The Lutheran Hour
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"Nourishment That Gives Eternal Life"
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Text: John 6:51
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Dear Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Savior of the world, and You are the Bread which has come down from heaven, giving everlasting life. Our hearts and minds hunger for lasting peace, which this world cannot give. Help us to see that real satisfaction comes from You. Lead and guide our lives by Your holy Word. May we, by the work of the Holy Spirit, fix our hearts and minds on You. In Your most gracious name we pray. Amen
Do you hunger for the true meaning of life? Then you are not alone. All too quickly we discover that people, material possessions, and money do not give lasting satisfaction. Jesus offers Himself to you as the Living Bread from heaven. He alone can truly satisfy your hungry heart.
What do you think of when you hear the word “bread?” If you are from an older generation that word may bring back memories of the bread baking in the oven of your mother’s or grandmother’s kitchen.
If you are from my generation, the word “bread” would be the slang expression for the word “money.”
In the Lord’s Prayer we pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Martin Luther in his explanation to this Fourth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer says: “Daily bread is everything that belongs to the support and wants of the body.”
Jesus gives to us a totally different way of looking at bread. Jesus says in today’s Gospel: “I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, he will live forever. This Bread is My flesh which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).
At first hearing, these words of Jesus are difficult at best to understand. Jesus takes this common everyday word “bread” to speak of Himself as giving nourishment for the life of all people.
When Jesus says “I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven,” it begs the question: Just who is this Jesus?
Here in John chapter 6 we find that there were others who had this same question on their minds. In John 6:41-42 the religious leaders of Jesus’ day “grumbled” in response to Jesus claim “I am the Bread that came down from heaven,” they 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’?” Yes, they saw Jesus as a mere human being. They knew His family. They were witnesses to His teachings and miracles, and yet they were offended. Jesus tells them to “stop grumbling among yourselves.” He says, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” In other words, they couldn’t see Jesus as that Living Bread which is from heaven because they were spiritually blinded by sin. Jesus had to remind them of their forefathers who centuries ago journeyed for 40 years in the wilderness and had been miraculously fed by manna which daily fell from the skies, feeding the thousands of God’s people. Even that miraculous feeding, says Jesus, did not give to them eternal life. They still died. It merely fed them on their way as they traveled to the land of Canaan.
There were still others who misunderstood Jesus as the Bread which came down from heaven. Earlier in John chapter 6 Jesus performed a miracle which fed 5,000 men, not including women and children. The crowds had followed Jesus into a remote place to hear His teachings. The disciples of Jesus wanted this crowd to go home because there was no place to feed such a large number of people. But Jesus acted in a miraculous way. With just two small fish and five loaves of bread, He feeds this vast crowd of people. It is reported by John that they gathered twelve baskets of leftovers.
Unfortunately, many of the people in this well-fed crowd did not understand that Jesus was trying to point to Himself as the Living Bread which came down from heaven. Conversely, they wanted to take Jesus by force and make Him an earthly “bread king.” They wanted a Messiah and king who would provide for their immediate needs and well-being.
Yes, it begs the question into today’s contemporary world. Who is this Jesus, and what is this Living Bread which comes down form heaven? The rejection of Jesus as the Son of God who gives His body into death for the sins of the world is present and alive today.
The hunger for spiritual satisfaction cries out from the sinful world in which we live. Popularity and interest in recent movies such as The Passion of the Christ and The DaVinci Code point to the fact that people are searching for answers to the meaning of life.
Do you know of Jesus, but consider Him to be a “bread king?” Is this the Jesus who is God only in the sense of providing for the here and now? Just like the crowds that ate of the fish and loaves of bread, is Jesus the god that makes you successful and provides for all of your needs and wants of daily living? Is this the Jesus that you expect to heal your body of sickness and disease at the drop of a prayer? If that is your reasoning, then you do not have the Living Bread which comes down from heaven.
The crowds and religious leaders of Jesus’ day saw Him only as a mere human being. They called Him “rabbi” which means “teacher.” If Jesus is no more than a mere moral teacher who gives great spiritual advice whenever you are “down in the dumps,” then this is not the Jesus which is the Living Bread which comes down from heaven! This is not the Jesus that you and I can take at “face value” and then go on with our daily living.
Allow me to illustrate. My wife and I recently attended an annual festival in our hometown of Kansas City. One of the booth displays encouraged us to register for a free Caribbean cruise. We registered, giving our name, address, and phone number. It wasn’t but a week later, that we received a phone call at our home telling us that we had won the Caribbean vacation. Not only did we win the cruise, but we also won a vacation in Las Vegas, plus, as an additional bonus free use of a condominium in Florida! All this could be ours, but – in order to insure these winnings, a deposit would be needed by means of our credit card. It was a scam! Credit card fraud nicely packaged in the form of a “free vacation.”
