Blessed and Broken

In a series of sermons we are using the sixth chapter of John to explore parts of our own communion service – the blessing, breaking, and the giving of bread – to explore the bread of life, and in today’s reading, Jesus tells his audience that he is “the bread of life.” In last week’s text, Jesus feeds the 5,000, giving them what they need and want. But in today’s text, he basically declines to give them bread and instead redirects their thinking about sustenance and who he is and who is the source of their lives. It is much like when a parent says “No,” to a child out of love. Jesus invites the people into a deep relationship.