This time we begin a new series on the 7 “I AM” statements of Jesus found in the gospel of John.  Each statement reveals something more about Jesus; challenges our concept of Jesus and encourages us to think and feel our way through our relationship with Jesus. Today we begin with the first “I am” statement, found in John chapter 6 “I am the bread of life.”  The full passage is John 6:25-59.

Shortly before this, Jesus has miraculously fed 5000 people by multiplying a simple lunch.  The people following Jesus are expecting more of the same.  Based on their understanding of Jesus and the recent provision of physical food, the crowd challenges Jesus to provide another sign and refers to the miracle of manna in Exodus 16 where the Israelites were miraculously supplied with food for the duration of the wilderness wanderings.  In answering the crowd Jesus re-directs their line of thinking by explaining that it wasn’t Moses who gave them food to eat, it was God the Father who supplied their needs.  The people understandably request this bread from God.  However, they don’t expect the answer Jesus gives.  Jesus says “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)

Physical food helps provide life for a while, as the body is healthy, but the real bread of heaven is Jesus himself who has come from heaven to give life to the world. Jesus is asserting that he is the answer for humanity’s desires[1] though not strictly their physical desires.  The implication is that God has created people to be in relationship with him and that all people have a desire for forgiveness[2] and eternal life, just as they have a hunger for food.[3]  “Hunger and thirst are metaphors for the human need to know God, and knowing God is the present experience of eternal life (17:3). Those who come to Jesus, i.e. those who believe in him, are brought into relationship with God and their hunger and thirst to know God are satisfied.”[4]

Jesus continues his explanation of the bread of life (verses 47-51) and moves the concept one step further.  You’ve probably heard of the popular meat replacement called beyond meat.  Well here Jesus is trying to get the crowd to think beyond bread, so he connects the concept of the bread of life with eternal life.  He illustrates this by explaining that while the manna in Exodus provided physical nourishment, those who ate of it still died a physical death. People who would come to Jesus need to get beyond the bread (the physical) to Jesus himself.

Jesus is the living bread.  Those who eat this bread will have eternal life with him. Many in the crowd take this statement literally and thinks Jesus is introducing some sort of bizarre cannibalistic cult by saying they must not only eat his flesh, but also drink his blood. This sounds weird to just about anyone, but to the Jews it was downright heretical as they were forbidden from eating blood. Why would Jesus make this statement so unpalatable?  Jesus is speaking on two levels here; those who trust Jesus will understand or come to understand his metaphorical language.  Those who do not believe will only hear the literal meaning. This statement depends on Jesus’ death, which has not yet happened in John’s gospel.  In a very real sense, those who follow Jesus must accept and participate in his broken body and his shed blood at the cross.[5] Spiritually, those who believe in Jesus and accept his sacrifice are incorporated into the body of Christ.

By giving these strong statements Jesus is challenging the crowd. Indeed, after this episode many of those who had followed Jesus to this point turned back and no longer followed him (John 6:66). They couldn’t get past the strange language to hear what Jesus was saying. Still, why would Jesus seem to drive away many in the crowd? Jesus is not looking for fans.  He is looking for followers who will believe in him, follow him, trust him, and live for the Kingdom of Heaven.  Getting back to the flesh and blood metaphor, what is Jesus calling for?  “When this metaphor is unpacked, it means that Jesus is the source of true satisfaction; belief in him who gave his life for the world is the only way to satisfy human hunger and thirst for God.”[6]

It must have been incredibly confusing for the 12 disciples.  At this point they did not fully understand what Jesus was saying, but they trusted him and though many abandoned Jesus at this point, the 12 disciples did not.  “The twelve…though they have no clear grasp as yet how Jesus can be the bread which came down from heaven to bring man eternal life, or how eternal life can and must result from his death, do not leave him, for they are very sure that His words, though difficult to understand, are vital.”[7]

This is the challenge of faith – believing what we cannot prove yet trust to be true. Jesus is the bread of life; the spiritual food that gives eternal life.  Our challenge today is to consider our response to Jesus.  There’s no quick fix, but look to Jesus, believe in him, follow him, and you will find the food you are looking for.


