John 6,30-35

John 6,30-35 (NIV)

30 So they asked him, "What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?

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.

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.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.

People want to know who this Jesus is. Could he be a new king? They remember times when their country, Israel, had great kings: David and Solomon, for example. At the time of Jesus, hardly anything remains of that. It is a small country, integrated into the Roman Empire. Hardly anyone knows anything about Israel.

Who is this Jesus, people want to know? There are many who are not interested in big politics. They just want to have enough to eat and they want to stay healthy. Could Jesus help them with that? Will he make them healthy?

Who is this Jesus, people want to know?

Is he a human being like the rest of us? What is he talking about when he speaks of the kingdom of God? Is he perhaps a dreamer? Or even a communist?

Who is this Jesus, people want to know?

Is he a peacemaker or is he a rebel?

Is he someone who believes in God or is he someone who thinks he is God?

Who is this Jesus, people want to know.

Do they really want to know? Or do they want Jesus to be what is good for them: some see him as a new king, others as a miracle worker, others as a dreamer. Some consider him strong and powerful, while others see him as weak and sad.

The evangelist John deals with this question again and again. Who is this Jesus?

And then John comes up with the brilliant idea of having Jesus himself say who he is.

John writes down seven 'I am' statements.

In other words, Jesus has more than one side.

Jesus can be understood in different ways.

Who this Jesus is cannot be said in one sentence, but only in different words.

The seven 'I am' statements are:

I am the bread of life ( 6:35; cf 41,48,51)

I am the light of the world. (8:12)

I am the door. (10:7,9)

I am the good shepherd. (10:11,14)

I am the resurrection and the life. (11,25)

I am the way and the truth and the life. (14,6)

I am the true vine. (15:1)

The first thing Jesus says about himself: I am the bread of life. This means that Jesus sees himself as someone who makes people strong, powerful and courageous. Those who are not hungry can work and think, they can plan and celebrate. Those who are not hungry can improve the world. Those who are not hungry are alive and can be happy.

Those who are not hungry know what they need to live and have enough of it.

Those who are not hungry!

Wonderful - no hunger, no longing - a person who lives a fulfilled life and has enough.

A person who can say gratefully: Thank you, I have enough!

Thank you, I have enough, because I know the bread of life personally, I have tasted it and I live by it! Thank you, I have enough, I know Jesus Christ and I understand who this Jesus is: he is the one to whom I owe the fact that I can imagine that we can overcome hunger in the world.

Jesus is the one who helps me through illness and exhorts me to reconciliation.

Jesus is the one who makes me believe that sharing is good and that killing should Jesus is the one who showed me that prayer gets me through dark nights and that love turns strangers into friends.

Jesus is the one who taught me what freedom means and can create community.

'I am the bread of life!' I am grateful that John wrote this down and that it helps me understand who this Jesus is.

Jesus is the one through whom we understand God better. God's closeness and God's attention. God's care. God's love.

Jesus is also the one who shows me what and who God is not: not the almighty ruler of the world, not the distant, punishing God.

People back then wanted to know who this Jesus was, and some still want to know today.

Jesus is bread — he is the way - he is the resurrection - he is my brother!

I don't need any more signs - it is a miracle that Jesus has come to me and I am no longer hungry.

I don't need anything more than people's faith in Jesus, people who work tirelessly and hopefully, cheerfully and energetically to overcome hunger in the world and bring about p e a c e .

May the peace that surpasses our understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen