John 6:22-35 NT p. 93 or 1309

[22] The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.

[23] Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

[24] So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

[25] When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"

[26] Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

[27] Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal."

[28] Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?"

[29] Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

[30] So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing?

[31] Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "

[32] Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave 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 that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

[34] They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."

[35] Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

[NRSV]

INTRODUCTION:

Have you been to Central Market yet? Have you been to the new HEB Grocery Store that is more of an International Market than a corner store? If not you need to go, just to see the variety of fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood, cheeses, deli meats and bread. You could probably eat lunch just from grazing all the samples.

One of the things you notice is the variety of things you've never seen before. And in the bread department, there are a ton of choices. I purchased a French country loaf that was still warm from the oven that melted in your mouth. I think we ate it in two sittings. All of the breads on the altar, except the Communion bread which Carol Mitchell bakes for us each month, are from Central Market.

What is it about bread that is so appealing? Bread is that one staple that every country has in common. The breads may not look or taste the same but they are bread. And each of these breads is used to satisfy hunger. Whether it be the humble tortilla used to wrap beans or as a fork or a dark German Rye to go with sausages and kraut, it doesn't make any difference. They are all bread. They all provide the basic ingredients to satisfy our hunger.

The folks listening to Jesus knew this. That's why they followed Him across the lake. The day before, Jesus had fed them. Not only had He fed them but He took five small loaves of bread and two small fish and made it feed 5,000 people. Not only did it feed the 5,000 people but there were twelve baskets of food leftover, more than they started with.

Now, here they were again. Hungry again. Seeking more bread. Seeking only that which would satisfy their stomach and not their soul. That's why Jesus declares: "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

Jesus realized that there is more hunger in the world than physical hunger. He knew that hunger is one of the driving forces of life itself. There is Hunger For The Basics. Food is one of the basic necessities of life like oxygen and water. But there is also Hunger For Love And Acceptance. And there is Hunger For Encouragement. In Jesus we find all three.

I. HUNGER FOR THE BASICS:

A. We all a share a common hunger, a HUNGER FOR THE BASICS. The physical needs of our bodies dictate that we have food and water to sustain us and oxygen to breathe. Without those three things, we wither up and blow away in the wind. They are the basics of life.

ARA Services was the official food service manager of the 1992 Olympic games in Barcelona. Here's a sample a few of the supplies they needed to feed all of the those hungry athletes. 500,000 pounds of meat and poultry. 50,000 gallons of milk. 275 tons of fresh fruit. (That's more fruit than meat.) One million tomatoes. And 110,000 loaves of bread (That was enough to make more than 1 million sandwiches), (1)

That grocery bill may seem incredible, yet it was nothing more than the basics for these athletes. Food is one of the basics of life.

B. But there is another basic as well. And that basic is a relationship with God through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Jesus IS the basic staple of our faith. We have a minimum daily requirement of Jesus, just like we have a minimum daily requirement of riboflavin, whatever that is.

Jesus is what we need for daily survival both physical and spiritual. Jesus is what we need for the fortification of our faith. Jesus is what we need to build strong spiritual bodies 12 ways or however many ways Jesus wants to build us.

We all face hungers in this world, physical and other types of hunger as well. And Jesus says: "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

Jesus is the basic ingredient of life, if you'll let Him feed your soul as well as your body.

II. HUNGER FOR LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE:

A. We also share a HUNGER FOR LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE. That hunger for love and acceptance may very well be the driving force in most people's lives. And nowhere is that hunger satisfied more than in the Church and at the altar during the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

This meal is about eternal love and acceptance. The banquet of bread and wine is a symbol of God's eternal love, of God's acceptance and forgiveness of each of us. It symbolizes and reminds us of the extent to which God went to show and prove that love.

B. It was a Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter. The Church was having the traditional communion service. This time the pastor suggested that they serve one another. He also suggested that as they pass the bread and cup they whisper, "The body of Christ, broken for you. The blood of Christ, shed for you."

As the service progressed, one man concentrated on remembering the pastor's words, and thought it would be nice to do this more often. Between him and the aisle was an older woman, not nearly so concerned with the pastor's exact words, but thoroughly understanding their meaning. As she served him she said softly, "Take it. It's for sinners." (2)

Romans 5:8 says: "God showed His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."

What better proof of that love could there be. We didn't even have to get cleaned up. We didn't and don't have to do anything except open our hearts and let the love of God flood our souls. All we have to do is reach out our hand to receive the Bread of Life. For it is the Bread of Life who will sustain us and feed us and strengthen us in whatever situation comes our way.

