John 6:24-35 NRSV
So when the crowd saw
that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got
into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
When they found him on
the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you
come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you,
you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you
ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that
perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the
Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has
set his seal.”Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform
the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work
of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So
they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that
we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our
ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He
gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to
them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the
bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread
from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down
from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him,
“Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I
am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and
whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Ephesians 4:1-16 NRSV
I therefore, the prisoner
in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which
you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with
patience, bearing with one another in love, making every
effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the
one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and
in all.
But each of us was given
grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore
it is said, “When
he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts
to his people.” (When it says, “He ascended,”
what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts
of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended
far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.)
The gifts he gave were
that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some
pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of
ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us
come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We
must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by
every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness
in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must
grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from
whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with
which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the
body’s growth in building itself up in love.
Both
Paul and Jesus are talking to their followers about a calling. A task
that is to be done. In each of today's scriptures we are not only
instructed about WHAT we are supposed to be doing on earth, but the
way we should approach the job at hand. Both Jesus and Paul are
trying hard to guide a wayward group of people – with their own
ideas and tendency to get their eyes off the ball. Are we really any
different from the crowds they were addressing in Capernaum and
Ephesus?
At
the beginning of our Gospel lesson today, we are picking up after
Jesus has fed 5000 with 5 barley loaves and 2 fish. The people are
amazed and excited and ready to make Jesus their king by force. So
Jesus has vanished. And the crowd piles into boats to go after him.
When they find him he indicates that they are more motivated by what
he did for them than the real substance of WHO he is. Verse 26 in The
Message is paraphrased as “You've come looking for me not because
you saw God in my actions but because I filled your stomachs – for
free.” And he is calling them (and us) to a higher level of
understanding. He wants us to strive for things that last, and not
the perishable things of the earth.
Paul,
from prison, is urging – even begging – the followers to get to
work! He says they need to live a life worthy of the calling they
have received. Once again – what is that calling? What are we
supposed to be doing here? In John, the crowd even asks “What must
we do to perform the works of God?” What – specifically – are
you asking us to do Jesus?
Have
you ever worked on a project with volunteers who needed a lot of
guidance? It takes about the same amount of patience that Jesus
had...which is about one more measure than I usually have. Recently I
was a part of the Kiwanis Club of Lynchburg's annual Shrimp Sale. We
sold 1450 pounds of shrimp which was picked up on the morning of
distribution day down in Oriental, NC by a member and chauffeured in
a refrigerated van in boxes of ice to the parking lot of Holy Cross
School. The club members then have the task of removing the ice and
weighing the shrimp into 1 pound bags for pickup by the people who
ordered. We've been doing the same fundraiser for several years and
have the process worked out so that we can go from 50 pound boxes of
icy shrimp to happy customers in under four hours.
The
problem with this year was that there didn't seem to be anyone in
charge of getting things set up to start bagging shrimp! I was in
charge of orders and check-in and money so I was there, but had to
get my station setup before the customers started driving through.
But I kept looking over at the weighing station seeing people
wandering and putting a box from here to there, and there to
here...yet there wasn't any shrimp going into bags? I walked over and
one of these grown people, who has worked the event for several
years, looked at me and said, “what should we be doing?” Jesus
would have approached it better than I did. And he would have left
out one of the words from my next sentence... “how about you start
putting shrimp in bags?” Jesus was patient with the question, “how
should we go about doing God's work?” He didn't pick up a bat and
say, “what did I JUST tell you people?” He tells them (again)
what the work assignment is “this is the work of God: believe in
him whom he has sent.” Believe in him who God has sent. Jesus says,
it's simple stupid – put the shrimp in the darn bags!
Even
easier than getting a dozen Kiwanians on task – your job is to
believe in Jesus. Just believe. Because if you believe – then it is
going to change you. Change the way you see the world. Change the way
you see the people around you. If you believe that Jesus is the
Messiah, sent from God. Listen to him. Hear what he is saying about
how we are to relate to each other in God's world. How we impact the
people around us. Believe. And then what?
