SCRIPTURE: John 6:25-35 NRSVUE When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us, then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave 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 that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” We live in a world of need. All you have to do is to pick up a newspaper or turn on the television and you will be confronted with horrendous things happening. Just on the last several weeks there has been road rage, suicide, shootings, wars, scams. All these seem to assail us from all directions. There are deep divisions in our world. One country against another, countries divided against themselves. Our own country is deeply divided.
Without seeming frivolous, the lyrics of an old 1960s song came into my head. “What the world needs now is love sweet love.” Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote it in the early 60s. It was offered to Dion Warwick, but she turned it down because it was “too country” for her taste and “too preachy.” A year later she recorded it. The world is still seeking. Jesus was singing the song about what the world needs now a long time ago! Today is World Communion Sunday where the world is all meeting at the table of the Lord. Traditions are different across the spectrum. Some meet at the table every week. Others might celebrate communion as infrequently as once a quarter. As I started preparing for this Sunday, I searched the word “world” in the Bible. I was surprised to discover that there are 50 references to “world” in the Gospel of John! My Bible software takes your search word and gives you the best match, as well as all occurrences found in thew Bible. John 6:33 was the best match. “For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” From there, I searched for the word “bread”. Once again, I found 19 references in John, with 14 of them in chapter 6. In our passage, John today opens with, people were searching. The scene is set immediately after the feeding of the five thousand. In response to the need of those gathered on the lake shore, Jesus fed them a miraculous meal. “Bread” is a basic human need. Food, water, sustenance, shelter – all are common to people everywhere. Beyond that, the world is looking for something to believe in – another necessity in life. To believe in something is to unite those who believe… to bring life into living. Whether it knows it or not, the world is looking for Jesus. Light, life, love – all part of humanity’s search. Let’s look at the movement in our passage today. Jesus realizes they are looking for the wrong thing. Jesus takes to task those who followed him and his disciples to the “other side” of the lake. After their initial question, “when did you get here?”, Jesus pins their motive to the proverbial wall. They seemed to be looking for nothing more than another good meal. Did you notice his phrase, “Very truly, I tell you…”? That is a powerful indicator in the Gospel of John that Jesus is going to say something very important. They ask for a sign because they missed the “sign” that they all witnessed – the feeding of 5000 people on five loaves and two fish! That, by the way, is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels. From there, the people reference history to talk about bread. While they were wandering in the wilderness God gave manna from heaven to feed their hunger. They attribute the gift as coming from Moses as a sign from God. Remember, they also complained about the manna after a while. Jesus again takes them to task with the same phrase, “Very truly, I tell you …” Now he points to God giving the true bread, and that bread brings life. Again, Jesus says, “For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:33). Jesus is trying to sharpen their understanding. He is not talking about physical feeding for mere existence, but spiritual feeding that truly brings life to living. He is not pointing to a physical life sprinkled with spirituality, but spiritual life that makes real life possible. So, we have looked at “world” and “bread” which brings me to “life”. The Gospel of John speaks of “life” 42 times! There are 11 occurrences in chapter 6 alone. Beyond that, there are 6 references where bread and life are connected in a verse. Pom top of that, there are two, 6:33 and 6:51, have all three – “world”, “bread”, and “life”! The entirety of Chapter 6 is devoted to Jesus as the bread of life, given to the world for their salvation. The world is searching! Jesus is inviting. We need to feel the sacrifice that he gave and give thanks. Gathering at The Table – the Lord’s Table - is a place where we can find bread for the soul and life worth living. Do we want this bread always? The people who were following after Jesus asked for it. But were they just looking for a never-ending food supply, or did they really recognize the gift of spiritual nourishment that Jesus weas offering? Knowing what you want in life is half the battle. Knowing where to look is the other half! Do we come to the Table ready to meet our Lord? As we come to the Table of the Lord, be prepared to receive. But the bread comes with a caveat: Jesus is not a history lesson to be learned, but a rendezvous with the living Holy Spirit. As we come to the table, we may find Jesus challenging us to see the world differently, to see ourselves differently, to see God differently. Jesus wants us to see the world more as a field for planting than just a place to inhabit. He wants us to experience the deep connection he is offering. He wants us to acknowledge God’s great love for us – a love that would cause him to send his very own Son that the world might have life and have it in its fullest. As the Bread of Life, Jesus wants more for us – so much more! I would like to close with the second of the references to “world”, ‘bread”, and “life.” “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:51) Is it any wonder that we choose to celebrate “World Communion Sunday?” It is in the spiritual act of taking the bread and cup in remembrance of Jesus that has the potential to unite the world in God’s grand plan of salvation. May our hearts truly ask, ‘Lord, give us this bread always!’ Amen.
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