[1] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 316
[2] R.V.G. Tasker, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: The Gospel According to St. John. Grand Rapids, Michigan, Eerdamans Publishing Company, 1981, pg 93
[3] Arrington and Stronstad eds, Life in the Spirit New Testament Commentary 1999, pg 37
[4] Kruse, C. G. (2003). John: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 4, p. 170). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[5] R.V.G. Tasker, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: The Gospel According to St. John. Grand Rapids, Michigan, Eerdamans Publishing Company, 1981, pg 93
[6] Kruse, C. G. (2003). John: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 4, p. 175). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[7] R.V.G. Tasker, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: The Gospel According to St. John. Grand Rapids, Michigan, Eerdamans Publishing Company, 1981, pg 97

This time, we are finishing our series on the 7 messages to the church in Revelation.[1]  As we finish the series I’d like to begin with a short recap of each of the 7 messages from Eugene Peterson: “The churches are affirmed for untiring, unflagging and vigilant work (Ephesus); for brave suffering (Smyrna); for courageous witness (Pergamum); for growing and developing discipleship (Thyatira); and for brave steadfastness (Philadelphia)…But “they are corrected for abandoning their first zestful love of Christ (Ephesus); being indifferent to heretical teaching (Pergamum); being tolerant of immorality (Thyatira); being apathetic (Sardis); letting luxurious riches substitute for life in the Spirit (Laodicea).”[2]
 
This summary of the 7 messages gives a sneak preview of today’s message as we are looking at the seventh and final message; to the church at Laodicea.
 
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

This message is perhaps the most well known of the seven messages as it contains the famous words “I stand at the door and knock.”  However, there are no commendations offered to this church.  After the greeting, Jesus gets right into the problems in this church. 

Just 6 miles away from Laodicea is the city of Hierapolis, famous for natural hot springs with healing mineral waters.  10 miles away is the city of Colossae, known for its cold refreshing drinking water.  However, Laodicea has no source of hot or cold water.  The mineral water of Hierapolis flowed towards Laodicea but by the time it arrived, it was lukewarm.  Drinking water for the city had to be drawn in from miles away by a system of pipes, by the time it arrived it was lukewarm.

Spiritually, lukewarm is an apt description for the church at Laodicea. They express mild approval for Jesus but little more. C.S. Lewis says that those who actually encountered Jesus generally had 3 responses: “hatred, terror, adoration. There was no trace of people expressing mild approval.”[3] The Laodiceans have accommodated to the local culture and are comfortable with a private individual faith that doesn’t express itself in the activities of day to day life. The response to the lukewarm church at Laodicea from Jesus is sharp “I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

There are a few reasons the Laodiceans have adopted this lukewarm attitude.  They say ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’” (Rev 3:17)  Laodicea was known for its wealthy banks.  They were a rich city.  They were known for having some of the best clothing around, they were well dressed.  Finally, they had a famous medical school that had developed an eye salve believed to heal weak or failing eyesight.  All of this added up to an attitude of self-sufficiency.[4]  This reminds me very much of our own Canadian culture.  In a generally wealthy culture we would like to believe we are self sufficient.  If we don’t have it, we can buy it. 

The Laodiceans believed that not only were they physical self sufficient, they were also spiritually self-sufficient.  They have substituted a vibrant life with Jesus for a life of wealth and self sufficiency.  Jesus responds to this attitude: “But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Rev 3:17) Jesus advises: They should ‘buy’ gold, clothes and eye salve from him.  Of course, the real riches of life cannot be purchased.  It is only though grace that people can be saved.  Only Jesus provides the spiritual clothes that cover the shame of nakedness caused by sin. Only Jesus can provide spiritual eyesight. 
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It may seem like it, but Jesus here is not angry, he is reaching out in compassion.  He is offering what is lacking.  Jesus says “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”  Now here is the famous line: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”  This line has become synonymous with evangelism, but Jesus is speaking to people who are Christians.  How strange that those calling themselves Christians have shut the door on Jesus.  Thus, we discover the reason the church at Laodicea is lukewarm.  They have excluded Jesus. 

Yet, Jesus has not abandoned them.  The solution to the lukewarm church or lukewarm faith is straightforward.  Invite Jesus back in.  Jesus will come in and eat with that person, which is a Middle Eastern way of saying that Jesus will establish a relationship and covenant with that person.[5]  Finally, not only will Jesus eat with that person, they will be lifted up with him to the throne of God. 

This takes us back to the opening greeting of this message. ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.”  Jesus is saying that he is “the utterly trustworthy foundation of life”[6], he is the real deal.  The Greek word for beginning used here is arche, meaning the origin of a sequence or “that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause.”[7]  Jesus is saying he is the source and origin of all life.  His blood flows in our veins.  We were created by him and designed for a relationship with him.    Is it any wonder that we cannot escape Jesus?  Him image is stamped on every cell of our bodies and every cell of creation.  What an amazing picture!

