The Bread of Life That Calls to Us and Sends Us Out

So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:67-69 ESV) With this simple question, Jesus calls to His followers to come to Him and be sent by Him with the Bread of Life for the world. Today at International Lutheran Church we conclude our examination of the feeding of the 5,000, with a question from our Lord that ultimately propels the followers of Jesus into an amazing life of inquiry and sharing. Last week we read the hard saying from John’s gospel, that Jesus is the “bread from heaven.” He is the “living bread” that gives life to all. This “bread” that we are invited to “eat” is His flesh! We have been reflecting with the Apostle John on the theological meaning of the feeding of the 5,000 that we read about in Mark 6:30-44 several weeks ago.

As teachers, instructors, coaches, and parents, many of us are familiar with the effective use of a good question, especially how a simple question can inspire amazing learning and propel a student into new and amazingly creative directions. Even as many of the young people of ILC are heading back into the classroom this week as students, today we are all reminded of how much we have yet to learn and how we too are inspired in ways we may not have expected through the things that we are learning or coming to understand.

In the Old Testament lesson today, we read how the words of the Teacher in Proverbs (Proverbs 9:1-10) call us to feast on the mysteries of God’s wisdom and the questions that His Word inspires. This is the fourth poem in the book concerning wisdom, described as a lady that has prepared a rich banquet of fine food and delicious drink for any and all who would listen to her. The phrase “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10) repeated here and throughout the book (Proverbs 1:7; 2:5; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 14:27; 15:33; 19:23; and 23:17) reminds us that wisdom is a person who is ultimately revealed in the person of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, of whom Paul writes “Christ, the power and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:24)

Jesus’ question to the disciples in the gospel lesson from John 6 inspires a committed and insightful response from Peter. These words again are THE literal turning point in the gospel of John and the ministry of Jesus. In response to the people’s clamoring for food, for “bread” from heaven, Jesus sets before the people the “bread of heaven” come down in His person. Jesus is the real food, the only “living bread” that can give life – eternal life. This life is the very flesh and blood of Jesus. He gives to us Himself to satisfy all our hunger, our thirst, our every need. In Him, the wisdom of God, He is calling all to come eat or partake of Him. His body on the tree, His blood from the Cross is real food for the life of the world, so that you and I would live in Him and be a part of Him. This “crossroads” is a person not a location. This banquet is Jesus Himself. In order for us to consume Him He had to be consumed upon the cross of our own folly. His death gives us the knowledge of our sins forgiven. Eating this “bread” brings the forgiveness of our sins, life, and salvation that He won for us and all people on the cross into our very present situation. Jesus puts into our mouths His “flesh” so that we can experience His grace and mercy in the most personal way. This is why Peter would not turn away, and also what moves us to listen to Jesus’ every word. Through His Word, He speaks hope, forgiveness, and strength even into the chaotic confusion of our lives, so that we can point others to the truth and wisdom of God in Him.

This “living bread” is real for you and me. Not only does He invite us to personally receive Him, but also to personally share Him with all. Through you and me, God calls to an entire world to come and learn of His love for all.

Pastor Carl