Includes Sermon Audio
ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Today’s readings: 2 Sam 11.26 – 12.13 Psalm 51 1 – 12 Ephesians 4 1 – 16 John 6.24 – 35
Sentence: Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Each what is good, and delight yourself in rich food. Isaiah 55.2
Collect of the day
Living God, whose son Jesus fed the hungry with the bread of his life and the word of his kingdom, renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us with your true and living bread, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God now and forever. Amen
A thought to ponder upon – John 6 24 – 35
verse 6: 31 sustains links with (1) the exodus and the Passover month. (2) the characterisation of Jesus is the prophet like Moses, and (3) the expectation that God would provide the manna once again the messianic age.
The true bread from heaven would be something that nourishes people eternally and spiritually and thus is infinitely superior to the manna given to the Israelites in the wilderness, which was able to meet only the temporal, physical needs. Jesus identifies himself as this “true bread”.
Jesus’s claim, “I am the bread of life” constitutes the first of seven “I am” sayings recorded in this gospel. Apart from these sayings there are also several absolute statements where Jesus refers to himself as “I am” in keeping with the reference to God as “I am” in Exodus 3: 14 and the book of Isaiah.
Jesus is the bread of life for in the sense that he nourishes people spiritually and satisfies the deep spiritual long of their souls, in that sense, those who trust in him longer go hungry, that is, their spiritual longing to know God will be satisfied (John 4: 14 also speaks of satisfying people spiritual thirst).
The Reverend Josie Steytler preaches on John 6:1-21 after the gospel reading.
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