Creekside Church Sermon of August 10, 1997 "The Bread of Life" John 6:24-35	Rev. David Bibbee
Send this sermon to a friend

The ambiance was basic. Orange Formica table tops and fake flowers. The menu had the usuals- -cheeseburgers, chili, chicken, and the daily special. "Oh well, at least the prices are cheap," I said, still trying to recover from the cardiac arrest I suffered by getting the check from one of those special occasion dinners in California. But we were delightfully surprised by the dining experience at George's. Not only was it inexpensive, the service was fast and friendly, the proportions large, and the food was really good. The green chili was the best I had eaten. "Give my compliments to the chef," I said. "And is there a chance of getting the recipe?"

A minute later, George himself was at the table, obviously pleased that we liked his food. He was Mr. Personality--a short, mustached fortyish man wearing a white chef's apron. He rattled off the "glob of this and a fistful of that" recipe, wanted to know where we were from and where we were going. It was obvious George loved what he did, and he made us feel like his guests. "If you're ever this way, stop again." For me, George's Drive-Inn was one of the highlights of the trip. We drove off with full stomachs, a green chili recipe, and George.

Lots of people who had been fed at Jesus' sit down dinner for five thousand, were looking for Jesus again, no doubt following a trail of bread crumbs. When they found them, he named the reason they had come...not because of the signs pointing to who he was, but because their bellies were filled. Remember when Moses led Israel out of Egypt? It wasn't long before they ran out of food. Compared to the hardship of the wilderness, slavery didn't seem all that bad in their memory. At least in Egypt they had something to eat. Moses took the crisis to God who told him to wait till morning. The next day the ground was covered with what looked like frost. They called it manna which in Hebrew means, "What is it?" It was enough to keep them alive. They were not to stockpile it, but gather it day by day as God provided. "Give us this day our daily bread..." In Psalm 78 it says:

Then he gave orders to the skies above and threw open heaven's doors;
He rained down manna for them to eat and gave them the grain of heaven.
So everyone ate the bread of angels; he sent them food in plenty...but still they wanted more.
(Psalm 78 vss. 23-30)

When Jesus fed the five thousand, there was enough for all...but still, they wanted more. That's when Jesus said their deep need wasn't for stomach food, but soul food. "Don't toil for the food that rots, but the food which endures to eternal life; the bread of God which comes down from heaven gives life to the world...I am the bread of life. The bread of heaven. Feed on me, and you shall not hunger."

Have you ever pondered those words, "The bread of heaven"? Why not, "I'm the prime rib of heaven" or "I'm the all you can eat buffet of heaven."? Instead, he said, "I am the bread." Bread is such a simple, every day thing. Always on the table. You toast it. Make sandwiches with it. Clean gravy off your plate with it. Have people with fish bones caught in their throats swallow it. It's aroma makes a house a home. A loaf given to the new neighbor next door says, "You are welcome." There is no more simple, basic food than bread, and none so necessary.

In our hunger for things that do not satisfy, we overlook the basics which sustain. That's why Jesus gave us communion as the central sacrament. Henri Nouwen said it's the most ordinary and the most divine gesture imaginable which is the truth of Jesus...so human, yet so divine; so familiar, yet so mysterious. Like bread on the table, Jesus is with us. Like bread sustains our bodies, he sustains our souls with love without limit.

George took great delight that we enjoyed the food he prepared. He offered us not only food, but a measure of himself. When you host dinner guests, you do the same. You take great efforts to make sure things are just right. You feel good when your guests take seconds because they have received the offering of you.

When you take away all the embellishments of the liturgy and ceremony and song, what you have left of communion is a simple taste of the bread and cup. As the host of the meal, Jesus spared nothing. He gave everything. "Take, eat. This is my body. This is my blood. This is for you. I am for you. I am present in all of life and want nothing more than for you to be part of me." Many of us have memories of communions that were especially meaningful. I think of a particularly dark time in my life when I had to face an accuser. Though assured by others that things would work out, I lived in dread fear it would not. I don't think I have ever felt more threatened, experienced such an emotional drain, or have been in greater need for strength beyond myself. One hour before the encounter, a friend called. "I'm coming over to see you." When he arrived he said he just wanted to show he cared and to pray for me. "Oh, and something else", he said as he produced a little plastic bag and a flask. "I thought you could benefit from communion right now." It was pretty simple. No music. No ministers manual. The guy hadn't even been to seminary. He just read a scripture, and reminded me of the Presence. He reminded me of Jesus' promise of being known in the breaking of bread. Through that simple sacrament, I had the resolve to make it, by God's grace, through a tough time.

While at the Grand Canyon, we hiked a little distance down the Bright Angel Trail--just enough to appreciate what a rigorous and dangerous thing it is to go all the way down and back. Dennis Benson recalls the time as a college student when he and two friends took the trail without adequate provisions. Between them they shared one water container...a rinsed out dish soap bottle with a sudsy head. They left early in the morning, taking in the grandeur of the canyon. By noon they reached the Colorado River, but instead of stopping to rest, they immediately started back up. With temperatures over 100, no water, and dehydrated bodies, they began to stumble. At first they laughed. It was just like in the cowboy movies. But not seeing another person on the trail, and with no one high on the rim to see their plight, they were afraid it was over for them. After about an hour, a man was standing in front of them holding a jug of water. "I spotted you from the rim and could tell you were in trouble." After being revived by the water and rest, their rescuer helped them to the rim. And all the way back Benson smiled because of the word printed on the jug...REVELATION.

To those who came after Jesus following the miracle of the loaves and fishes, he said the revelation didn't stop with providing bread for the stomach, but began with bread for the soul. "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger. Whoever believes in me shall not thirst."

At the heart of the communion is God's deep desire to be part of us. God wanted so much to be part of us that in Jesus Christ he came to us. Jesus didn't grasp equality with God, he descended to us, identified with us, and ministered among us. The Son of God was enthroned on a cross and asked not to be remembered by writing a book about him or building churches for him. "Make disciples. Baptize. Teach.", is what he said. "And whenever you break the bread and drink the cup, remember me."

He's as near as that. In all places. In all circumstances...to be our daily, living bread. It's as simple, and as mysterious as that. And echoing the need of those who were seeking Jesus, may we also say, "Lord, give us this bread always."

All of the sermons that have appeared in text form on our Web Site since August 1996 are available here in the On-Line version. Use the search engine below to find the sermon you want. You may search by date, sermon title, or content. The sermons are full-text searchable.

Sermon Search:



Exact phrase    All words (AND)    Any word (OR)