4th Sunday after Trinity – Sermon 21

Prayer to start

May the words of my lips and the thought of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
AMEN

Introduction

What did you have for Lunch today? Traditional Sunday roast? – or – something a little less weighty like a cup of coffee and a sandwich? – or perhaps you had a meal out –

What we eat each day is just one of the many choices we make in life –

There are many others –

where we live – who we share our lives with – how we spend our time – Some choices are harder than others –
In our NT reading Jesus gives His followers some hard choices to make

we are going to look at what Jesus is saying and why – and see what it means for us

Point 1

Jesus is preaching in the Synagogue at Capernaum – at the northern end of Lake Gallillee – situated near the main trade route between Egypt and Damascus – People came from miles around to see and hear Him

– They had seen the signs He had performed – in healing the sick – and wanted to know more
– but He didn’t give them an easy ride – He preached to them on one of the most weighty and important truths in the Christian faith – that the way to salvation and eternal life is through Him

"The bread that I shall give shall be my own flesh, given for the life of the world"

"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise Him up on the last day”

Jesus uses the language of food and drink to get His teaching across – the words He uses might seem quite strange to us – even grotesque – one uninformed Critic called it "Cannabalism in a Christian dress" –

but to the Jews Jesus’ words would have a familiar ring that touched on ideas that go back to the very beginnings of their race and to ancient sacrifice

When the sacrificial animal was offered to God – it was held that God had entered into the flesh – and therefore when the worshipper ate part of the sacrifice – he was supposed to be literally taking God into his inner most being – and would emerge God-filled

But Jesus wasn’t referring to eating and drinking in a literal sense – this would have been utterly revolting to the Jews – and in flat contradiction to their laws – So what did He mean?

– the "flesh and blood of the Son of man" refers to the sacrifice of Jesus’ own body which He offered up on the cross – Jesus who has never sinned was sent by God to accept the punishment that we deserved – and to die for our sins once and for all on the cross – so we might be reconciled back to Him – although the separation is our fault – God gave us the cross as a way back to Him

It is only when God Himself deals with the sin that affronts Him – that forgiveness can be experienced –

we cannot simply shrug off the guilt – because we believe that God’s anger against sin really matters – and we cannot take lightly what God takes so seriously –

So through the cross an entirely new relationship is established with God – and we can now meet God through Jesus – who leads us to a new freedom and life

"eating and drinking" without which there can be no life in us – means receiving Christ’s sacrifice – an inward spiritual act of receiving Jesus into our lives – we feed on Him by faith –

To "eat" His body is to feed on the realisation that Jesus Himself has lived through our struggles –

To "drink" His blood means to take His life inside us – to feed on Him is to have faith that He is sound nourishment to us – until we ourselves are strengthened and renewed.

ordinary food perishes as we use it – and only the bread which comes from Heaven can give us heavenly blessings – It’s the Spirit of God which gives life – only when we allow Jesus to become part of us – and allow Him to change us – shall we have eternal life

Point 2

The reason for this "hard saying" is that Jesus is challenging His hearers to move towards a deeper devotion and more committed disciple ship – Jesus wants us to accept the fruits of His death – For its no use to us that His sacrifice was once offered if we don’t feed on Him –

We could think of it in this way – If we are given a book by a friend but we don’t read it straight away – and we put it in a bookcase – while it stays in the bookcase – it remains unread – and in a sense outside of us – But when we read the book – absorb its contents – what we read goes inside and stays with us – becomes part of us – influences and enriches us –

Its like that with any great possession and experience in life – and so it is with Jesus – Jesus is the life of God and as long as He remains a figure or a teacher in a book – He remains external – but when He enters inside us – and we allow Him to be part of us – we can feed on the life, strength and vitality He gives us

In verse 60 – John tells us that many turned away from this challenge

" This is more than we can stand – How can anyone listen to such talk"

They had come to Jesus to get something from Him – and when it came to giving something back they quit

Its not that they found it difficult to understand – its that they didn’t want to understand – because they realised they would open themselves up to a challenge they would rather not receive – they preferred to stay with their worldly comforts –

In Galilee the crowds had flocked round Him everyday – but from now on – the tone of things would change – there would be a growing hatred of Him – which was going to culminate in Jesus’ death –

Point 3

But in this passage we also have John’s version of Peter’s confession at Ceasarea Phillipi – To Peter the answer to Jesus’ question was simple – there was no one else to go to

there are many things Peter didn’t know or understand – and at times he was just as bewildered as the rest of us – but there was something about Jesus for which He was willing to give everything –

There is no one – that can give us as much as Jesus – but if we come to Him to get and never to give we will certainly turn back – because those who follow Him never lose sight of the reality of the cross

faith in Jesus is a personal act – Peter’s loyalty was based on his personal relationship with Jesus – no one can eat or drink for us – no one can believe for us – Just as we eat food everyday to keep our bodies alive – so we need to be fed by Jesus everyday – to sustain our spiritual growth – through prayer and Bible reading – not once a week – or once a month – but everyday – so we will feel strengthened nourished and refreshed

Christ alone can give us purpose and direction – His words are the spirit for life and the strength of life –

No one can accept Jesus unless he is moved by the Spirit of God to do so – we must not resist that Spirit – – if we do – we will not be shut out by God – but shut out by ourselves

Conclusions

There have been many great teachers and philosophers throughout history – Moses, Plato, Einstein – but they would all say – don’t look at me – look at my teaching its more important – but Jesus is different – He brought us Himself as the way back to God –

“I am the way, the truth, and the life – no one comes to the Father, except through me”

He also says "follow me" – no discussion – no debate –

to be His disciple we must put Him first – not turn away like those followers in our readings – but make a personal commitment like Peter –

Jesus tells us eternal life is not about what we choose but who

Jesus said,

“I am the living bread, that has come down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live for ever"

So if we want eternal life there is only one choice to make – and that’s to put Jesus at the centre of our lives – and feed on Him in faith and thanksgiving

Prayer to finish

In the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit

AMEN