CORINTH

-Sermon Notes-

August 10, 2025

 

“The REAL Thing”

(Psalm 130, John 6:25-35)

 

    In 1971 Coca Cola produced a commercial featuring a group of youth singing “It’s what the world wants today, the real thing!”  Desiring the “real thing” wasn’t new to folks in 1971.  We’ve desired the real thing forever. 

     We find the Psalmist desiring real hope and peace in the opening of today’s Psalm.  We do not know who the author is, but we can certainly sense in these words someone looking for real hope, real peace, a real solution to his or her difficulty.  In verse seven, the psalmist encourages Israel to trust in the Lord, for the Lord is the one who is faithful and true (the real thing.)

     In the passage from John, people are peppering Jesus with questions regarding his true identity.  Just before today’s passage, Jesus performed a miracle, transforming a few loaves and fish into enough to feed thousands of people.  So it’s natural for people to be wondering about the identity of Jesus. For those waiting for the Messiah, they likely wondered “Is this Jesus the REAL thing?”

     In verse 30, we find the people asking Jesus to perform a miraculous sign, saying that if he performs a miracle, they will understand him to be the real thing (the awaited Messiah.)  After referring to a time when their ancestors were supplied manna in the desert, demonstrating the faithfulness of God, Jesus referred to himself as “The bread of life.” Jesus went on to say “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry.”  In other words, Jesus was pointing to himself as “the real thing.”

     In a world where too often we seek satisfaction in those things which offer only a temporary solution, Jesus offers us something more, something permanent, something eternal.  Be in relationship with me, Jesus said, and find something real.   How do we do this?  We invest ourselves in relationship with Jesus like we would any other friend; we spend time with him! We do this with Jesus by being in prayer, in the scriptures and in fellowship with each other.  I am reminded of Jesus’ words later in the Gospel of John “abide in me and I will abide in you.”

     But this is not where the matter stops for us.  We, as the church, are to make the presence of God “the real thing” through the ministries of our church, and through our love and care (through words and deeds) for each other and neighbor.  Sharing our talents, finances and gifts for ministry enables our church family to make the presence of God the real thing to those walking in darkness.  Let us accept Jesus’ invitation to be in relationship with him as the Bread of Life, and accept him as the real thing.