John 6:22-35
On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
Grace, mercy and peace come to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today we explore Exodus 16 and John six. We started our journey in the wilderness with Moses and the Israelites, who relied on manna from heaven. This story highlights how God satisfies physical hunger that dates back to around the 14th to the 13th century BC. Fast forward to the first century AD, John, the beloved disciple, recounts how Jesus fed the 5000. This miracle led the crowd to seek more from him. They pursued Jesus, desire more physical food, and fish, but he redid directed their focus to the need for spiritual food. through the Scriptures, God reveals His unfailing provision for his people, both physically and spiritually. In Exodus 16, verses two through 15. The Israelites recently freed from slavery in Egypt, journey through the wilderness and begin grumbling against God, and are Moses and Aaron because they lacked food. They reminisce about the abundance in Egypt, where they had their fill of food and response God promised to provide for them, the Lord teaches them to rely on Him. The Lord tells Moses that he will rain down bread from heaven. For the people. This bread, known as manna, appears every morning, and the Israelites must gather it daily, taking only what they need for that day, the daily abundance gathering to test their obedience and trust in God. On the sixth day, they are together twice as much, because on the seventh day, it is the Sabbath, which they must rest. In the evening, God also provides Manna or quail, I should say, to cover the camp, offering meat for them to eat. The next morning, the Israelites find a man on the ground, described as a fine flaky substance. Like frost, Moses explains that is the bread the Lord has given them to eat. This miraculous provision demonstrates God's care and faithfulness in meeting the physical needs of his people in the wilderness. This manner miraculously meets their physical needs. Instructions on gathering mana appetizers, obedience and trust in God's provision. highlighting our day, daily dependence on God for both physical and spiritual needs. Just as the Israelites depended on God daily for mana. We must also trusting God for our needs. Our physical life and sustenance, jobs, homes and daily bread come from the grace his gracious hand. Every meal we eat, and every breath we take is a gift from our Creator. When we pray from Matthew six, verse 11, give us this daily bread. We acknowledge our dependence on God for everyday needs, and trust in His continuous provision for all aspects of our lives. The story of Elijah and the widow of Xero fath powerfully illustrates God provision and faithfulness even in dire circumstances. The story occurs during a severe drought and famine in Israel. A judgment brought about by God because people led by King Ahab had turned away from the Lord, to worship false gods. The false god all Elijah, a prophet of God had declared that there would be no rain except of His Word, causing great suffering. Bring in the land. After a while, the brook zero fats where Elijah had been hiding and receiving food from ravens stopped flowing. God then instructed Elijah to go to the town of zero path inside and outside Israel and the homeland of Jezebel, Ahab's wicked queen. God told Elijah that he had commanded a widow there to provide for him. As Elijah arrived at the gate and Sarah path, he encountered a widow gathering sticks. The widow was destitute, and the family had left her with very little. Elijah ask her for a drink of water and a piece of bread. The widow, likely astonished, replied that she had only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. She was preparing to make a final meal for herself and her son, after which she expected they would die of starvation. Despite the dire situation, Elijah asked the widow to first make him a small cake of bread, promising that God would provide her and her family. He declared that the jar of flour would not be used up, nor would the jug of oil run dry until the day the Lord had set rain up on the land. This bowl request required the widow to use the last of her resources on a stranger, trusting in God's provision recorded in First Kings chapter 17. The widow obeyed Elijah's word, demonstrating great faith. She made a small cake for Elijah, and then prepared food for herself and her son. Just has Elijah had promised the jar of flour and the jug of oil did not run out. They had enough food every day throughout the duration of the famine. This miraculous provision continued unto rain finally fell upon that land, ending the drought. The widow's willingness to obey Elijah's request, despite her desperate situation, exemplifies great faith. She treated God's promise. trusted God's promise through Elijah and her faith was rewarded with miraculous provision. God's provision extended beyond the borders of Israel to a Gentile woman in a foreign land. This foreshadows the includes tivity of God's salvation and care for all people, regardless of nationality, or status. Let us now reflect on what happened after Jesus fed the 5000 with the five barley loaves and two fish. The next day, the crowds sought Jesus and found him on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Like question him about how he arrived there. Jesus responded by putting, pointing out that they sought him not because they saw the miraculous signs, but hunger, but because they ate the lows and were filled. He urged them not to work not for perishable food, but for the food that he endures to eternal life, which he, the son of man would give them. Jesus has declared, I am the bread of life, Whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. The emphasis that he is a source of spiritual sustenance and eternal life. Contrast thing the temporary satisfaction of physical food, an enduring fulfillment found in him. Unlike the man that sustained physical life temporarily, Jesus up for eternal life through faith in Him. As we seek Jesus, we must look beyond our immediate physical needs to a spiritual hunger
