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Jesus Is the Bread of Life

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Chris Sicks
October 22, 2023

Sermon Manuscript

Jesus Feeds our Souls in the Sacrament of Communion


John 6:51-57; 66–69
Pastor Chris Sicks

Tonight we will celebrate the sacrament of communion.
To help us see him more clearly, Jesus gives us sacraments.
Sacraments are visible signs and seals of Christ’s finished work.
Sacraments remind us that through Jesus we are connected to God and to each other as a community of faith.
Before we celebrate the sacrament of communion, I want to read some verses from John chapter 6.
Here Jesus talks about the source of life that lasts forever.

John 6:51-57; 66–69
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant.
“How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.

53 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.
54 But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.
55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
57 I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.

66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.
67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.
69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

Jesus says repeatedly in John 6 that he is the bread of life.
What does that mean?
Jesus is saying to us all: “I am what you need.
You will find life in no one else and in nothing else.”
That’s why when we talk about the sacraments we have to avoid thinking that the grace of God comes from the elements.
In baptism the water itself has no power.
It isn’t holy water.
It is a picture of Christ.
Jesus is the one who washes us.
Therefore it isn’t important if the water is sprinkled on you, or is poured on you, or you go into the water.
More water does not give you more grace.
Jesus himself pours out abundant grace to us through the sacraments.

Eating a larger piece of this bread will not deliver more Jesus to you.
A bigger cup of juice won’t make you more spiritual.
God doesn’t put grace into the elements, and then you ingest grace by eating it.
We don’t believe that power comes to us through sacred objects.
We don’t baptize people with “holy water.”
We don’t serve “holy bread and wine.”
There’s no magical power at work here.
Instead, the water of baptism points you to Jesus who is holy, and who can actually cleanse souls.
The bread and wine of communion point you to Jesus.
He is our sacrificial Lamb who died to make you part of the covenant community in a permanent lasting way.
The Holy Spirit is the one who pours out spiritual blessings to strengthen and sustain you.
The power you need in your life is not in the bread and cup on this table.
God is the one with the power you need.
Look to Him!
Listen to what Jesus says in verse 35.
35 “I am the bread of life.
He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”


Jesus does not say “he who eats special bread” will never go hungry.
Instead Jesus says that anyone who “comes to me” and “he who believes” will never be hungry or thirsty.
When we serve you the bread we often say to you, “This is Christ’s body.”
Jesus used all kinds of pictures to help us understand who he is and what he means to us.
Jesus said “I am the door.”
Jesus said “I am the gate.”
Jesus also said “I am the Vine, the Shepherd, the Light of the world.”

Did Jesus ever turn himself into a door, or a vine? No.
But God knows we are visual learners.
We need imagery and metaphor and pictures to help us understand things.
That’s why Jesus says he is the Gate, the Door, the Way, and the Shepherd.
Jesus is also the Light, the Lamb, the Bread, the Bridegroom, the Vine.
1600 years ago, the African bishop Augustine defined the word sacrament.
Augustine said a sacrament is “an outward and visible sign of an inward and enduring grace.”
The water of baptism is a physical picture of being washed clean by Jesus.
This table is a visible sign that reminds us that Jesus is the source of true life.
Jesus is saying something that our stubborn hearts don’t want to believe.
We are very committed to our independence.
Not political independence, like when a country fights for freedom from colonial powers.
I’m talking about spiritual independence.
Our most basic sin is our desire for autonomy and freedom from God.
The sacraments are an antidote for the poisonous sin of pride.

Jesus says this in verse 53:
“unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.”
Jesus is saying this to us: “I am not a weekly appointment on your calendar.
I’m not a hobby.
I’m not a lifestyle choice you inherited from your parents.
I’m not a moderately important part of your life.
I AM your life!”

You are dependent on having food and drink several times a day, right?
You must eat and drink or you will die.
Jesus says: “You need me even more than that.
I am as fundamental to your existence as food and water.”
Look again at verses 55-56:
“55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.”

To the Jewish mind, the life of a person or an animal was in the blood.
When the lifeblood of an animal was poured out as a sacrifice, it paid for the penalty of sin.
I do understand why the words of Jesus about blood were confusing for some of the disciples.
Look again at John 6:66-69.
66 “At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.
67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.
69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.””

Jesus lost some followers because of this teaching, about eating his flesh and drinking his blood.
It was just too confusing, too hard to accept.
So they walked away.
But where did they go?
I hope some of them came back to Jesus.
I hope they realized what Peter understood.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
No one can come to the Father except through the Son.
That’s why Peter said in verse 68:
“Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.”

Where else can we go, my friends?
In John 6, Jesus says that true life comes by eating bread, by believing, by drinking the blood, and by hearing His words.
All of these images communicate the same message.
Jesus is the only source of true life.
The Scottish preacher Robert Bruce said, “in the preaching of the Word we are led to Christ by the ear, and in the sacraments we are led to Christ by the eye.”
The purpose of every part of worship is to lead you to Christ.
If you think you cannot find your way to God, Jesus says that he is the Way.
If God seems to be behind some kind of barrier, then Jesus is your Door.
If you are feeling the weight of your sin and failures, Jesus is the water that washes you and the blood that purifies you.
When Satan reminds of your sin and tries to burden you with guilt, remember your baptism and what it means.
When you are feeling lost, remember that Jesus is your Shepherd to guide you.
If you feel faint and weary he is the Vine that nourishes you.
If you are feeling weak and needy, Christ is the Bread that sustains you.

Let’s pray to him together now.
Jesus, we are the sheep of your pasture.
Thank you for being a good Shepherd who knows us, protects us, and feeds us.
Like stupid sheep, we do not learn well and we forget what we learn.
We need these different images, metaphors, pictures, to help our feeble human minds understand your love and mercy.
We are stubborn and want to go our own way.
Holy Spirit, remind us how much we need Jesus.
Father, remind us that we are children who depend on you for every good thing.
We pray this with hope in the powerful name of Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Amen.

God’s Word warns us that “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:27)
We must think carefully about this sacrament.

It is only for those who:
1. have examined their conscience,
2. who truly understand the nature of the body of Christ,
3. who have committed their entire life to following Him,
4. who are members of a bible-believing church.

Before you come to the table you must first come to Jesus in faith!
The apostle Paul teaches us in Romans 10:9-10:
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
We at this church cannot judge people’s hearts.
Ask the Holy Spirit to examine your heart.
If you are not sure about your relationship with Christ, do not participate in the sacrament.
Instead, please let us pray for you.
We love you and want you to join our community!
But first you must be joined to Christ, before you come to Christ’s table.
But please let us pray for you today.

On the night he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread.
He gave thanks to his Father.
Then he broke the bread and gave it to his disciples.
He said, “Take and eat.
This is my body which is broken for you.
Do this to remember me.”
In the same way, he also took the cup and said a prayer of thanks.
Then he gave it to the disciples, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sin.
Take and drink.
Do this to remember me.”

Let’s pray.
God of peace, you raised our Lord Jesus from the dead.
And you have made us alive in him, by washing us clean of our sin and shame.
Now God, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, help us to do only your will.
Help us live in a way that honors you and Jesus Christ our Savior.
To him be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.


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