III. HUNGER FOR ENCOURAGEMENT:

A. We also share a HUNGER FOR ENCOURAGEMENT. The most difficult thing any human being can do is try to go through life alone. It's difficult because that's not the way we were made. We weren't created to be alone. We were created to be social creatures. We were created to love and care for others. We were created to be encouragers.

You see, we all need encouragement from time to time. We all need to be lifted up. We all need to be cared for and encouraged.

That's what worship and the Church are all about. Worship should be uplifting. It should draw us into the presence of God and feed our hearts and souls. The Church should be a place where we get and give encouragement in the midst of the trials and tribulations of life. And I hope that's what you experience here.

But it doesn't have to end in the Church. We can take that spirit of encouragement into our daily lives and even into the work place. We can be encouragers wherever God plants us.

B. Steven Morris was a special needs child in Mrs. Bernaducci's class. Steven was a thin African-American boy who was blind. His handicap negatively impacted his self-esteem. However, over a period of time, the teacher realized that Steven had exceptional hearing.

One day she put the class mascot, a mouse, into the trash can. The scratching noise created a minor panic until Steven located the mouse. Mrs. Bernaducci exclaimed: "Steven, you are truly a wonder."

The nickname caught on. The next year little Stevie Wonder, full of a sense of his own value, began playing the piano. Stevie 'Wonder' would go on to influence and change American music all because of Mrs. Bernaducci's faith and encouragement. (3)

We all need that kind of encouragement. Especially in times like this. Times that try our souls. Times that cause stress and uncertainty. Times when we want of word of direction from God but God seems to be silent.

We need a word of encouragement. And that's what we get when we come to this table. A little bit of bread and a little bit of wine remind us that Christ died for us to prove God's love for us.

A little bit of bread and little bit of wine become a feast of forgiveness, a bountiful banquet of blessing, and a smorgasbord of salvation. A little bit of bread and wine fill us with both grace and encouragement and calls us to be encouragers.

CONCLUSION:

In Thursday November 1st's Real Life Adventures (Wise/Aldrich): A man and a woman are at work comparing notes about Halloween. The man asks: "What was your trick-or-treater count last night?"

She says: "Zero werewolves, zero vampires, zero goblins, and thirty-seven firefighters."

The caption under the cartoon reads: "This Halloween, good beat the stuffing out of evil." (4)

That's exactly what happened at the cross. "Good beat the stuffing out of evil."

Life defeated death, death just didn't know it yet. Sin was vanquished with a one two punch. The Bread of Life, Jesus, the innocent, sinless Son of God, willingly gave His life for us. He willingly took our place so our sins could be forgiven. What an incredible encouragement. What a wonder act of love and acceptance.

That's why this bread we share this morning is so important and so life giving. This bread and the wine that accompanies it, remind us of Christ's victory on the cross of Calvary and the victory of life over death. Through this Bread, the hungers that threaten to lead us astray have been taken away.

And we all have those kinds of hungers, hungers that threaten to swallow us up. But his bread offers the basics: love, acceptance and encouragement.

Nicodemus came looking for that bread in the middle of the night. He was afraid to be seen at the bakery of heaven. But cloaked in darkness he was found and fed by the Bread of Life.

The woman at the well was hungry for the bread of meaning and purpose. The Bread of unconditional love. She looked for it at the well in Samaria. She looked for it in five failed marriages. But she found it in the hands and words of a total stranger, who offered her the Water of life as well as the Bread of life.

The man born blind came searching for the forgiveness of sins he didn't commit. He came seeking healing and sight. He hungered deeply for that Bread, a bread that would take away the stigma of outcast. And not only did he find it. But he saw the face of the Bread of Life. He SAW Jesus.

Mary and her sister, Martha, came searching for the Bread that would cause the anguished hunger of their grief to cease, when their brother, Lazarus, had died. And they tasted of this Bread and they tasted of the promise this Bread holds for each and everyone of us, when Lazarus stepped forth from the tomb.

What hunger is there in your life? Whatever it is, let the Son of God feed you with the Bread of Life. the bread He offers is contains all the basics: love, acceptance and encouragement.

Come and taste the Bread of Life.

1. The Houston Chronicle, July 29, 1992, p. 9F

2. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), April 1984

3. Daily Uplink Palm Devotional for Nov. 2, 2001. www.tln.com/uplink/

4. Real Life Adventures (Wise/Aldrich), Nov 1, 2001