Sermon nugget Mon April 21
Theme Miraculous Manna
Verses John 6:25-31
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"
26 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
30 So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?
31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
34 "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
The story is told of by one of my seminary classmates, Karl Smith, that he and his brother were walking down the street of Lebanon. Dr. Bob Smith, their father, was teaching at a university there during his Sabbatical. Suddenly a man jumped from his taxi and began to bawl them out. He was incensed and began chasing them. They ran not knowing what caused this uproar. Their father questioned them closely to see what might have triggered it. When conveying the story to a Lebanese friend it was discovered a piece of bread fell on the ground from a vendor and they kicked it aside off the path.
“Ah, you do not understand Eastern culture. It is good that you had run for you could have easily been physically beaten for such an act. Bread is a symbol of life, it is sacred. Even if it has fallen to the ground, we look upon it with respect and gently move it aside for it is the staff of life, essential for sustenance. For a person to sit together with an enemy and break bread together is like passing the peace pipe among Indians of your country. What would be the reaction among the early Indians to kick a peace pipe if found on the ground? It would mean that you disrespected them and did not want peace. It is the symbol of reconciliation, of trust and responsibility among people.”
Indeed bread is life, and it is the subsistence of every culture in the world. When man first could pound grain into flour and mix it with some liquid and cook, fry or bake it on hot stones, there was food. Every nation and country has breads that are common to their area and known to their nationality, which they bake and provide with pride.
The Jews were blessed with special bread given to them by Moses in the wilderness called Manna from heaven. It was part of their tradition that when the true Messiah will come he will make available this miraculous manna once again for his nation, bread from heaven. When the crowd just experienced the miracle of their lives with the feeding of the 5,000 Jesus said those who come to him will never be hungry, and those who believe in Him will never thirst.
The lesson from Moses giving Manna from heaven was a miracle in the desert. The gift of the Son of God is even a greater miracle. Jesus compares Himself to this bread. It is free to all who receives.
Pastor Dale
