John 6:51-55)
He is talking about the sacrament of holy communion. Come.
