THE ONLY BREAD I am the bread of

THE ONLY BREAD “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. ” Jesus in John 6: 35

The Christian Food Problem • Jesus had serious food issues • Peter • Early Church • 2 nd century Christians

Scarcity to Abundance Feeding of 5, 000 Disciples’ catch (initial call & post-resurrection) Turning water in to wine Elisha and the widow’s oil Samaritan woman at the well In a culture of abundance, how do we struggle with scarcity?

A Present Invitation MSG – “The real significance of that Scripture is not that Moses gave you bread from heaven but that my Father is right now offering you bread from heaven, the real bread. The bread of God came down out of heaven and is giving life to the world. ” 32 -33

Super Food Jesus during wilderness temptation – “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God. ” Jesus to disciples when they return from Samaritan village and find him talking to woman, “I have food to eat that you do not know about… My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. ” Jn 4: 32 -34

“If I had used even one tiny quantum of power to change those stones to bread, I might have next changed the dust to butter and the fallen leaves to jam. Do you sense there is a downward progress in the licenses you grant yourself? Appetites can tempt you to become totally self-serving. They can lure you to have what you want, when you want to have it. They can deceive you into believing that you no longer have to wait on anything. Finally you will become only the sum of all your cravings. ” Calvin Miller, Conversations with Jesus

“Drunkenness, gluttony, and infidelity, which seem gratifying at first, in the end bring only captivity. Addictions begin in the act of changing one little stone into one little loaf. ” Calvin Miller

Are we feasting on DEAD BREAD or LIVING BREAD?

Isaiah 55: 1 -2 Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. ESV

The Apocalyptic Meal “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. ” 1 Corin. 11: 26 “I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. ” Matt. 26: 29 “For I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. ” Luke 22: 16 & 18: “For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. ”

INVITATION TO THE TABLE Come and remember Christ is the Living Bread, the Only Bread. May he nourish our souls and be our strength for living.

YOUR CHALLENGE Observe a fast this week. Create space for Christ to nourish you in nonmaterial ways. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ” Matthew 5: 6