As we make our way through these Bread Sundays, Jesus uses the image of bread to demonstrate that, even compared to all the great things God has done before, God’s greatest miracle is in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus, the bread of life, is a greater miracle than the manna God sent in the dessert, greater even than the loaves Jesus had just multiplied to feed a crowd! In Jesus, God gives bread for the journey—not only for this life, but also into eternal life. During our worship on Sunday, we sang these words from the cherished hymn “I Am the Bread of Life”:
“I am the bread of life. You who come to me shall not hunger,
and who believe in me shall not thirst.
No one can come to me unless the Father beckons.”
“And I will raise you up, and I will raise you up,
and I will raise you up on the last day.”
As I learned later that morning, we lost a beloved and faithful member of our congregation and another member, who was helping to lead the service, also lost a family member. Knowing that some whom we hold dear departed this life in the midst of our worship heightens the meaning of the words we sing, the meal we eat, the community we share, the faith we hold, and the way we follow. Jesus’ message is both outrageous and outrageously comforting: anyone who eats this bread will live forever. The Son of God meets us in this life and gives us real and certain hope for eternal life.
The scriptures for this Sunday are Psalm 34:1-8, Ephesians 4:25-5:2, and John 6:35, 41-51. Songs for this Sunday are “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever”, #485 “I Am the Bread of Life” vs. 1, 3 & 4, and “All the People Said Amen”. We give thanks to this week’s Worship Leaders, Production Crew, Musicians, and Pastor Armin!