Posted on February 28, 2010 - by Tim L

Lent 2 - Nourishment

We’re continuing our theme of being on a journey and what are the things that count as travel essentials?  Many of us would say that in life we are on a journey, we’re not always sure where it is heading but the optimistic amongst us usually hope it’s the right direction.

Here at the Bridge we try to think through being equipped for that journey - what are the things that we need?  Last week we focussed on direction and knowing where we are going.

This week we’re focussing on nourishment or as Wikipedia sets out the provision, to cells and organism, of food to support life

If you’re heading off on a journey do you stop to think about or where you will eat during the day? Or does it just occur to you later in the day that maybe you need to eat?

Every day we can make choices that help ensure we get healthy nourishment for our journey.  But we don’t always make the right choices we often choose things that will give us a short boost or rush of energy.  Some foods fill you up to start with but quickly leave you feeling hungry.
There are six major classes of nutrients in food that we need to eat in the right balance so that we can stay healthy.  They are:

Carbohydrates - bread/pasta/potatoes
Fats -  cheese/milk/butter
Minerals - zinc, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium = cereals
Protein -  meat, cheese
Vitamin - Vit C - oranges, Vit D - fish, Vit A liver/carrots
Water - the tap!

Its often easier though to take the quick fix, we’re hungry and in a rush.  Let’s just look which is the healthier and which would you choose?

OJ or Coke
Brown or white bread
Fruit or French Fancy
Baked beans or Pot Noodle

Our bible reading today happens after Jesus has fed the five thousand with just bread and fish.  In one way we can think of it as a poor meal not one we could get excited about, but it’s certainly a lot healthier than some of the food we eat today.  God wants us to take care of the bodies that he has given us, he wants us to be healthy and full of energy but we have to join in and help too.

Let’s talk about it to God about the temptations and challenges that food can often bring to our lives.

Youtube clip go and watch You are what you eat

I used to watch this quite regularly, it used to make me stop and think about just how much food I consumed in a week.  Just stop for a minute and think about what have you eaten today.

25When they found him back across the sea, they said, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
26Jesus answered, “You’ve come looking for me not because you saw God in my actions but because I fed you, filled your stomachs-and for free.
27″Don’t waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last.”
28To that they said, “Well, what do we do then to get in on God’s works?”
29Jesus said, “Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent. That kind of a commitment gets you in on God’s works.”
30They waffled: “Why don’t you give us a clue about who you are, just a hint of what’s going on? When we see what’s up, we’ll commit ourselves. Show us what you can do. 31Moses fed our ancestors with bread in the desert. It says so in the Scriptures: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32Jesus responded, “The real significance of that Scripture is not that Moses gave you bread from heaven but that my Father is right now offering you bread from heaven, the real bread. 33The Bread of God came down out of heaven and is giving life to the world.”
34They jumped at that: “Master, give us this bread, now and forever!”
35Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.
John 6:25-35 (The Message)

We’ve spent a lot of this evening focussing on food and how we keep our bodies nourished for the daily task of living.  But its important that we don’t just focus us in on whether we have a healthy diet.  Jesus’ words in the book of John’s talk about him being the Bread of Life but what does that actually mean?

As I said earlier this conversation between Jesus and the people has taken place after the feeding of the five thousand.  These are a people for whom the daily grind of putting food on the table is hard work.  If the crop fails or the fishing trip is unsuccessful then they go hungry.  For Jesus to say to them I am the Bread of Life is like a large supermarket moving into their town with no cashiers or checkouts to pay at.  If Jesus can provide them with everlasting bread - long life bread, then they need never go hungry again.

In the world we live that’s not necessarily such a great deal is it?  OK we might like the fact that Jesus is offering us food for free, that would save us a huge amount of money and that in its turn might save us heartache about earning a living or the state of our pension.  But we don’t tend to go short of food, even if we don’t eat the right kind of food, I’m not sure that many of us in this room go hungry.  So if jesus was trying to get this message across to us today what he being saying “I am the what? Of life.  Just think for a minute if you wanted an easier life what could Jesus tempt you with…..

Better health, fitter bodies, more money, promotion, an interesting job, a new partner, a better relationship with a family member or a friend, happy and successful children…

I am the £ sign of life,
I am the new job of life,
I am the bigger house of your life,
I am the size 12 of life.
I am the fixer of relationships

What would it be that Jesus could offer you that would have rushing to his side to find out more.

The problem here for us, just as it was for the people around the lake, is that we’d be getting excited about the wrong thing.  We’d be rushing to Jesus’ side for the wrong thing.  Long life bread, renewed health, more money, more fulfilling work, the future of our children.

Jesus understands this now just as he says to the people then
You’ve come looking for me not because you saw God in my actions but because I fed you, filled your stomachs-and for free.

This is real, Jesus understands the things that motivate us and inspire us.  But he still sets out the challenge.  Has come to come offer an easier way of life, to solve all of our problems, to give us a happy life.  That’s not a journey of friendship and companionship.  That’s an unhealthy sugar daddy relationship where we always beholden to him for the things we want out of life.

Jesus throws out a stiffer challenge “Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent. That kind of a commitment gets you in on God’s works.”

To go back to the food analogy we get to make the choice.  We can regularly choose the quick fix, the French fancy, the chocolate bar, the packet of crisps but then we shouldn’t be surprised if we are lacking in energy, under the weather and overweight which is not the way that God created these wonderful, heavenly bodies to be.  Not fulfilling the potential that God has designed into our physical bodies.

Nourishment is not just meeting our physical needs, its also our emotional, spiritual, and intellectual needs.  Regardless of our nationality, language, or individual tastes. As we need food, so do we need emotional nourishment: love, kindness, appreciation, and support from others.   We need intellectual stimulation and we need spiritual resources.

Be aware of what it is that would draw you to Jesus, more food, more money, successful or happy children, improved health and then think about the choices you make -

Are they poor quality economy choices that keep you alive but little else, choices that are fine while they last but they soon fade.  The choices we make in life we need to make with Jesus at our side, we need to be able to hear what he is saying, to listen the small quiet voice which often prompts us but which we ignore.  Our journey in life needs the kind of nourishment that is longer lasting and keeps us going through the ups and downs of life.

listen to what Jesus actually says
35Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.

When Jesus says to you I am the…. Of life - you fill in the blank.

He’s offering you opportunity to come to him - hungry as you are

What is Jesus to you?  The I am the ….. of your life??  Ponder on it, talk to God about it during the week