John 6:35,41-51 is part of the lengthy “bread of
life” discourse in which Jesus shows that he is the only way we can satisfy the
hunger we have in our souls. Hunger is a powerful motivator. When we are
physically hungry, we get something to eat. When we are spiritually hungry, we
look for something to satisfy it. Just like there is physical food that can
best be described as junk food, there is also spiritual food that can also be
described as junk food. Take, for example, some TV evangelists. I know of one
who promotes the physical and material blessings you will receive if you call
in and order his prayer handkerchief.
We
all suffer from soul hunger. We all hunger for something more in life. Some
people try to satisfy their spiritual hunger through beauty, power, prestige,
sex, drugs, alcohol or other worldly means. The world’s way is the way to
sorrow and despair. You only have to consider what happened to people such as
Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker,
and John Belushi to see what happens when people try to satisfy spiritual
hunger by worldly means. Jim Bakker lost his ministry and was sent to prison,
Jimmy Swaggart lost his ministry in disgrace and the others died from drug and/or
alcohol abuse.
On
the other hand, Jesus offers to fill us with his love. Only he can save our
souls, change our tomorrows and grant us peace and joy for today. Jesus takes
the initiative in our salvation, even if we confess him as our Lord and Saviour.
He creates a longing within us. His love and presence and the difficulties he
allows to enter into our lives force us to open up to him. Jesus takes the
initiative and we choose to cooperate with him. That is the very definition of
the Christian life.
God
works in us to create spiritual hunger because he loves us and wants us to get
to know him and love him in return. He uses the spiritual hunger to convict us
of our sin and convince us to turn to him.
There
are parallels between the manna God gave to the Israelites in the desert and
Jesus. The manna came at night, and Jesus comes into our spiritual darkness.
Manna was God’s gift to the Israelites, and Jesus is God’s gift to us. All we
have to do is claim it for ourselves, and we will never be spiritually hungry
again. The manna from heaven was associated in the minds of the Jews with the
giving of divine teaching, and Jesus sees his own teaching as being just as
essential as our daily bread.
We
need to receive Jesus’ spiritual food on a regular basis, just like the
Israelites needed to receive the manna and quail from God every day. Without
it, we will always be spiritually hungry. We can’t get enough spiritual food by
going to church only at Christmas or Easter or on special occasions such as
weddings, funerals, baptisms or confirmations. Our spiritual hunger can only be
satisfied by regularly studying God’s Word and applying it to our lives. This
means regular attendance at Sunday worship services, including services such as
the ones here at Queens Manor.
In
order to live with Christ, we have to die to our worldly way of life and take
up his life-a life of forgiveness, goodness, trust and service. If we are
grounded in Christ’s unconditional love, we are free to lead like Jesus and
love and serve others. It will not be easy, but God has drawn us to faith in
him, and that faith will sustain us.
1. Stanley, C.F.; The
Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas
Nelson, Inc.; 2009)
5. Billy Graham, “How Do I Begin to Give God a Chance?”
Retrieved from www.arcamax.com/news/billygraham/s-533004-396571
6.
Billy Graham,
“Who or What is the Holy Spirit?” Retrieved from www.arcamax.com/news/billygraham/s-841447-120453
8.
Jude
Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 19th Sunday (B)”. Retrieved
from www.preacherexchange.org.
9.
Matthew Henry
Concise Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker Bible software package.
10.
John Kenrick,
O.P., “Do Not Waver, Hold Fast”. Retrieved from http://torch.op.org/preaching_sermon_item.php?sermon=5697
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