August 16th Pray - for Bread

August 16, 2015  Psalm 111, *John 6.51-58 “Pray - for Bread” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

This week was full of the excitement of Vacation Bible School. From the Shick Shack to the sanctuary we were surrounded by the most beautiful pictures and biblical words that remind us that God is creator, provider, protector, savior, and king! [slide # 1 VBS ]The week was intense and afterwards everyone needed a rest. [ slide #2 rest ]

In this morning’s lesson from the gospel of John, Jesus invites us along with the disciples to abide in him or to be with him in intense ways. We are invited to times of Vacation Bible School or spiritual retreats or Sunday worship or daily devotions that fills us to the brim with God’s presence and God’s goodness and whatever else God has for us.

He invites us to be full, [ slide #3 Jesus knocking] to eat of his flesh and drink of his blood, what we know as communion. We are invited to fully and intensely embrace the flesh and blood of Jesus. The crowd that gathered hearing these words of Jesus wondered what Jesus meant by eating his flesh and blood. They were thinking concretely. They were thinking of the flesh, the soft system of muscles and veins that cover our bones. They were thinking of the blood that comes out of our pores when our flesh is injured and damaged.

Jesus was not speaking concretely. He was speaking figuratively and spiritually. Jesus was inviting them to ingest his divine nature, to crave his righteousness, to feast on his words, to enjoy his directions, and to devour his love.  John 6. 57 ”Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, [ slide #4 abide in me] and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.”

We often remember what a wonderful thing it is to have Jesus in our hearts. But, this verse reminds us that we are also in the heart of Jesus, too.  “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me…or as the CEB version says: remains in me or is one with me as the CEV version says.

Our God carries us in his heart. We are close to the heart of God. It is common to see babies wrapped and strapped close to the body of a parent. [ slide # 5 baby wrapped] They are so close as to feel each other’s hearts beat. They are so close as to hear the pulse and the impulse of one another. Our God carries us in his heart. We are close to the heart of God. John 6. 57 ”Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. [slide #6 Resting on Jesus’ shoulder]

That is why when we complain to God about another child of God, we are offensive to God. That is why when we refuse to forgive and love another child of God, we are not forgiven; we are still indebted to God and one another. If we owe a debt of love, we ought to pay that debt. And, if we abide in him and he abides in us, we will have the strength and the insight to move in the direction of forgiveness and love. [ slide #7 if we really want to love….]

The older I get, the more complicated this world seems to be. Just when we think we have it all figured out, we see the devil has new tricks up his sleeve that shock and confound us. You may have seen in this week’s news that this young Mississippi couple, Jaelyn Young and Muhammed Dakhlalla.  [ slide #8 photos of couple] described by one judge as “sheltered” got married and planned to have their honeymoon in Syria and join Isis.  The news reminds us that every family needs the light of Jesus, because dark clouds can arrive at any time.

We cannot escape the dark of this world. Dark clouds are to be expected every now and then. The only way to be secure in the dark is to stay close to the one who is the light of the world, the one who shows us the way, who reveals to us the truth, and who defeats death with life. He is the bread of life!

Let this be the day that you remember you are close to the heart of God and there is love and light enough to see your way through the deepest darkness. Let this be the day you remember to turn to God no matter what. [ slide #9 u  turn ] Amen.