John 6:66-69. Who do we follow/serve? 30/8/06

(66) From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. {67} "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. {68} Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. {69} We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Josh 24:14-18
"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. {15} But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." {16} Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! {17} It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we travelled. {18} And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God."

This morning we continue with our theme of Jesus as the ‘Bread of life.’ But here we are faced with the question, where to from here? In the face of people falling away from following Jesus and the truth of his word; we too are being confronted with the same question; "You do not want to leave too, do you?"

Yes Jesus’ words with regard to eating his flesh and drinking his blood, is a hard teaching. It doesn’t fit into our way of thinking. Yet as we heard last week, it is truly a great and awesome thing that he has made available for us, and the sustaining of our faith. But despite this many people back then chose to walk away and seek to be god’s people by some other means. They wanted to follow that which was pleasing to their senses and to their self-centred thinking. Surely being God’s people must fit into the kind of thinking that is reasonable and readily seen to be acceptable.

Today we face the same thinking on this same issue of Holy Communion and on many other issues as well. It would seem that we want to follow the line of least resistance and which is the most sensual on many different issues that are facing the church at this time: whether it be worship, women’s ordination, lay involvement in worship, ecumenical issues and many others. What seems good to us as human beings and which panders to our selfish way of life is that which we will hold to and follow. We would sooner focus on what we do and think, rather than follow our Lord and that which he has to say to us.

We therefore have many turning their back and no longer following Jesus. For many there is still the desire to be religious and spiritual, but it seeks to follow that which fits into our way of thinking and which is reasonable to us. The name Jesus is used, but it is a Jesus of our own making. It is a Jesus whose death on the cross is barely mentioned. It is a Jesus who inspires us to live in a way that we think is pleasing to him and to us. It is a Jesus who avoids anything we think is negative and unpleasant. It is a Jesus who is ‘outwardly loving’ but which downplays his truth and doctrines.

In our western world today we have a mass exodus from the Church that has been passed down to us from the early church and which is centred very much on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross and his resurrection. Along with that there is a move away from baptism as the means whereby God connects us to Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection; and from the eating of the real presence of Christ’s body and blood in Holy Communion. Also the inerrant truth of God’s Word is no longer deemed to be as important as it really should be. It is all too hard for us as human beings and it does not fit our cultural thinking. As a result many no longer follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

But it is here that Jesus’ question is put to us: "You do not want to leave too, do you?" We here need to come to a clear understanding of where we stand and who we need to follow and serve. I believe that we like the children of Israel in our reading from Joshua need to decide very clearly who we are going to follow. Is it the gods of our society and self, or is it the true and living God? Is it the God who has revealed himself in the Scriptures, or is it a god who is moulded to suit ourselves? Is his word, the Bible, the truth, or can we pick and choose what we believe? Is Jesus Christ and his death on the cross absolutely necessary for our salvation, or do we have to also contribute something toward our salvation? Is Jesus the bread of life or do we need something else? Important questions for us at this time.

Surely we too can only say along with the disciples; Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." Or with Israel; "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! There is no other sensible and reliable alternative. There is no other means of being sure and certain.

Surely Jesus Christ and his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead, mean that he alone is our one and only source of salvation. He alone is the true and living God. Here in Jesus Christ, it is clearly seen that God has come into our world: he has taken on our human form so that he could be the sacrifice which enables forgiveness of sins to be extended to each and every one of us. He knew that there was no way that we could make up for our lostness and sin by our own means; even in some small way. Yet he came and did everything that was necessary for us and for our salvation. He was raised from the dead three days later so that we can be absolutely sure that he is God Almighty himself and that he has won eternal life for us.

He has made it quite plain that he is the bread of life which came down from heaven. He has given us all that we really need for this life and the next. In our baptism he promises that there he connects us to himself and to his death and resurrection. He has given us his flesh and blood to eat and drink so that we can have eternal life. All guaranteed by he himself; who died and rose again for us.

