Pulpit Today

World War II left London ravaged by Nazi bombs.  Buildings and houses were in shambles.  Saddest of all were the thousands of children that lost parents and were left to roam the streets just to survive.  They were desperate, starving children that lived in fear of not knowing what tomorrow would bring so they scrounged for any morsel of food they could find.

Out of necessity orphanages sprang up throughout London to care for these kids.  Most of these orphanages housed kids that were terribly unruly.  But there was one orphanage, operated by an elderly couple, which enjoyed unmatched serenity.  The children slept peacefully and were well-behaved.  When a team of social workers investigated this orphanage they noted something no other orphanage was doing.  Every evening this elderly couple walked to each bedside and tenderly pressed a slice of bread into the hands of the kids.  The children would wrap their fist around that bread and hold it throughout the night.  They slept peacefully because they held something that promised their next meal.  Consequently, they enjoyed a hope that affected their entire life.  It’s amazing that a slice of bread assured them tomorrow would be alright.

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”  And you and I hold in our hands a symbol of that “bread of life.”  There’s no other bread that so thoroughly feeds us; no other bread that so completely calms us; no other bread that assures us of the hope of eating at that great heavenly feast the Bible calls the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb.”  Jesus Christ removes the fear of tomorrow and eternity.  He supplies every need!

Luke 22 says: “When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. (15) And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. (16) For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.  (19) And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. (20) In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”