Sermon for Pentecost 11: "First Course: Contentment in Christ"

 + 11^th Sunday after Pentecost – August 4^th, 2024 +

Series B: Exodus 16:2-15; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:22-35

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Milton, WA

 

 

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

A few years back some friends invited our family over for a French-style multi-course dinner. The first course was an incredible, fresh-from-the-garden salad. The second course, pan-seared scallops. And the third course was a melt-in-your-mouth tuna steak. Sometimes a meal is so good you have to take your time and savor each bite that comes your way.

 

John 6 is like that, only better. For the cook is the top Chef of chefs. He is at the Bread of Life and the one who gives us life in daily bread at his table and yours. Today, and the following two Sundays, Jesus’ words in John 6 are spread before us like a lavish 3-course meal. 

 

At the heart of this meal, at the center of this table is the Lord of the feast, Jesus. Jesus is the Bread of Life who feeds us with his promises. Jesus’ promises – his words – are our food, our life. 

 

In the first course he feeds us in his faithfulness. The contentment and satisfaction we so often long for is found only in him. Jesus is both: the giver and the gift. He gives faith, life, and promises. When we get to the second course next week, we feast on the words of Jesus who gives his flesh for us. And the following week, in the third course of Jesus’ teaching in John 6, we will dine at the table of forgiveness in Jesus’ flesh and blood, and look forward to the never-ending wedding feast in the resurrection.

 

So, like all good meals, let’s slow down. Take our time. Savor the words and promises of our Savior in the first course of John 6:

 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking 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 to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

 

According to Jesus there are two food groups. Food that perishes. And food of the promise. Food that is fleeting. And food that endures. Food that leads to death (or staves it off for a while). And food that gives life, now and forever.

 

The crowds saw the signs, and followed, but missed the One to whom they pointed. Sure, they found Jesus. But what they were really after was the bread and the fish. Their spiritual GPS was broken. So is ours. Like Jack Sparrow’s compass in Pirates of the Caribbean, our internal needle always bends inward; we’re spiritual navel-gazers. Their mouth and heart, like ours, is curved in on our own Self-loving. Self-serving. Self-seeking ways. Sin and death have a gluttonous, gravitational pull on us, always dragging us down. From our belly or our eyes, or our ears, or our thoughts, words, and deeds, all the way down to grave. We have an appetite for destruction.

 

And this, Jesus says, is the food that perishes. That longing that we never seem to find. The hunger we can’t satisfy. The thirst we cannot quench. The contentment just beyond our reach. It’s always a recipe for ruin. St. Augustine put it this way: our hearts are restless, O Lord, until we find our rest in Thee. We’re right there with the crowds enjoying the bread and fish when they were given to point us to the Giver, the Chef, Jesus and his grace and mercy. 

Jesus isn’t telling us not to pray for daily bread. The manna Israel ate in the wilderness was good. The bread and fish the crowds ate was good. The food and daily bread we pray for and God gives us is good. But none of it will save us. It’ll quiet the rumbling in our stomach but it won’t reconcile us to God. It’ll stop us from being hangry, but it won’t make us holy. It’ll stave off starvation but it won’t bring salvation. 

 

There is, however, a food that will. That endures. Forgives. Heals. Reconciles. Justifies. Declares you holy and righteous. That will give you eternal, ever-lasting, never-ending satisfaction. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 

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.” 

This is the promise Jesus gives you in this first course of John 6. Jesus and his word. His promise is your food, your bread, your life. And this promise is also a person. The Giver of this food is himself the food that is given. His word is your life. His life and flesh and blood are your life. 

 

Jesus, the Chef of God’s mercy, gives his life for you. Here on this hill in John 6, Jesus gives life by his word. In his promises. Later, on another hill outside of Jerusalem, Jesus gave his life and flesh and blood for you. That’s where he laid down his life in self-denial, taking all our self-ish, self-seeking sin upon himself. That’s where Jesus hungered and thirsted so that whoever believes in him will be filled with his promise, satisfied with his salvation, and content in his cross and resurrection. That’s where the Son of Man was lifted up that all who look to him would have eternal life.

 

Here in John 6, Jesus the Bread of Life feeds us with his promises. His promise is our food. I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. His word sustains, satisfies, and saves us. And like any good meal, save your fork. There’s more. 

 

The bread and fish and feeding of the thousands was a foretaste of a better feast to come. A sign that points to another table and a greater feast. To the night when Jesus was betrayed and took bread. Blessed it. Broke it. Gave it to his disciples, along with another promise. This bread. This is my body. This cup of wine. This is my blood. Take, eat. Take, drink. 

 

Here is Jesus the Bread of Life. The Giver and the gift all at once. Bread and Body for you. Flesh and forgiveness for you. Wine and blood poured out for you. Here is the bread and wine and flesh and blood of the Son of God come down to earth from heaven for you. Here is the food of forgiveness, promise, and true contentment in Jesus the Bread of Life. Come, eat, drink. Be satisfied. For the Chef has prepared a feast and whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 

 

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.