In the Gospel of John, our Lord Jesus tells us at least seven times who He is.  He says, "I Am The Bread of Life" (John 6:35),  "I Am The Light of The World" (John 8:12),  "I Am The Door" (John 10:7),  "I Am The Good Shepherd" (John 10:11),  "I Am The Resurrection And The Life" (John 11:25),  "I Am The Way, The Truth, And The Life" (John 14:6),  and, "I Am The True Vine" (John 15:1).

          All seven of these "I Am" statements direct our attention to who Christ is, and what He has done for our salvation.  In today's text He says, "I am the bread of life."

          Bread is now and always has been synonymous with the things we need for life.  Jesus taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread."  Some think money is like bread.  As a youth we used to refer to money as "dough."  Later on they baked it so now many people call it "bread."  It means the things we need for our daily life.

          "I am the bread of life."  These words take place right after He fed 5000+ people with 5 loaves and 2 fish.  No one thought He could do it, because they were thinking too small.  No one had ever done this before.  Even His disciples who saw Him do miracles did not think it possible to feed 5,000 people with so little.  "It can't be done," they said.  But Jesus said, "Bring me what you have, sit the people down, and watch what happens."  He was saying, "Expect a Miracle!"

          We here at Epiphany have started something that seems impossible.  "Raise a million dollars?  Impossible!  We have bills to pay, house and car payments.  We live on a fixed income, and people are stretched to the limit.  It can't be done.  And furthermore, we don't need it.  We can get by with what we have.  And now today you bring us missionaries who also need our help?  This is too much, Pastor!"

          Before we go any further, take out your Bibles and turn to John chapter 6.  Let's see how Jesus dealt with this kind of so-called "problem."

          No one wants to belittle the struggles we have each day.  They are real, because we live real lives.  But I say to you all, dear friends, we do not trust God enough.  We say we trust God, but we really don't.  Deep down we trust only ourselves.  And because of that we say, "It can't be done!"  And we're right - if it were all up to us, it wouldn't be done.  Two years ago I told a few people I would never go through another building program, "I will be long gone before I get involved in another one of those."

          Well, I guess I didn't move fast enough, because here we are again.  And to make matters worse, we're talking about sacrificial giving.  No one likes to talk about making a sacrifice.  We'd rather talk of getting or investments or about more income or giving ourselves what we think we deserve.

          This is the way of life among us sinful humans.  We want what we want, not what God wants.  We want it our way, not His way.  We think nothing can happen without our doing it.  But just remember - God has created this Church.  He made it happen!  And it was Jesus, not us, who multiplied the loaves and fishes to feed thousands.  Why can He not also multiply our gifts and feed thousands the precious Word of God.  Let's stop saying it can't be done, because God can do it!  And He will, if we just let Him!  Dear friends, we must stop doing it ourselves and let God show His power.  Expect a miracle!

          Christ died to forgive the sins of the world.  He rose again to show He is God.  They said He could never do it, but He did.  Some of us think God can never forgive us, but He already has!  All we need do is accept what He has already done for us.  Nothing we do or think can "undo" what Christ has done.  He is our Lord; He stands at our door and knocks.  Will we let Him in and let Him do a miracle?  Or not?

          Expect a miracle!  Jesus can do it!  If we trust Him, He will not let us go hungry or thirsty.  May each one here today see Jesus do the impossible, amen!

Copyright © 2006 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.