Untitled Sermon (2)

Have you ever wondered what Jesus might say to us if He were here today. How would He handle politics? How would He manage a broken relationship? What would He say about social media? There are so many issues I’m sure we’d love for Him to weigh in on.

Thankfully, the bible is relevant to all people at all times because it is the source of all truth. And many of Jesus’ own words are made forever for us in the pages of the New Testament. In His own words we find comfort, guidance, and strength for any and every situation we may encounter. I want to look at a Jesus I AM statement from the gospel of John where Jesus reveals Himself…His true nature, to us. And as we begin to understand who Jesus is, we can further understand how He is working in our world today.

john 6:22-40

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

The Bread of Life

The Bread of Life is a powerful metaphor that Jesus uses to describe Himself and His role in our spiritual sustenance. Just as physical bread nourishes and sustains our bodies, Jesus, the Bread of Life, nourishes and sustains our souls. This metaphor is not just about physical hunger and thirst but speaks to the deeper spiritual hunger and thirst that exists in every one of us.

In biblical times, bread was a staple food, a basic necessity for survival. It was the primary source of nourishment and was often used symbolically to represent life itself. When Jesus declares, "I am the Bread of Life," He is saying that He is essential to our spiritual life. Without Him, our souls starve and wither, just as our bodies would without physical food.

We all know the feeling of hunger and the satisfaction that comes from eating a good meal. Especially this week as we put aside our physical needs But Jesus is not talking about a temporary satisfaction that comes from physical food. He is talking about a deep, lasting satisfaction that only He can provide. When we come to Him, when we believe in Him, we will never hunger or thirst again. This is a promise of spiritual fulfillment that the world cannot offer. It’s a promise of ultimate fulfillment.

The world offers many things that promise to satisfy our hunger and thirst. Wealth, success, power, pleasure – these are the things that the world tells us will make us happy. But as many of us have experienced, these things often leave us feeling empty and unsatisfied. They are like junk food or candy that tastes good for a moment but leaves us hungry again soon after.

In contrast to this, Jesus offers us Himself, the Bread of Life. Just as physical bread gives us the energy and strength we need to live, so Jesus gives us the spiritual nourishment we need to live a life of faith. He feeds our souls with His word, His love, His grace, and His presence. He strengthens us in our weakness, comforts us in our sorrow, and guides us in our confusion. He is the source of our spiritual life, the one who sustains us in our journey of faith.

When Jesus says that He is “The Bread of Life” we must know that this is not just a metaphor, but a reality we can experience in our daily lives. When we come to Jesus and we believe in Him, we experience His life-giving presence in our lives. We taste that He is indeed good and we find a deep satisfaction that the world cannot offer.

That is why I thought tonight we would share testimonies and then wrap up in prayer for his goodness for our families that may be lost by name!