Strangely,
even though this is the same crowd that just saw him feed 5000 people
with 5 loaves and 2 fish with baskets of leftovers...their next
question is “what sign are you going to perform for us now?” They
go on to babble about signs given to their ancestors in the form of
manna – bread from heaven – while their ancestors were in the
wilderness. “Hey Jesus! Sure, the trick with the bread and fish was
cool – but what is next? What wonder can you do NOW to prove you
are who you say you are?” Jesus should be lauded for not dropping a
giant loaf of sourdough on them.
We
can't believe in a Messiah that is only as good as his last miracle!
That isn't belief...that's just fandom. Are we here to be followers
of Jesus or just his fans? We've got to be in this for the long haul!
My father has been a fan of the Washington Redskins for most of his
78 years. That is through the good years AND the bad. And if you're a
fan of the Redskins, you've got to be able to tolerate years of
bad... As far as the NFL goes – I've been a fan of the Denver
Broncos when Elway was quarterback, I like Boomer Esiason and cheered
for the Bengals for awhile, I liked the Baltimore Colts but still
hold a grudge against the Indianapolis Colts. I'm a fan...and not
even a very good fan...not in any way a follower. I'm ready for the
next Superbowl win or gold medal. Fans are fickle. Jesus doesn't want
fans, he wants followers.
Believe
in him whom God sent. That is the task. And bless their hearts, the
crowd still doesn't quite get it. They are still focused on earthly
things. Jesus said that the manna wasn't from Moses, but from God and
that God was now offering them bread that comes from heaven that
gives life to the world. And the wandering Kiwanians said, “oh
cool, give us some of that!” “we want to have that all the time”
And
Jesus simply says, “I am that bread. Whoever comes to me won't be
hungry, whoever believes in my won't be thirsty.” Eugene Peterson's
The Message, which is a paraphrase, did not originally have verse
markings. In later editions, including the Biblegateway.com edition
that I use, the added verse numbers sometimes break up paragraphs in
different spots.
Often
that is the case because the paragraph and the thought continues on.
This final paragraph of today's gospel lesson is one of those
instances where Peterson saw how verses 36-38 completed the thought
begun in verse 35. Hear 35-38: Jesus said, “I
am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more
and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because
even though you have seen me in action, you don’t really believe
me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me.
And once that person is with me, I hold on and don’t let go. I came
down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will
of the One who sent me.”
This takes “believe” into a whole new level. He understood that
even though the crowd has seen him in action – they haven't taken
it to the next level of actually turning to God – running to him.
Diving into the sureness of truly believing that Jesus is the son of
the most high God.
Because
the crowd is just like we are – at least sometimes – our minds
are on the earthly things. And this is where we often get tripped up
in getting the job done that we were told to do – because if we
believe, then we are instructed to spread the word. Not out of
obligation but because you can't help it!
Like
the guy on the commercial who just keeps telling people how much he
saved on his car insurance – or the lady who won't stop talking
about the new man in her life who takes such good care of her and is
smarter/taller/faster than anyone she's ever met before. Or like me
when I find a great new restaurant or see a wonderful movie or read
an impactful book.
If
you've heard me speak before, it is likely you have heard stories
from my favorite book (besides the Bible and the Harry Potter series)
Tattoos on the Heart by Father Greg Boyle. The funny thing is that
even though I have now read it dozens of times (not exaggerating) and
have bought and given away about 80 copies...when my sister suggested
that I would enjoy it – I didn't try it right away! I'm kind of
stubborn like that. But once I did read it. I could not stop talking
about it and sharing it.
The
story of Jesus being sent by God to reconcile the world to him should
spark the same burning desire in us. We can't stop sharing it because
it has changed our lives. And that doesn't always mean that you need
to stand in a pulpit or on a street corner “proclaiming.” Doesn't
mean you've got to quote scriptures to your waitress or leave tracts
in the bathroom. You've got to find your own pathway.
That
is one my key takeaways from the passage from Ephesians today. Now
that we know WHAT we are supposed to do...HOW are we supposed to
approach the task? Hmmm...shrimp in bags...what process is required?
