In Jesus Holy Name August 11, 2024
Text: John 6:38,40 Pentecost XII
“I AM the bread of Life: Offensive Words”
Last Sunday our Gospel reading was from John chapter 6. Today our Gospel reading is from John Chapter 6. I said to myself “How can I preach on the same theme, “Jesus is the Bread of Life” three weeks in a row? I can’t do it. There is nothing new that I can say.”
Then I realized: “That’s right. There is nothing new…The entire chapter of John chapter 6 is about Jesus who meets our most basic spiritual needs.1) harmony and peace with our Creator 2) security regarding our eternal address beyond our limited time on earth.
Jesus said: “I am the bread that has come down from heaven, not to do my will but to do the will of my Father who sent me. The will of my Father is that everyone who believes in the Son will have eternal life.” John 6:35,40
“The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is a reminder that the Son of God did not stay in the safe immunity of His heaven, remote from human sin and tragedy. He actually entered our world. He emptied himself of His glory and humbled Himself to serve.” (John Stott The Contemporary Christian” p. 357) (Phil. 2:6-9)
Jesus told those who had experienced the miracle of bread and fish on the shores of Galilee, that He was on a Divine mission to save humanity. He had come to save us from the wrath of God that our sins had brought about; to rescue us from the everlasting damnation our disobedience had incurred; to release us from the eternal death we deserved. He was doing everything His Father had asked Him to do.
He was living His life perfectly; He was resisting sin perfectly; He would eventually defeat death by raising from death. His job was to do all the Father had asked; those who were present at the miracle of bread and fish on the shores of Galilee were asked to believe in Him as Savior. Jesus said it clearly, "this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life," If you do that, Jesus added, 'I will raise you up on the last day.'
The 1st five books of the Old Testament was considered the Manna from heaven, the bread of life. When Jesus said, “I am the true Manna from Heaven” He meant: “I am the God of the burning bush standing in your presence.
Jesus said to the Pharisees: “you search the scriptures to find eternal life, they point to me.” I am the manna that has come down from heaven. “I am the bread of life… he who believes in me has eternal life. His resurrection from death and the grave after His crucifixion secures our eternal address by faith in Him.
C.S. Lewis in his book “Mere Christianity” makes the following statement about Jesus: “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would be a lunatic” or a liar. “You must make your choice. Either he was and is the Son of God, or else a madman. You can shut him up for a fool or you can fall at his feet and call Him Lord and God.”
In the first century many of the Jews came to the conclusion that Jesus was a liar. They accuse him of lying when he taught in the synagogue. “ No,” they said, “you do not have the right to forgive sins”…. Jesus responded by saying…. So you think! But what is easier to say to this paralyzed man, or this man with a withered hand…. “Your sins are forgiven or “stretch forth your hand”, “rise and walk”. “So that you may know that I have authority on earth to forgive sins….” ‘get up, take your mat and go home.’ “stretch forth you hand and be healed.” Both were visual realities of the authority of His words and power.
Take a look at the claims Jesus makes in these short ten verses:
1. I have come down from heaven
2. People must come to me in order to get to the Father (in heaven)
3. I will cause you to rise from the grave
4. I am the object of the prophet’s teachings
5. I am from God
6. I have seen the Father
7. He who believes in me has eternal life
8. I am the bread of life, this bread is greater than the manna of Moses
9. You will live forever with my bread
10. This bread is my flesh given for the life of the world.
Listen again to the words of Jesus: (51-56 (read) Those who heard His words argued sharply saying: “How can this man give us His flesh to eat”?
Crazy words! If this man, Jesus is not God in flesh, upon the earth, then He is a lunatic. His lies are so far-fetched that He is delusional. He thinks He is God.
What is this bread that Jesus gives? The bread that Jesus offers is his body, which will be sacrificed on the cross. Bread, when we break it sustains our bodies. His body, when broken on the cross, sustains our souls. In a word: we are forgiven and have peace with God. Through the blood of Christ shed on the cross humanity is restored to “harmony with God”. Therefore will live forever with God.
We must take the words of Jesus seriously. How shall we understand this mystery. For it is a mystery much as is the incarnation and the doctrine of the Trinity.
“The first lesson [Jesus’ taught regarding the Lord’s supper] is the centrality of his death.” His death on the cross is critical because His holiness replaced our broken commandments and frees the believer from God’s wrath against sin. (Colossian 2:14; Col. 1:19-221)
Deliberately, “during this last Passover evening with them, Jesus was giving instructions for his own memorial service. It was not to be a single occasion, like our modern memorial services, the final tribute paid by friends and relatives. Instead, it was to be a regular meal or service or both. He specifically told them to repeat it: “Do this in remembrance of me.” What were they to do? They were to copy what He had done, both His acts and His words, namely to take, break, bless, identify and share bread and wine.
What did the bread and wine signify?” We can not change the words of Jesus but we repeat them as we bless the bread and wine. “Of the bread Jesus said “This is my body given for you,” and of the wine “This is my blood shed for you.” So His death spoke to them from both the elements of bread and wine. The bread did not stand for His living body, as He reclined with them at the table, but for His body as it was shortly to be “given” for them in death. Similarly, the wine did not stand for His blood as it flowed in his veins while He spoke to them, but for His blood which was shortly to be “poured out” for them in death.
The evidence is plain and irrefutable. The Lord’s Supper, which was instituted by Jesus,…… indicates the central significance that Jesus attached to his death. It was by his death ……. above all else He wants to be remembered. There it is then, it is safe to say, There is no Christianity without the cross. There is no forgiveness without the cross. (John Stott on the Lord’s Supper and “the centrality of the Jesus’ death” (quotes in italics) Posted on April 9, 2012
Martin Luther understands that the words of Jesus can not be explained differently than the actual words He spoke. “In the sacrament the believer receives the “merit” of Jesus purchased on the cross.” Thus we use the term “real presence”.
Through the sacrament and our faith, this is how God transfers His forgiveness to us. It is a sacramental union. Much like Paul’s words in Romans 6 “When we are baptized, we are baptized into the death of Christ. We were buried with Him through baptism so that we will be raised from death.
Let’s walk through the insert which demonstrates the various understandings of Sacrament of Holy Communion and deal with your questions. A similar illustration or metaphor might be a “wedding ring”. On the shelf it is just a ring of metal or wood. But put the ring on and one enters the mystical union of marriage with promises, responsibilities and commitment.
Note if you want to display the art work (Roman Catholic View - Transubstantiation compared to the view by Calvin (represents) and Luther (Real Presences) you must go to Crossways International Lord Supper Or contact me.