So now we can simply look to Jesus Christ and his death on the cross and trust that he has done it all for us: we do not need to look anywhere else: we don’t need to ‘have to’ do something extra to make it all valid: we don’t even need to have the right feeling and emotions. He has done everything necessary. We can simply trust that it is all just as he said.

So also then can we simply trust that the Bible is God’s word: every word of it. There he has given us everything that we need to know as his people. It tells us all that we need to know with regard to our sinfulness and utter depravity because of our rebellion against God. It ever points us to the centrality of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for our salvation. It reveals to us all that we need to know for our living as his people, while we live here on this earth.

Throughout its history the Christian Church has always maintained that it is God’s Word alone that should guide and direct us as church. Scripture itself says that we must not add to or take away anything from his Word. So in the Ordination of Women debate it must be Scripture alone which determines whether it is allowable or not. And in all the discussion papers that have been presented so far, there is no clear scriptures which allow for the overturning of our current position. It is only the discarding of what Scripture clearly says in this regard that we are able to proceed. But then we are going against what the Bible itself clearly says we must not do.
Here we need to look back through the history of the Church and see how God has maintained and grown his Church as it has held to the truth of the Bible. Whenever it has done otherwise it has gradually lost its way. But before I sidetrack again, we can hold firmly to the truth of the Bible, because it is God’s Word, and it has proven to be correct over and over again. Jesus is the fulfilment and centre of all that is written in there.

So then we can entrust ourselves to Jesus Christ as the bread of life. We too can say ; Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." Or with Israel; " But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. And Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!

Yes I pray that in these difficult days ahead, we can look to, follow and serve Jesus Christ alone. The temptation to follow the crowd will be great, but surely our great God and Saviour, is far more important than following the crowd. Then as we go forward with this as our conviction, I pray that he will bless us as he did his own disciples back then. Then as we do may all glory and honour go to him who it belongs; our great God Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba

John 6:24-35. Jesus, bread that lasts!! 6/8/06

(24) Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. {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.

This weeks text follows on from that of last week; and seeks to deepen our whole understanding of Jesus and how we need to see him. He is much more than a miracle worker. Much more than someone who is simply here to make our everyday life easier. Here we are reminded that Jesus is the bread of life. He is the one sent by God to feed us with food that truly lasts. Yes, he has come so that we may find and have that which we need most of all: love, forgiveness, peace and life here and in eternity. He then, is what life is really all about; and we are called on to believe in him: to trust in him as the Lord of all of life.

Now, last week we heard how Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 people with one little boys lunch. But then, how he turned his back on the people because he knew that they wanted to make him king; merely for their own earthly benefit. Then here in today’s reading, they went looking for him and when they find him he hits them with a few home truths.
He tells them straight out, that they are only interested in their stomachs; and that they really need to start thinking a little more deeply about life. Thereby to work for food which lasts. This then is something that we also need to consider here this morning.

Now what is life all about, as far as we are concerned? What is it that we focus so much our life on and which we work so hard for? It also seems that when the pressure on for us, we work even harder in these areas. Too often at the exclusion of that which is even more important. So we are left unsatisfied - feeling that something more needed. Yet we then continue to look everywhere else but where we really need to be looking.

So what is it really, that we work at in life? Is it merely for this? - a piece of bread and what it symbolises. Look at it - is this all there is to life – food and a few outward pleasures. How long is this going to keep you going for? It wouldn't even keep the worms happy for a day. A loaf of bread wouldn't be too bad; but it still wouldn't keep us happy and satisfied for long. So we work hard to accumulate much more; too often at the expense of other more important things. But then, if we think about it; what good is 50 or a 100 loaves in the cupboard. To work at accumulating such a lot is also stupidity. It would soon go mouldy and useless; and then we are left even less satisfied.

But too often that is the attitude we have got - isn't it? To have and to accumulate; so that we can basically, eat, drink and be merry. This bread, [by that I mean, materialism] is often all that is important to us. And we will do any amount of work to see that we have plenty of it.