I will tell you what I wanted to shout that muggy Friday afternoon
standing on the asphalt of a parking lot when grown people were
wandering around with orange cones and duct tape. “I don't care HOW
you get it done...but these people are coming and will need their
shrimp...figure it out, find a process that works for you and get to
work.” “These people need God's love. You need to show them that
love. Figure out your process and get to work.
Because
although we are all called to get the same task done – Paul clearly
states that we will have different approaches. We need to find unity
– despite the fact we will all be given different gifts. Oh
man...Jesus, wouldn't it be easier to just tell us exactly how to do
it? Give us a formula, some blueprints, some rules. Man, humans sure
do seem to like rules. Not that we love following rules but it is so
much easier to tell when someone else is doing it WRONG! This is
where people thrive...pointing out the faults and defects.
Paul
says we need to get over ourselves. We've got to stop focusing on the
earthly stuff...which includes our own desires and egos and desperate
clinging to “my way is the right way and the only way and if you
don't do it my way which is the only right way, you are indeed
WRONG.”
Paul
says we are all on the same road and heading in the same direction
and that we are following the same God and are therefore saturated
with oneness. And yet, we don't have to all look and speak and act
the same. We are actually given a variety of gifts. You may be an
apostle or a teacher or prophet or leader...you need to take stock of
your gifts and find ways to stir them up and use them! Because God
didn't give you that gift to put in the closet and keep it for a
rainy day. He wants you to put that gift to use now! Have you ever
given someone a gift to see them smile and set it aside and you just
KNOW you are never going to see them wear that scarf you knitted or
see them serve cookies off the plate you chose so carefully. It is
disappointing isn't it? You want people to use and enjoy your gift!
A
couple of years ago my sister Denise was just beside herself when she
came to my house to celebrate my birthday. It is also my mother's
birthday, so I just assumed she had found something really cool for
mom. Denise is a very thoughtful gift giver. I wasn't even paying
that much attention when I unwrapped a strangely shaped heavy object.
When the paper was off, I realized that she had given me a
blowtorch!! Now, I understand this isn't a gift for everyone...but I
was so excited. I went straight into the kitchen and torched some
marshmallows and bruleed some sugar on a banana. The funny thing is –
Denise was just thrilled that I was excited. I don't know who had
more fun that evening...I think it was me, but she was glowing.
God
wants to see us use our gifts. He is glowing whenever we do! But
Paul's list of gifts in Ephesians is NOT ranked in order of
importance. It isn't indicating that one gift is better than any
others. And we know from the old testament that we aren't to
covet...so we need to let others use their gifts while we use ours.
Because this is truly the way that the followers will be able to
accomplish our goal. The way that we show the love of God in the
world. The way we transform the world by making disciples of Jesus
Christ. We work within the body until we're all moving together
rhythmically and easily, efficient and graceful.
Paul
has words of caution that we would be wise to hear once again, that
we be careful not to be children, tossed to and fro...blown about by
every wind of doctrine, trickery and deceitfulness. We need to be
more mature than that!
Verses
15-16 from the Message sum up the goal of HOW we work together: “God
wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like
Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source
of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very
breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow
up healthy in God, robust in love.”
Do it the way Jesus would...follow his lead...do his work with all
humility and gentleness, with patience bearing with one another in
love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace. Humilty, gentleness, patience, peace and love.
Search
out your gifts. Find the ways that you can use those gifts to show
everyone the truth. That God loves us and sent his Son as proof.
Let's rededicate ourselves to the task at hand.
As
we close this time of worship together I'd like to share a prayer in
the form of scripture. Sometimes when I don't know what to pray, I
turn to the Psalms and pray scripture instead. Close your eyes and
listen to a portion of Psalm 51...the psalm written by David after he
was confronted by Nathan about his affair with Bathsheba. As David
pours out his heart to God, seeking his forgiveness...pour out your
own heart feel God's loving embrace.
Generous
in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry.
I
know how bad I’ve been; my sins are staring me down.
You’re
the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all, seen the full
extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever you
decide about me is fair.
I’ve
been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before
I was born. What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter
me, then; conceive a new, true life.
Soak
me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll
have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these
once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t
look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God,
make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my
life.
Don’t
throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring
me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give
me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way
home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I’ll
sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton
my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.
Amen
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