God’s Abundant Gifts Simon Tyndall Chaplain, St Paul’s Tervuren

ICEL John 6:24-35 (New International Version) 24 Once the crowd realised that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’ 26 Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

ICEL John 6:24-35 (New International Version) 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.’ 28 Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ 29 Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’ 30 So they asked him, ‘What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?

ICEL John 6:24-35 (New International Version) 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”’ 32 Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’

ICEL John 6:24-35 (New International Version) 34 ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘always give us this bread.’ 35 Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

ICEL God’s Abundant Gifts John 6:24-35John 6:24-35 ‘signs’ v26 & 30‘signs’ v26 & 30 ‘food that spoils’ v26, 27 & 31‘food that spoils’ v26, 27 & 31 ‘believe’ v29 & 35‘believe’ v29 & 35 ‘I am the bread of life’ v35‘I am the bread of life’ v35

ICEL God’s Abundant Gifts John’s Gospel - 7 ‘Signs’ 1. Water into wine 2: Healing official’s son 4: Healing at the pool 5:1-15

ICEL God’s Abundant Gifts 4. Feeding 5,000 6: Walking on water 6: Healing blind man 9: Raising Lazarus 11:38-44

ICEL God’s Abundant Gifts It is easy to see the signs but...they are not an end in themselves!It is easy to see the signs but...they are not an end in themselves! v26 ‘you ate the loaves & had your fill’v26 ‘you ate the loaves & had your fill’ v27 ‘food that spoils’v27 ‘food that spoils’ v31 ‘manna in the wilderness’v31 ‘manna in the wilderness’ The crowd (we!) are asked to understand & to respond....to what the signs POINT TO!The crowd (we!) are asked to understand & to respond....to what the signs POINT TO!

ICEL God’s Abundant Gifts ‘what must we do?’ v28‘what must we do?’ v28 ‘believe in the one God has sent’ v29‘believe in the one God has sent’ v29 i.e. ME, Jesus!i.e. ME, Jesus! Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ v35Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ v35

ICEL God’s Abundant Gifts Have we come to Jesus, THE bread of life?Have we come to Jesus, THE bread of life? Or, are we excited by the signs (miracles, teaching, his church & Christian fellowship) but fail to come to HIM?Or, are we excited by the signs (miracles, teaching, his church & Christian fellowship) but fail to come to HIM? Do we have a personal relationship with Jesus who wants to fill us & satisfy all our needs?Do we have a personal relationship with Jesus who wants to fill us & satisfy all our needs?