“My usefulness was the last idol that I was willing to give up.”
Cotton Mather
Last Sunday, we continued our examination of John chapter six. It contains an amazing and quite extensive discourse on Jesus as the bread of life, the living bread, and the bread that comes down from heaven. The Jews who would have none of these claims. They knew that Jesus was the son of Joseph and Mary. Jesus invited them to draw their sustenance from himself and not from earthly loaves. He was better than manna as manna could spoil and was designed only to sustain the flesh. It was his flesh which could secure eternal blessing for them. Regarding invitations and offers of salvation, Isaiah said:
- 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.
- 3Incline your ear, and come to me;
- hear, that your soul may live;
- and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
- my steadfast, sure love for David. [Isaiah 55:2-3]
God the Father was fulfilling his promise to David. He was providing an everlasting covenant through Jesus Christ. The synagogue leaders in Capernaum (see v. 59) were not interested in following Christ and were grumbling at the implications of his statements. The Lord was calling them to obedience. They must “hear” that their souls “may live.” But they would have none of it. Where are you today? Have you responded to Christ? Have you turned from the various breads of the world to the living bread that not only sustains life but imparts it as well. Have a blessed week and we will see many of you on Sunday.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
