2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a Psalm 51:1-13 Ephesians 4:1-16 John 6:24-35

“…For the bread of God gives life to the world.”

The writer of John’s Gospel continues Jesus’ message of the bread of life – physical bread that nurtures the body, which Jesus has publicly and miraculously delivered to the multitudes; and, more importantly, the spiritual bread from heaven that brings true everlasting life to the soul. Those who receive this bread of life will never again be hungry.

Thus, the crowds seeking to understand this bread of life offered by Jesus are growing magnanimously; their pursuit is relentless.  So much so, that when Jesus is not where the crowds expect him to be, they board boats and cross the sea in a desperate effort to find him.  Was it his magic tricks they were seeking – for entertainment? Or, are they seeking him because they believe that this might be truly the one who is offering the genuine bread of God that gives life to the world – life-giving right- relationship with God and neighbor?

Why would you follow?  Would you be so desperate?  What would you expect of Jesus?

 In contrast to the faithful searching of these early followers of Jesus described in our Gospel lesson, is our Old Testament account from centuries earlier: Jesus’ ancestor King David has come to a very low point in his faith journey.  Neglecting his vows to God, basking in the self-glorification of his kingship to the point of extreme degradation, David has ignored the true bread of God.  As we have followed this saga over the past weeks, we note that this king, specifically and ceremoniously anointed by God to the throne of Israel, has violated major portions of God’s Law.

David surely has not loved and honored God with heart, soul, and mind; he has coveted Uriah’s wife Bathsheba to the point of committing adultery with her and, ultimately, stealing her from her husband.  Then, in a desperate effort to cover his serious transgressions, David has committed murder by orchestrating the death of Uriah in battle, ordering him sent to the front of the greatest fighting while having his fellow soldiers draw back leaving Uriah to be slaughtered. How could someone of such unworthy character committing such horrendous wicked acts ever be forgiven and restored to his relationship with God?

In today’s lesson, we read of the prophet Nathan presenting a parable to the great king.  David, inevitably faced with his own conviction upon his honest interpretation of the parable, confesses with great humility.  David is now desperate to cross that sea to find the true bread. Our Psalm, which we read earlier, expresses this sense of desperation for cleansing.  It is the psalm we read every year as part of our worship on Maundy Thursday; we read it in unison as we strip the altar in preparation for Good Friday.  It is known as the Miserere;it expresses our greatest level of humility and earnest desire for cleansing forgiveness and restoration.  These words of lamentation are credited to David.  “Wash me through and through from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin.”  David is said to have written these words in response to this visit from Nathan during which he was forced to confront his undeniable sinfulness. 

David, so very unworthy, came worthily to be restored in his relationship with God and with his people; challenges remain ahead, but David was undoubtedly restored?  

How could David have been restored?  How can we, in response to our undeniable wickedness, be cleansed and restored to God?  What seas must we cross to find the true bread that comes down from heaven?

Too often, our weekly lesson spotlight gives our epistle lesson short shrift.  It is in these letters of Paul to the first churches that we gain so much insight into the restoration of relationships with God and neighbor. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians who were so very torn by divisiveness offers answers to these complicated questions posed by our lessons today.  

First Paul reminds us that we are all called to ministry, exhorting us to lead a life worthy of our calling.  Whether we are telephone repairmen, cab drivers, Bible Study leaders, or passersby on the street, our ministries are equally significant.  We are the Body of Christ, called to bring the message of the living bread to the physically and spiritually hungry, called seek restoration in our relationships with God and neighbor and to be the advocate for restored relationship for others. 

Further, Paul writes, we are to pursue these ministries in the essence of the fruits of the spirit – humility, gentleness, and patience as we bear with one another in love.  Thus, we are bound in unity with God and one another – one body and one Spirit.  “We must no longer be children, tossed to an fro and blown about by every wind.”  We are the Church; we are one body.

With Christ acknowledged as the true head of the body, all our parts work properly and promote growth – building the body up in love.  

We all know what it is when one part of our body does not “work” properly.  [Most of us are grateful it is just one body part not working properly].  When our foot goes numb, we don’t ignore it till it drops off.  We change to a more comfortable position; we shake it and wiggle it until the blood begins to flow again.  We exercise it until it is restored to health.

 When our ankle is broken, we don’t keep trying to walk on it, causing more pain and irreparable injury; we seek to have the bone reset correctly and nurture it with patience until it heals.

If we get a bit of sand in our eye, we know not to keep rubbing it until the eyeball is seriously scratched.  We bathe the eye gently and rest it until the discomfort is gone and our sight is restored.

When we get a taste of something bad, we spit it out, and wash away the bad taste with good clean cool water.  

Each of these examples of improperly working body parts can be applied to the Body of Christ.  Paul is advising the people of Ephesus to seek restoration for the divisiveness in their relationships within the Church. We are wise to heed his advice.

Do we ignore our complacent numbness until a portion of our spiritual life becomes useless?  Do we keep aggravating the brokenness with our dismissive attitudes and unkind treatment of one another until the damage to relationships is irreparable? Or, do we seek to soothe the pain of our differences with patience and gentleness and understanding?  Do we seek to look honestly at those elements that are from evil, eliminate them, and seek God’s guidance to replace them with good – the true bread of God that gives life to the Body?  Even David, after acts of incredible wickedness, was restored and renewed.  Regardless of our depth of unworthiness, we are made worthy in Christ; we come to Christ worthily in humility.  And, with David, we pray:

Create is us a clean heart, O God,

And, renew a right spirit within us.