I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE

Jesus’ words were offensive to people who thought they had “this God thing” figured out for themselves. From their perspective, they “had” Moses and the Law; what more did they need! It seems strange, but they did not understand what Jesus was talking about at all. At best, they were terribly misguided; in actuality, they were outright wrong. They “didn’t get it” regarding Moses, God, or their relationship to God.

From our perspective, however, they seem absolutely “clueless” like the men in the movie, “Dumb and Dumber.” Despite the fact that things weren’t going so well for them—Israel was under the thumb of Caesar, occupied by a Roman Army, and ruled by a puppet “Jewish king” who was nothing more than a willing lackey of the man who appointed him—they didn’t see what was wrong with their theological outlook or their “Plan of Salvation.” They rejected change, even a change from the tyranny of a secular ruler to the freedom of Christ! This is exactly what we mean when we say “we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.” The Old Adam’s will to be in charge of his destiny—even though he cannot be in charge of it—blinded the people who murmured against Jesus from seeing the Son of God for who He is while He is right in front of their eyes. And it stopped their ears from hearing His clear message: “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

Jesus’ isn’t making a point about being or not being intuitive, however. Jesus is making known the fact that God the Father has His own plan to save His people through His Son, and no one can or will deny the Father what He wills through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has already acted in the Incarnation of His Son: “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent me.” Christ’s death on the Cross—the giving of His flesh and the pouring out of His blood for the sin of the world—is God’s plan to draw all men—and that includes you and me—to Himself.

Moses cannot save you. The Law cannot save you. A vote at a church assembly cannot save you. And you cannot save yourself. Only the Bread of Life who came down from heaven can save you—and, praise God, He has through His death and resurrection. You have been called by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel, enlightened with His gift of Christ’s faith, and sanctified in His one true faith. You belong to Christ now. And that’s that. Amen.