Sermon Nuggets Fri April 25, 2008
Theme- Miraculous Manna
Verses 52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
53 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."
59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. (NIV)
GOD’S PRESENT
God was the giver of the manna in the wilderness. The bread was the gift that led to life. But that gift needed to be received and gathered by the people if it was to make any difference.
The manna was not a seed that was planted. It was not from grain that was cultivated or sown. It was not as a result of any of the work to produce its benefit. It only needed to be harvested. It was there for the taking. But taking it was required. God did not plop it into their stomachs so to keep them from eating or gathering it, like hospital nurses placing an IV solution into one’s veins. The only way it did them any good was to receive this free gift from God. They knew about it first, they saw it secondly; they came to it thirdly, received it fourthly and eat it lastly for the bread to meet their need.
Jesus is the same. As identified as the true manna from heaven he is a gift from the greatest of givers. God did all the work, but for us to receive salvation we must take Him into our lives. The sowing, weeding, watering might be compared to the works that some people think must be done in partnership to the salvation experience. But Jesus says, like the manna of old he must be eaten, his blood is real drink. I we feed on him we will live. Some religious traditions teach that it is in the partaking of the bread and wine that one recieves forgiveness. The verses here and previously keep repeating that is in believing we receive. (see verses 30, 35, 36, 40, 47).
We cannot ever come to Jesus Christ unless first of all we know about Him. That is a job for Moses and leaders and others to tell the Israelites in the desert. I wonder how many died because they didn’t know any bread was out there. I don’t think too many because that good news traveled fast.
What about Jesus Christ’s good news of eternal life? We who have tasted of him and realize his truth, are we letting others know it is God’s free gift of salvation? They can’t respond until they know. They must hear. They must listen. But how can they unless someone tells them?
Previously John 6:45 "It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me." I listen in different way to those with whom I have anger. I don’t listen very well with those I differ. To those whom I do not care about I might listen with politeness, not really listening, but often thinking about other things. To someone I respect and care about I listen with open ears to learn and grow and be helped by what they say.
He who has an ear to hear let him hear. Even if you have been saved there is food available in Jesus Christ for our daily walk with him.
Pastor Dale