That is precisely how many see Jesus. His offer of real and lasting life is too good to be true. After all, nothing in this life is free! The devil, the sinful world around us, and our sinful hearts and minds want us to believe that Jesus is nothing more than a scam. This is a changing Jesus who does not last, and who gives earthly promises that do not last.
Thank God that this is not the true Jesus Christ. Listen again to the gracious promise of Christ in today’s Gospel. Jesus says: “I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, he will live forever. This Bread is My flesh which I will give for the life of the world.” With these words, Jesus offers to you and me the greatest gift that anyone could possibly posses in this life! Because the gift is eternal life! This is a costly gift, for Jesus says that He will give His flesh, His body, as a sacrifice, so that the whole world might have everlasting life through Him.
Yes, in these words is the story of Jesus giving His life for a world which is cursed by misery, sin, and eternal death.
This is Jesus, the Living Bread who enters this world as an infant. He is the very Son of God born of the virgin Mary. This is the little baby who lies in a manger in the town of Bethlehem. Bethlehem, which means “house of bread.” Here is Jesus for whom the angel proclaims: “For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”
This is Jesus, the Living Bread who eats with sinners; who invites tax collectors, prostitutes, and the needy, offering to them new life in the forgiveness of their sins.
This is Jesus, the Bread of Life who drives out the evil spirits, who heals the blind, deaf, and lame. The Jesus who says to the paralytic man, Rise and go your way, your faith has made you well.”
This is Jesus, the Living Bread who in the Garden of Gethsemane prays to God the Father and says: “Father if you are willing, remove this cup of suffering from Me, nevertheless not My will, but Your will be done.”
This is Jesus, the Living Bread who gives His flesh for the life of the world as He hangs on the cross of death and says “It is finished!” and with these words your salvation is won.
This is Jesus, the Living Bread who has risen bodily and victoriously from the tomb of death. And again we hear the words spoken by an angel: “He is not here. He is risen!”
This is Jesus, the Living Bread who came down from heaven, who has ascended into heaven, and who will return again as Judge of all at the end of time.
Yes, here is the Living Bread that gives eternal life. “Eat of this Bread and you will live forever,” says Jesus. Remember, there were those who opposed Jesus and thought that they could get by in life with just earthly bread. That “here-and-now” kind of thinking only ends in despair and death. Jesus offers to you lasting peace and life forever in Him. In John the tenth chapter Jesus says: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Here the Savior is speaking about new life in Him. This is life that does not depend on the things and people of this world.
God places before you and me a choice of great contrast. The choice is between the Living Bread from heaven and the bread of this world. Again recall the definitions of bread.
“Bread” can mean “food” or anything that we need or want for daily living. “Bread” also is the slang for “money.” What is the bread for which you hunger?
If you are relying on the bread of this world to give satisfaction, meaning, and spiritual wholeness to your life, you will be greatly disappointed to discover that these things have no lasting value, and in the end cannot give eternal life.
Yes, Jesus offered lasting Living Bread to those who thought earthly bread was all that mattered. This same Jesus offers Living Bread for your spiritual hunger. On the cross of Calvary Jesus died for your sins. At the tomb of death Jesus rose in victory so that you might have new life now and eternal life forever with Him. That new life is a free gift from God. You and I cannot receive this gift on our own terms. Saint Paul, speaking by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says in Romans chapter 6: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jesus freely offers you new life. That new life is for eternity, but it is also for your life today!
Are you burdened with sin and the guilt that accompanies sin? Do you hunger for release from sin’s grip? Jesus offers to you forgiveness of sins. Yes, there is no sin too great that God cannot forgive. Jesus this day offers to clothe you with His holiness purchased and won for you by His death on the cross. That holiness becomes yours by the miraculous gift of faith which lays hold of the promises of Holy Scripture which is the very Word of God Word.
Are you burdened with the cares and concerns of this life? Do you hunger for strength and guidance? Jesus offers to you His presence, and the strength found only in the Bible. The prophet, in Isaiah chapter 55, declares: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.” Isaiah, in the beautiful words of the Old Testament, looks forward to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, and compares spiritual blessings with that of a great banquet. The bread of this world lacks in comparison to the riches found in Jesus Christ, the Living Bread which came down from heaven. He is the nourishment that gives eternal life. Amen.
And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR #73-50
AIRS: August 27, 2006ANNOUNCER: And we’re back with Pastor Ken Klaus. I’m Mark Eischer. This week we continue our discussion as to why The Lutheran Hour does not deal with political and social issues.
KLAUS: That’s right. Last week I had said, we don’t directly comment on them because, as an extension of the Church, we have a specific purpose. We are dedicated to telling how God forgives sinners through Jesus Christ. We also talked about how we are sharing God’s Word, and not my personal opinion.
ANNOUNCER: And that’s where we start today. I was listening to a talk show. They were discussing amnesty for people who enter the country illegally. And the host said the government should practice forgiveness because our system is based on Judeo-Christian traditions that teach forgiveness. But I thought we were supposed to have separation between church and state.
KLAUS: Mark, Lutherans are kind of unique in the way we understand the world. Sure, there is a separation between church and state, but here’s the thing: God established both; and He rules over both, albeit in different ways. So, even though church and state are separate from each other, neither is outside of God’s control.
ANNOUNCER: But I’ve heard some say the world belongs to the devil and the Church belongs to God.
KLAUS: That’s not quite right. That gives the devil way too much credit. I like how Dr. Gene Veith put it when he said the devil is not a king – he’s an insurgent. The devil is a terrorist, trying to wreak havoc in the world as well as in the Church. We believe the world is God’s world and He rules both the world and the Church, but He uses different means to do so. He rules His Church through the Gospel, through love and forgiveness. He rules the world through law and justice, and the legitimate use of power. The civil authorities are public servants – but they are also God’s servants. He’s given them the power of law and the sword in order to curb evil and preserve society. Why? So the Church can go about doing its job of preaching the Gospel and bringing people into God’s kingdom of grace.
ANNOUNCER: But what happens when the government starts acting like a church and the church starts acting like the government?
KLAUS: Oh, then there’s confusion, such as you heard from that talk-show host.
ANNOUNCER: So, as Christians we hold citizenship in two different kingdoms at the same time.
KLAUS: Jesus tells us that in Matthew 22. He said, “…render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.” Jesus was saying that His redeemed people were citizens of an earthly country as well as citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
ANNOUNCER: When you speak here on The Lutheran Hour, you’re speaking to people in both kingdoms.
KLAUS: And God expects His people, in thanks for what He has done, to live differently than the people who don’t yet know of His love. In fact, He says things that someone who is not a Christian simply cannot understand. Look at Matthew 5 and you will hear Jesus saying things like that. He talks about loyalty, and marriage, and keeping your word, and loving your enemy.
ANNOUNCER: And serving others through the different vocations to which God has called us. But you have to admit, Christians don’t always do what’s right.
KLAUS: No, we don’t. But that’s still what God expects us to do. Not because we have to, but because His forgiving love makes us want to.
ANNOUNCER: And if you apply that to your Lutheran Hour messages …
KLAUS: We have to deal with two completely different audiences. One group – believers – they will understand. Another group – unbelievers – just don’t get it. All they will hear is God making a lot of demands upon them.
ANNOUNCER: Things such as …
KLAUS: Well, divorce, or abortion, or taxes, or loyalty to the government, or being a good parent, or being honest in business; the list goes on. Christians understand because they are members of the kingdom of heaven. Unbelievers don’t. They live in a “watch out for number one” world. They don’t get it.
ANNOUNCER: So, ultimately the purpose of the Lutheran Hour message is…
KLAUS: To move people from where they are into the Kingdom of God. When that happens, when they become part of God’s spiritual kingdom, they become better citizens of their earthly country as well.
ANNOUNCER: Which explains why we don’t push social or political issues on this program.
KLAUS: Right. The Church has not been given the power to try to fix society’s inequities with legislation or threats. The only way to have a true and lasting change in our earthly values and morality is when we have a true and lasting change in our spiritual values. Which is why we preach Christ – crucified and risen to redeem sinners.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Pastor Klaus. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Music selections for this program:
“A Mighty Fortress” arranged by John Leavitt. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC
“Eat This Bread” setting by Jacques Berthier. From O Bread of Life by the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter’s, Chicago (© 1995 The Order of St. Benedict, Inc.) GIA Publications
“Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread” arranged by Henry Gerike. Used by permission
“I Come, O Savior, to Your Table” arranged by Kevin Hildebrand. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC
“Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor” by Michael Burkhardt. From Hymn Improvisations, vol. 1 by Michael Burkhardt (© 1993 MorningStar Music Publishers)