Jesus is the bread of life (2)

Introduction

I want just to very quickly think about something Jesus said about himself.

One of the most controversial points about Jesus is that he demands that we stop going our own way and that we follow him.

The reason this is so difficult for us is because like Frank Sinatra we want to do it our way-

I've lived a life that's full I traveled each and every highway And more, much more I did it, I did it my way

Yet Jesus calls us to stop doing it our way, and to go his way, to follow him, to believe in him.

To many people this is a hard thing to do. Yet it is the best thing to do because what Jesus gives to those who follow him is far greater than anything you can have by doing it your way.

In John’s Gospel Jesus said these words; John 6:35 “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” Here Jesus offers something far greater than we can hope for living our own way.

What did Jesus mean?

I am the bread of life- life giving bread.

Not physical but spiritual life.

Jesus is claiming to be the one who gives people eternal life.

Eternal life Jn 17:3. Jesus is claiming that he is the one who can bring us back to God. In this life and the one which is to come, in this world and in the next.

He gives it to those who believe in him. To believe in him is to admit your own spiritual bankruptcy, admit your sin, and to trust Jesus to supply

They will never hunger or thirst- meaning they will never lack spiritually. He will always be full. Their souls will be satisfied because they will know God for themselves.

I give eternal life to those who believe in me. They will know God and their souls with be satisfied.

Why don’t we have eternal life?

Your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you. Isa 59.

Sin separates from God and brings death. Physical and spiritual.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Why can Jesus alone give eternal life?

In order for us to have eternal life we need our guilt to be taken away. God is holy nothing sinful can be near to him.

This is why Jesus came into the world.

He lived a sinless life. He then died for our sins on the cross. He rose again the third day. Defeating death.

Isa 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

When a person believes in Jesus their sin and guilt is taken away, they are forgiven because he has died in their place. Therefore they are given the gift of eternal life.

This is what Jesus is trying to get across to the people. He does so using an everyday item, bread.

I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger, he who believes in me shall never thirst.

Conclusion

As we finish I just want to look at how people responded to Jesus when he said this about himself. There were two kinds of response that day, all those years ago when Jesus said these words. Some chose life that day, others chose to go away empty.

In John 6:66 we see a group of people who decided, like Frank Sinatra to do it their way… “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” They refused Jesus and in doing that they refused eternal life.

But in John 6:67-69 we read of some who decided they were going to follow Jesus... “Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”” They came to him, they believed in him and they received eternal life.

I just want to finish with a question. It may be a challenging question, but it is a sincere question.

What will your response be?