But here Jesus reminds us; and in fact seeks to hit home the truth of it all to us. To look only at that aspect of life and work only for earthly benefits, is to let ourselves down badly. Because if that is all that there is to life for us, then we will have disappointment after disappointment. We in our search for happiness and fulfilment will be badly let down. In our desire for more and more from life, we will find less and less satisfaction. If you don’t believe me, have a good look around you and see the number of broken, spoilt lives in our community: ruined because our society has led them to think that this material aspect is all that there is to life.

Look also at the priorities of many who are seeking at all costs to have and to gain, at the exclusion of all else. Look at them and learn something. Then listen to what Jesus goes on to say with regard to working only for that which is here today and gone tomorrow. Here remember also that there is one thing for sure in life and that is that we will all die sooner or later. Then it really doesn't matter how much bread we have got; whether we have got none or plenty. It can no longer help us.

So remember; this bread, materialism, is only one part of life. There is more - much more. There is another food which has lasting value. There is another bread which we can eat and never be hungry: and which will never spoil or let us down. And here Jesus asks us to work for this food which has eternal value; and which is given to us freely by our Lord.

And what is this food? It is of course, nothing more or less than Jesus Christ himself. He is this bread of life which lasts forever; and all who come to him will never go hungry. All who believe in him will never go thirsty. All our real and lasting needs are taken care of in and by him. Yes Jesus Christ is the answer to all of our real and important issues of life. Believe in him and there is fullness of life there for us: Life that lasts beyond this slice bread: beyond a full stomach: beyond a chequebook full of money: and beyond our three score and ten years that we have here on this earth as well. With the Lord Jesus we have it all. With him we have that which we can not and will not find anywhere else. And be sure that no one and nothing can take all of this away, what Jesus has to give.

So if we want to work at something valuable and lasting. If we want to search for something that give real meaning to life. If we want to find satisfaction in life: then wake up and stop looking out there where the rest of our society is looking. Stop chasing after those things that they see as important, but which quickly spoil and let us down. Instead let us do the work that God requires - believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; and there we will have bread that lasts.

Now this believing in Jesus is not just remembering a few details about him which we learnt in Sunday School and Confirmation lesson. It is not just sitting back and thinking that we have been baptised and thereby are somehow connected to the church; so she's right, we can do as we please. Believing is trusting in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. It is trusting that he is here as the bread of life. Trusting that he does know what life is all about. Trusting that he has taken care of our most important needs. Trusting that he has forgiven us because of his death and resurrection. Trusting that he is here for us in both the good and bad of life; and that he will not let us down. Trusting that no matter what, eternal life is ours in Jesus Christ. Yes believe that he is what life is all about.

That now being the case; what is important to him becomes important to us. Now we can and surely will, stand up and set Sundays aside for our Lord and our worship of him, seeking all that he has to give and say to us. Now we can and will seek to treat others in a loving, forgiving way. Now we try to go about our business honestly, and know that it will still work out. Now we can live for the benefit of others and for God's kingdom, instead of being so selfish: and know for sure, that no matter what – we will never go hungry. Now we can even face death and know that there is a far better living, beyond; because with Jesus Christ we have the bread of life – the bread that lasts.

But how do we know? How can we be sure? There on the cross you have God's sign that this is for real. Because of his death and resurrection we can be absolutely sure that he is for us and that he wants only our good and the good of others. Here in this wafer of bread we have Jesus himself, given and shed for you: entering our body - our life and assuring us of the forgiveness of sins and life eternal. So we can take him seriously. We can trust him and follow his way; and know that it will all work out just as he says it will.

So then let us now feed regularly on this bread of life. Let us look to Jesus Christ and know that in him there is bread that has lasting value and which truly satisfies. Come to him and never go hungry. Believe in him and never go thirsty. That is his guarantee to you. Believe him and be blessed. Amen.

Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba