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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.
In this Sunday’s Gospel text there are two levels of communication going on. This is characteristic of the Gospel of John, where there is always the message of the surface and then the message of the deeper level of the spirit. In this lesson we read about the “bread of life.” Jesus is not talking about literal bread, but about that which satisfies the hunger of a soul.
And aren’t our souls hungry? Is this hunger what lies behind the insatiable need to consume more and more?
At our home we receive a lot of catalogs advertising all sorts of things. I know you get them too. Have you “heard” the message of these catalogs with their attractive models and beautiful wares? Do you know what they really say? They say, “You’re not happy. And you won’t be happy until you have what we are selling. Look at us. Don’t we look happy? We are happy! But, you’re not, so place your order today!” And our garages and attics fill to the brim with stuff, and we numb ourselves with alcohol or frantic accumulation or in the hope of receiving accolades for our work, or in other empty pursuits, all the while trying to satisfy the hunger of the soul!
This reality makes this text from the Gospel of John so incredibly relevant. Jesus is the bread of life. Jesus is not magic and Jesus is not some form of insurance. Jesus is the bread of life that satisfies the hungry soul.
The hymn You Satisfy the Hungry Heart, sums it all up as we sing, “You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat. Come, give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.”
Come. Jesus wants you to come to His word, to His sacrament, to Him in prayer and supplication. He wants a relationship with you. He offers you friendship, understanding, consolation, love, hope, strength, forgiveness, the promise of eternity, the bread of life.
Come. Come to the One who satisfies the hungry heart.
P.S. Pr. Hannah uploaded a bunch of pictures from servant camp today. Read more about the groups activities a little further down in the grow section.