Let me summarize this message and this series from one of the commentaries I’ve been reading: “…the message of Jesus into the lives of the members of the seven churches leaves nothing intact.  It insists on vital changes not only at the individual level, but also at the social level of “structures that enslave and deceive the people.  That is to say, the religious aspect of life is so interrelated with other aspects, economic, civic, and legal – even in our so called ‘secular’ world – that a religious change effected by Jesus would have to affect the rest of existence.””[8]

People cannot exclude Jesus from all or part their lives and expect to have a vibrant faith.  A lukewarm faith is troublesome because “Given who he is, Jesus Christ deserves a vigorous, robust, wholehearted zeal.”[9]  The call from Jesus is clear: Let me in!
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What is your response to Jesus?  He stands at the door of every heart and knocks. Perhaps you’ve never invited Jesus in.  Will you invite him in now?  Maybe you’ve invited Jesus in, but you’ve drifted away over time, or you’ve only ever allowed Jesus into the living room of your life. Will you invite Jesus into the rest of your life; into the rooms called money, sex, past wounds, bitterness, family and time? Only through Jesus, the origin and creator of all life, can our desires be properly and truly satisfied.  Only Jesus is the true source of all that we need and desire in life.  Open the door and he will come in!


[1] Again I am highly indebted to a book called Discipleship on the Edge by Darrell Johnson for this series.  Most of the ideas and research I have presented in this series are his. 
[2] Craig L. Blomberg From Pentecost to Patmos: An Introduction to Acts through Revelation, pg 525 quoting Eugene Peterson Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of John and the Praying Imagination, pg 51, 52
[3] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge, pg 118
[4] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge, pg 122
[5] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge, pg 125
[6] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge, pg 116
[7] Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
[8] Craig L. Blomberg From Pentecost to Patmos: An Introduction to Acts through Revelation, pg 525
[9] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge, pg 121

Have you ever looked back over the situations and circumstances in your life and marvelled at how it all worked out in the end?   So many fine details and yet so much synchronicity!

Some people call this “coincidence” (definition: a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection; apparently just random happenings).  But, truthfully, there is no such thing as coincidence when our lives are lovingly and carefully DIRECTED by ALMIGHTY GOD!
 
Because God loves us and is intimately concerned with even the smallest details of our lives, God directs our lives by His Holy Spirit, through His word, and even through people, places and circumstances that seem unpredictable or unexpected to us.  Romans 8:28 reminds us that, “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”  He is just waiting for us to acknowledge His presence and to follow His lead.

In our passage today, we see that when God’s direction can involve some surprisingly supernatural methods such as angelic visitation and the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  But, this ought not surprise us as God has already supernaturally communicated His love and His plans through the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus!  God can and will use any means necessary to reach those He loves, including directing an apparent unknown to make His purposes known.  God chose Philip, a quite tradesman who served meals to widows in his spare time over more prominent early church leaders such as Paul or Peter.  It’s inspiring to note that God choses to direct His plans through ordinary people like you and I.  As Oswald Chambers puts, it “All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose that God has given them.”

Speaking of purpose, it was no ‘coincidence’ Philip would end up in just enough time, on just the right road, at the exact moment necessary to intersect the Ethiopian eunuch.  This man’s physical limitation as a eunuch prevented him from entering into the temple at Jerusalem to worship…but his heart was already being directed by the Holy Spirit to seek God.  We see that the Ethiopian was reading aloud the words of Isaiah 53:7-8, detailing the sacrificial death of our Savior Jesus!  God’s plans include even the marginalized or overlooked in our world – His plans are always redemptive.  Philip did not come with a pre-planned commentary, he just simply followed God’s divine direction and was able to explain the good news of the gospel to this travelling treasurer.  Mission accomplished!

Our story ends with Philip having the privilege of baptizing the Ethiopian, another DIVINE DIRECTIVE of God.  Since there were no known Christian converts in Ethiopia at the time, who would have baptized the Ethiopian when he arrived home?  God made sure this man’s faith was affirmed and later the Ethiopian was instrumental in sharing the gospel back in Ethiopia. 

Summing it up… God is not limited by our experiences, expertise or expectations.  He wants to transform the world through people willing to have their steps guided by His Word and be supernaturally directed by the Holy Spirit.  May we all be inspired to be like Philip… ready and willing to follow God’s divine direction.  After all, its all for HIS GLORY that we live and breath and have our being (Acts 17:28).

Bless Ya,
​    Pastor Sherry