Eating the Bread of Life

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A few weeks ago, you heard how Jesus fed the multitudes on the hillside near the Sea of Galilee. With such a great crowd about, even pushing the disciples off into the boat and into the water could not keep people from connecting the dots and realizing that Jesus was the one who had provided them with bread and fish to their fill. And so they came and sought Him, and would have made Jesus be their king, because He had filled their bellies.

However, Jesus can see right through their superficial interests. “Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.'” The throngs pressing in on Jesus were not there to be cleansed by the Lamb of God, or even to be healed by the Great Physician. They were there to be fed by the bread-king, with whom they wanted to replace their current, inept temporal rulers.

But this is not an isolated incident. After all, the people of this world seek after foolish things. How much time and energy are spent scrambling after things which are temporary and do not satisfy.

The twin drives of hunger and thirst are powerful motivators. The want of food and drink will, and does, drive many a man to do otherwise stupid and foolish things. Many in our land are consumed by the desire to eat, their thoughts driven by wondering whence their next hit of fat or gob of sugar will come. How many people never go anywhere but that they carry along a pocket full of food, lest they somehow starve in the land of plenty.

The pleasures of the flesh, as nice as they may be, are temporary and transitory, just as human flesh itself is. Whether it be the joy of good food, the rush of adrenaline, or the glow of sex, all these pleasures come and go, and their glory fades away as quickly as dead grass is blown by the wind. A full belly now will not guarantee anything to you tomorrow, and you will have to start the search all over again in order to refill your belly. And so goes every day of your earthly life.

At least with the pleasures of the flesh, you are seeking after something that is pertinent to yourself. So many in this world seek after the corruptible things of life which are not tangible. Wealth and possessions may be quantifiable, according to your asset sheet or your bank statement. But what is enough, and how much is too much? When will you know that you have enough to live comfortably? What does that mean?

If wealth is quantifiable in any sense, what about power or fame? The Olympics have been on lately, and many athletes from far-flung corners of the globe have had their faces plastered on posters and TV screens worldwide. Does that make them famous? How many people will remember Aly Raisman in twenty years? At the end of his life, will it be Michael Phelps' crowning achievement that he got a phone call from the President?

In so many ways, the world seeks Jesus for the temporal benefits He can give. The crowds in John's account pressed in upon Jesus because they wanted Him to continue giving them bread and filling their bellies for free. Everyone likes a free lunch, after all. They would have followed Him almost anywhere if He had only promised to keep their bellies full and their purses untouched.

Even now, people seek temporal benefits and blessings from Jesus, as if that is the purpose for which He came – to grant wishes like some sort of genie.

After the Empire converted to Christianity under Constantine, it became socially and economically advantageous to become a Christian. Many professed faith in Christ, even when they did not believe, simply to gain that coveted title. Throughout the history of the Church, in many and various ways, people have sought the refuge of the Church for selfish gain. Whether it be the benefices and livings attached to particular parishes and bishoprics, or the book deals, TV spots, and extravagant paychecks afforded to modern so-called evangelists, the Church has always been plagued by those who would hawk the Gospel of Christ Jesus for a profit.

In the midst of all this temporal fame- and fortune-seeking, the very idea of bread from heaven seems ridiculous in the eyes of this world. Bread from heaven? Right. Because food just falls from the sky and onto your dinner plate. Even Luther ridiculed the idea that God would provide food to those who just sit around and wait for a fried chicken to fly into their mouths. The truth of it is, most people in this world are too busy trying to find their next meal to worry about the afterlife. They think that it will all come out in the wash anyhow, so why bother when there are bigger fish to fry right this moment. Who has time to pray and trust God for daily bread?

But Jesus instructs, “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.” The Son of Man will give you the food that endures to eternal life – you need not scramble about looking for it or attempting to earn or buy it. But the people fail to grasp this, as the sinful mind of man always does.

People want something they can earn, something they feel like they deserve. Regardless of the follies of charity and government programs, people like to feel like they are entitled to something, rather than simply accepting a handout. And so, the crowds ask Jesus, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Which, of course is the wrong question.

Jesus replies, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” “What must I do?” is the wrong question. The work of God is that you believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and true Man, born of the Virgin Mary, is your Lord and savior. The Father has sent Him into your flesh to bear your sins and be your savior. This is given to you to believe, that believing you may have life in His Name.

Believe in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who was sacrificed upon the cross to bear your sins away. Believe in Jesus Christ, the Lord of Hosts who rose triumphant from the grave to proclaim His victory once for all over sin, death, and the devil. Believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of Man who sits upon the throne of God in heaven, who will be your judge when the Last Day comes. Your “work” is simply to believe these things, as they are given to you to believe and confess.

And the further great joy of the Gospel is that even this work has been done for you. The Holy Spirit is given to you by the Father to deliver to you the gifts won by the Son on your behalf. In Holy Baptism, you were sealed with the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Under that seal, the Holy Spirit entered into your heart and soul and regenerated you life eternal and faith in Christ. This is no more your work than that you poured the water over your own head. It is a gift given freely to you.

When you confess your sins, the Holy Absolution proclaimed to you is a gift which God gives through the mouth of His servant called and ordained for just such a purpose. You have done nothing to earn this full and free remission of your sins, but it is bestowed upon you because of the merits of Jesus Christ, in whom you live and move and have your being.

When you are fed with the very Body and Blood of the Lord at His holy altar, you are receiving the Bread of Life, the food that endures unto eternal life. Your Lord Christ comes to you and places Himself in your mouth, all the while speaking the promise: “This is My Body, this is My Blood, given and shed for you, for the forgiveness of your sins.”

This is the work pleasing to God, that you believe in the Son of Man whom He has sent to you, and that you receive the gifts which He so generously gives to you. Our Lord is not stingy with His gifts, but desires that you eat your fill, that you drink deeply, that you be filled with His life and salvation.

Jesus proclaimed to the Galilean crowds what He proclaims to you: “Whoever comes to Me shall never hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst.” Come to Him, just as the Holy Spirit has called you to this place. Come to Him, as you have been placed safely within His holy Ark. Come to Him where He has promised to be, where He has promised to give His gifts. Come to Him, and you shall never hunger or thirst.

Here, in this place, according to Christ's command, you receive the Bread of Life. For here the Word of God has its free course, and the work of God is done in you. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ forgives your sins and cleanses you from all unrighteousness. His healing Word of forgiveness is a soothing balm that restores your troubled and weary souls. His Body and Blood given to you to eat and drink knit you together with all the saints in heaven and on earth into the one holy Body of Christ, His Bride the Church.

So, therefore, heed the words of the prophet Isaiah:

“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food. (Isaiah 55:1-2)

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.