Introduction
Last Sunday, we heard the ending of Jesus’ Bread of Life discourse, which we’ve been hearing the last couple of weeks. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven,” Jesus says. “If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Reflection
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came down from heaven to give life to the world, to give life to us poor sinners. He gives us this life by giving His own life, giving His own flesh for us on the cross, shedding His blood for our forgiveness. He bore our sins in His body on the tree. This is how He redeemed us, purchased and won us from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil. Now we are free, free to live as God’s beloved children, redeemed by Christ, and filled with the Spirit. We have a new life ahead of us–indeed, an eternal life. When Christ comes again, He will raise us up on the last day. This changes everything. This puts our life in a new perspective. We have a new identity, a new power to live, and a sure hope for eternal future.
Text
“I am the bread of life,” says Jesus. Why bread? Because bread, across all cultures, is universally seen as the staple of life. It is that which gives life and sustains life. Without bread, which is kind of a shorthand for food in general, without bread, without food, without sustenance, we die. It’s true in the physical realm. And when Jesus applies this term to Himself, it’s true in the spiritual realm as well. Without the bread of life, that is, without Jesus, we die. And it would be death forever, apart from Christ.
Malady
Food is good, we have been eating food alright but most often than not, it’s junk food, adulterated bread we eat.
Text
This is why Jesus comes. He says, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me.” Jesus Christ came down from heaven to do the will of His heavenly Father. This tells us that Jesus is the very Son of God, the eternal Son of God from before the foundation of the world, who at a certain point in human history came down from heaven and became incarnate, became one of us, in the flesh, for us men and for our salvation. This is why He came.
Malady
The crowd back then didn’t get it. They could only think of this man Jesus as the person growing up in the home of Joseph and Mary. How can He say, “I have come down from heaven”?
Mystery
But that is the mystery of the incarnation. And only God can reveal Jesus to us as the divine Savior sent from heaven. Jesus says as much: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” This happens as God’s Word works repentance and faith in our heart, so that we know we need a Savior and we discover that Jesus is the very one who meets that need. God’s Word is at work in our heart, so that we know and feel our sins, we recognize our need for forgiveness, and we hear that Jesus gives us just that.
Wisdom
Where does wisdom begin? Proverbs tells us: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111): “The fear of the LORD is the beginning, [and not the end] of wisdom.” And so, we ask the good Lutheran question, “What does this mean? What is meant by “the fear of the Lord”? Well, certainly, in the broad sense, it means an awe and a reverence for the Lord. Which presumes, of course, that you know who the Lord is: That He is one who made the heavens and the earth. That he is the only true God and all other gods are idols. That the Lord is the God who has revealed Himself in His word, who has acted in history to save and deliver His people, and so on. The fear of the Lord begins with that basic recognition of who God is. But it is more than that. The fear of the Lord means that we take God seriously. That we take His word seriously, both His commands and His promises. That we take His threats and His wrath seriously, as well as His love and His mercy and His blessings. The fear of the Lord means that we do not casually dismiss or ignore what the Lord says and does.
Law/Gospel
The ways of the world are darkness. The people of this world are groping around in the dark, lost, blind, not knowing God. But God has called us out of darkness, into His marvelous light. Now in Christ, we know God for who He truly is. We know Him as the God of mercy, who forgives our sins freely for Christ’s sake.
Application
We need Jesus Christ to find wisdom and forgiveness and strength and light for our way. And these are what Jesus comes to bring. He gives us food for our souls, light from above, and even the words of eternal life.
Gospel
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came down from heaven to give life to the world, to give life to us poor sinners. He gives us this life by giving His own life for us on the cross, shedding His blood for our forgiveness. He bore our sins in His body on the tree. This is how He redeemed us, purchased and won us from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil. Now we are free, free to live as God’s beloved children, redeemed by Christ, and filled with the Spirit. We have a new life ahead of us–indeed, an eternal life. When Christ comes again, He will raise us up on the last day. This changes everything. This puts our life in a new perspective.
Reflection
We recognize our need and recognize in Jesus the one who meets our need and gives to us so freely? For that is the way of faith, that is the way of wisdom, to Jesus and to receive from Him. Jesus asked His disciples, “Are you going to be like those people who just walked away, or are you going to stay and continue following as my disciples?” And Peter answered and said, “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.” This is a wise answer! For only Jesus has the words of eternal life. Only Jesus can give life, real life, true life, new life, eternal life. You and I have this life because of Jesus.
Gospel/Conclusion
Our Lord says to us: “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.”
Here is strength for our journey. Here is wisdom for our walk, dear friends. It is Jesus Himself. Christ, the wisdom of God and the power of God. Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Amen!