Listening, Believing and Living

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

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

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

32Jesus 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. 33For 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.”

35Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6)

Thoughts: The people asked him what must they do.  When he told them the answer- to believe- they did not want to listen.  They asked for a sign.  The sign was himself- He is the bread of life.  Our work- our task-- is to simply believe-- trusting in the bread to give us life.  The ones who are willing to listen to this will come and they are the ones given by the Father.  The whole point of this passage is to believe in Jesus to get eternal life- eternal satisfaction and eternal quenching of our thirst.  Just as bread gives us life-- we need it to live--so we need Jesus.  Just as we must believe bread is not poison and we eat it to live- so we must trust in Jesus enough to take Him into our hearts.  

Prayer: Lord, let me listen and believe; and listening and believing let me find life.    

12/21/14- Jesus the Bread

12/21     John 6:35             I am the Bread

34Then they said to Him, "Lord, always give us this bread." 35Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

Thoughts: Bethlehem means "House of Bread."  Bethlehem was the place that the Bread of Life was born.  Once people were looking for Jesus because he had given them free bread (feeding of the 5,000).  Many a ruler over the years fed the poor to keep them happy and loyal.  When they came to make Him king, he refused, for he knew it was temporary loyalty.  The popularity of rulers waxes and wanes.  

They even tried (vs. 30-31) to trick Jesus into giving them more bread like Moses gave the Israelites in the wilderness. Jesus was trying to get them to look to the eternal and not the temporary bread.  They sought only what would satisfy their immediate needs.  Jesus knew He could satisfy their deep inner needs for eternity (vs. 35).  Let us look to Jesus, and keep our eyes on Him- without distraction. 
       This time of year people are thinking a lot about presents.  Who did I leave out, what did I get everyone, and will I have enough “bread” to pay my bills.  This passage reminds us that if we have little physical bread we may still be blessed and have satisfaction from God. 

Prayer: Bread of Heaven, come down to me as you came that first Christmas.  Make my life more whole and satisfy me with you- the true satisfaction.

Application: Make a gift to We Care, Goodworks, or Snackpack to help those who are physically hungry in the name of the One who can satisfy their spiritual hunger. 

2/14/14- Jesus the Bread

36But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

41At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

43“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. (John 6:36-43)

Thoughts: In John 6 Jesus uses the "bread" metaphor in many different ways.  He had just fed the 5,000 with bread- but wanted them to seek spiritual bread.  He said he was the bread of life.  Then he also compared himself to the manna from heaven (vs. 41)- coming down to feed the children of God.  Here he subtly refers himself to the Manna that came down from heaven.  He has come down from heaven to accomplish His Father's will (vs. 36).  Part of which is that he will be devoured by his enemies, but broken for his friends.
     The Jews tried to convince themselves that he was just an ordinary man with ordinary parents (vs. 42).  So often we try to tell ourselves that the supernatural was just natural.  We say the answered prayer was just a coincidence.  We say that our getting that wonderful job we asked God about was just because we had so much talent.  We say that the food we eat is not miraculous- and perhaps we don't need to thank God for it.  We are taught that it is all up to us and that God doesn't interfere- how dare He?   Yet, God is the hand that moves the movers.  God is the one who gives us everything- time, talent, ability, and more- directs us with purpose, angels, counsel, scripture, and Spirit.  If you have ordinary eyes- you only see Jesus the man.  But if you put on the eyes of faith- you are able to celebrate the Love of God found in Jesus the Bread Come down from heaven.
     On this Valentine's day- we ought to remember no human love or spouse can ultimately satisfy.  Yet Jesus, the bread of life- provides love for us in the right time and place.  

Prayer:  Lord, you were no ordinary person, and feed us with no ordinary nourishment.  Nourish my soul this day with your love. 

2/13/14- The Bread that Lasts

25When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

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

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

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

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

32Jesus 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. 33For 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.”

35Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.  (John 6:25-35)

Thoughts: People were looking for Jesus because he had given them free bread.  Many a ruler over the years fed the poor to keep them happy and loyal.  When they came to make Him king, he refused, for he knew it was temporary loyalty.  The popularity of rulers waxes and wanes.  

They even tried (vs. 30-31) to trick Jesus into giving them more bread like Moses gave the Israelites in the wilderness. Jesus was trying to get them to look to the eternal and not the temporary bread.  They sought only what would satisfy their immediate needs.  Jesus knew He could satisfy their deep inner needs for eternity (vs. 35).  Let us look to Jesus, and keep our eyes on Him- without destraction. 

Prayer: Lord, you are the bread of life.  Nourish my soul with yourself today.