Christ invites us to believe in Him to true bread from heaven, who satisfies our eternal hunger. Our faith in Jesus, nurtured through the Holy Spirit sustains us spiritually, offering us hope and eternal life. We trust God for our spiritual nourishment found in His Word and Sacraments, which sustain our faith and life in Christ. In Exodus, God's provision in physical manner, meeting physical hunger. This emphasis emphasizes our daily dependence for physical needs. The manner in miraculous food, sustain Israel's physical life. And the response involves physical actions such as gathering mana. Our physical needs are real. Philippians chapter four, verse 19, says, and my God will supply every need of yours, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. By faithfully, God faithfully provides for them each meal, every breath is a gift from our Creator. As the Israelites gathered daily, we should cultivate a habit of gratitude and reliance on God for our daily needs, trusting his continuous provision. In the Gospel of John, Jesus presents himself as the bread of life, providing spiritual and eternal life. He fulfills and surpasses the provision of manna, offering himself as a true bread from heaven, giving eternal life to believers. The response involves faith and belief in Jesus, which the Holy Spirit brings about. Second Corinthians chapter four, verse 18, says, and we look not to the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient. But the things that are unseen, are eternal. Jesus calls us to shift our focus from merely physical substance to spiritual nourishment. Faith in Jesus is paramount. And through him, we receive eternal life. Embrace the Bread of Life participating in the means of grace. The word and sacrament through which the Holy Spirit strengthens our faith and assures us of salvation. Jesus promise of eternal life provides a perspective that transcends our earthly existence. It assures us that despite physical death, we have an everlasting life with God. This hope reorients our lives, encourage us to live with an eternal perspective. Despite God's miraculous provision of mana in the desert, it was temporary, and eventually, those who ate it died. The physical mana sustained live for a time but could not prevent death. This teaches us to prioritize or spiritual nourishment. We are invited to partake in the word and Sacraments where Jesus, the bread of life is present. Our spiritual well being is essential. And in Christ, we find a true fulfillment that goes beyond our physical needs. Just as a Bread of Life offers something far greater than physical food, eternal life. Those who are partaking those who partake in this bread will live forever. For Christ's gift transcends earthly limitations. Jesus promised that eternal life offers hope, peace and assurance beyond this life. faith in Him assures that even though we die, we will eternally in him. Our ultimate god or ultimate hope lives not in earthly provisions, but in the eternal life promised by Jesus. This shapes our perspective and priorities, urging us to seek first the kingdom of God. By trusting in Jesus, the bread of life, we received not just as a sustenance for today, but the promise of eternal life, sustaining us through all life's trials and beyond. As we reflect on God's provision, for manna to the Messiah, let us remember his faithfulness in meeting both our physical and spiritual needs, our daily bread, an earthly salvation or gifts from his gracious hand. We trust in His provision, seek the true bread from heaven and find our ultimate fulfillment in Christ alone. God God's provision often manifests itself through community of believers. Just as the Israelites gathered mana together, let us support one another in our Faith Journeys. The church community provides a space where we share in God's provision, encouraging and uplifting each other. This communal, communal aspect of faith helps us all see God's provision through the care and support of fellow believers. As recipients of God's grace. We are called to be contoured conduits of His grace to others. This means being generous with our resources, showing compassion to those in need, and sharing the gospel message. Our faith in God's provision should inspire us to act in ways that reflect His love and care for the world. In conclusion, God provides both physical and spiritual needs temporary and eternal. Jesus the Bread of Life fulfills our deepest needs and offers us eternal life. We trust in God's provision daily, live with gratitude and support one another in the faith community. Our ultimate hope lies in the eternal life presented by Jesus which shapes our perspective and priorities. Let us pray. Dear God, as we journey from manna to Messiah, remind us that you provide for both our physical and spiritual needs. Our Daily Bread and eternal salvation are gifts from your gracious hand. Let us trust in your probation. Seek the true bread from heaven and find our fulfillment, ultimate fulfillment in Christ alone. In Jesus name, Amen.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai