July 28, 2015

Instruction
Scripture: John 6:22-35
John records the details of what happened after Jesus fed the five-thousand and walked on water. As one might expect people were amazed by the miracle and pleased to be fed, so they sought to follow Jesus. John records that it was even their intention to make Jesus their king. This reading records Jesus’ conversation with those who had come looking for him and his effort to point them in the right direction; to believe in him as savior. He also reveals himself to be the Bread of Life. Jesus’ purpose in this conversation is to turn his hearers’ attention away from the earthly benefit they had received and wanted more of, and to focus them on the eternal blessings he longed to give them which are only received by faith.
Teaching
Jesus is not who we want him to be. He is who he is. He does not conform himself to our desires. He confronts our desires with the truth and calls us to believe in him so that, in him, we may have real life; eternal life. This might seem like a rather obvious statement, but it bears some thought.
The people who came to Jesus in John 6 wanted him to be their king. Jesus came to be a king. So, why didn’t he embrace them, take the throne, and reign? He knew they were only attracted to the miracles, and not to what Jesus truly came to give. He had come to give life. And this life that he offered was not merely a matter of heartbeats and breathing. This life was given because people live in death because we sin. Jesus is the bread of life – the source and sustenance of life. This is what he has to offer; life. This was not what the people were after, though.
Life
When you think about what Jesus has done for you in your life – your earthly life, that is – have you ever considered that he has moved you from eternal death to eternal life? “The bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” How do you give life to the living? He is speaking of something greater than our physical lives. He is speaking of the everlasting life he gives to those who do the work of God, which is to believe in him.
There are many ministries that are based on the idea of self-improvement, personal growth, positive thinking, and other so-called benefits of following Jesus. Jesus’ message is that we are dead and what he wants to give is life. So what do you desire from Jesus? Perhaps we should take the crowds words on our lips as a fitting prayer: Sir, give us this bread always. In other words: Jesus, we need you.

Prayer

This prayer is written in the theme of Thanksgiving.

Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us yourself, not as we think you should be, or as we want you to be, but simply as yourself. You are who you are – the Bread of Life who gives life to the world. Thank you for stepping into our world of death and giving us life. Thank you for confronting our desires and pointing us to something so much better; the gifts you give. Thank you that in you we shall never hunger or thirst; we shall always be satisfied with the real eternal life that you have given to us. And thank you for revealing what the work of God truly is. The work of God is to believe in you. And we thank you that we do the work of God, because you made us alive and keep us alive in you. Amen.

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