Give 'em Jesus

A sermon on John 6:28-29 for the Southern Illinois District Day of Spiritual Renewal at Metro East Lutheran High School, Edwardsville, IL, August 7, 2012.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.  The text for our consideration this morning is the Holy Gospel that was read a few minutes ago, especially these verses.  Then they said to Him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”  Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you may believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6:28-29).  So far our text.

These were certainly heady days for the followers of Jesus.  Some five thousand of them, not counting the women and children enjoyed a bountiful feast with twelve baskets left over.  All of this came from but five barley loaves and two small fish.  The crowd was ecstatic.  They were ready to make Jesus king by force.  They saw Jesus as the greatest social welfare program ever conceived.  If He repeated this miracle daily they would never again hunger or labor for food.  Hadn’t Moses done something similar after the Exodus?

Here is Jesus performing a similar, yet even greater miracle.  Make Him king and all your troubles would be solved.  The despised Romans would be overthrown and an earthly kingdom restored to Israel.  Jesus is a great King above all power, thrones and dominions.  No president, premier or prime minister is greater than He. The problem was that Jesus is not this kind of King the people expected.  He is superior.  His realm is more than this world.  He reigns supreme over all things visible and invisible everywhere.

Who can blame the people for wanting to coronate Jesus as their social welfare program and monarch rolled into one?  Who needs food stamps, grocery stores or restaurants when Jesus distributes fish and loaves ready to eat?  Who needs armed forces when Jesus can summon twelve legions of angels at a moment’s notice?  When Jesus makes things by speaking, who needs manufacturing, distributors or retailers?  Like every human since Adam, people seek the correct button to push, lever to pull, switch to flip, key to unlock the heavenly storerooms to benefit life on earth.  They earnestly ask Jesus to tell them this secret of the ages.  “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?

Jesus clarifies the situation.  He reminds the crowd that they are seeking him because they had full bellies the night before.  He turns their question around.  What must you do to the do the works of God?  Nothing.  God’s Work is this that you believe in the one whom He has sent.  Neither your work nor mine merits God’s gifts either to you or your students.  Sin permeates every human so thoroughly that it cannot be overcome by an exertion of the will.  We cannot assist the Lord in atoning for sin.   Your work or mine merits nothing good before the Lord of heaven and earth.

What we cannot do, God does.  It is by grace that you are saved through faith and this not of yourselves. It is not of works lest anyone should boast.  He saved us, not because of righteous deeds we have done in the flesh but according to His mercy through the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit whom He poured out richly upon you through Jesus Christ. Being justified by grace through faith you are now an heir of heaven.  Rejoice!  This is God’s work for you.  This faith that is necessary for salvation is God’s gift that begins, centers and ends in Jesus.  He is the one thing needful.

Do you realize how precious and valuable this work of God is for you?  What we could never do being weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His Son in the likeness of human flesh.  Jesus persisted. He overcame sin, death and all the works of the devil.  Satan’s ugly accusations are washed away in baptismal waters.

Give your students Jesus, God’s Son our Savior who atoned for the sins of the world. Teach the reality of God’s work for them in baptism and hearing His Word. The evil one loves to rant against you and them.  He says that you deserve nothing from God.  You can reply:  “You are right. I deserve nothing but punishment and death.  But I have a God who loves me and gave Himself for me.  The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in Jesus Christ. His righteousness is my glorious crown.  Clothed in God’s armor, I am ready to face your charges. Jesus died for every sin of humanity. In Him I am a forgiven, redeemed and deeply loved.  He promises that nothing in all creation can separate me from His love.”

We receive these gifts from the Lord because of God’s work in Jesus Christ.  As George Gershwin wrote: “Who could ask for anything more?”  The flesh does. It is seldom content.  Jealousy and envy cause many to resent what others have that they don’t. Ever notice at a parade, convention or an event with door prizes how quickly the freebies are taken?  Doesn’t your heart yearn to be one of the winners? The real danger is mistaking the trinkets for the substance.  The crowd thrilled to bread and fish but missed their greater need for a Savior from themselves, sin and death.  They wanted food from Jesus but were not excited about His exposure of their real needs.  Jesus doesn’t pander to the crowd to keep them happy.  He patiently instructs them regarding the deeper issues of faith and life.

We face a similar temptation.  Some people have convinced themselves that church should be fun and games, like an endless Vacation Bible School or carnival.  The reality is so little of life is like that.  Children need a Savior for the very real lives they lead.  It is not easy growing up in a single parent home, or in a family with “aunts” or “uncles” who move in and out not to be seen again. Video games and television make poor babysitters.  Children feel guilty when mom and dad split. Give’em Jesus.  Your students need to know that they are forgiven and loved by the Son of God who gave Himself for them.

The whole counsel of God is given to address life now and for eternity.  Contrition, repentance, forgiveness and faith lie at the center of the Christian life. These spiritual disciplines are adaptable to all stages of life.  Teach your students the Holy Scriptures.  They are profitable for correction, for reproof for training in righteousness that they may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  These things are written that they may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God and by believing they may life in His name.  

Give your children Jesus.  People do not live on bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).  Jesus is the bread of life that came down from heaven and gives life to the world.  The forgiveness of sins is at the heart of the Gospel.  The Lord Jesus broke down the barrier of hostility between heaven and earth and between pupils in your classes.  Teach your children to confess their sins and to leave them with Jesus.  God’s work is to bring them to faith so that they believe in the One God has sent into the world, Amen.