I AM...The Bread Of Life
I AM • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Doxology:
This is my Bible. It is God’s Holy Word. It is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path, and I will hide its words within my heart, that I might not sin against God. Amen!
Introduction
Introduction
This week is Thanksgiving week! I know that many of you are preparing for the special Thanksgiving meal that you will be making or maybe just simply enjoying. It is easy to get caught up into the business of family, food, and friends during this time, but let us not forget the greatest reason that we have to give thanks....The Father.
We have discussed the meaning of the statement “I AM”. We also looked last week how Jesus expanded on this statement with the phrase “I AM the Door of the Sheep”.
This week, we are going to see how Jesus once again expands this meaning of “I AM” to something specific in our lives.
Today, we are going to discuss the “I AM” statement, “I AM…The Bread of Life”.
Scripture Text: John 6:22-58
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Context
Context
As we open up Chapter 6, we see Jesus performing an amazing miracle. He takes a schoolboy lunch, raises it up to the Father, gives thanks over it, and feeds thousands of people with it. Wow!!!
After performing such a miracle, the people were ready to make Jesus king. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus retired to the mountain to pray and spend time with God. The people lost track of Him, but they watched the disciples go down to the shore, get into a boat, and leave off across the sea towards Capernaum. They noticed Jesus did not get into the boat with them, but they also could not find Jesus anywhere.
Starting in vs. 22, we see that many of these same people who had participated in the miracle meal, went looking for Jesus.
22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone—
23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks—
24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
Content
Content
The Problem
The Problem
First we see the problem.
At first, we see that these people are eagerly searching for Jesus. On the surface, this seems positive. Very positive actually. I wish more people eagerly sought out Jesus today, Amen!
These people are intrigued by Him, captivated even. They have been astonished by His miracles and astounded by His teachings. But they are perplexed by Him.
They are aware of His physical existence but confused by His spiritual authority. They are wrestling with their thoughts and trying to rationalize just exactly who this man named Jesus really is.
They acknowledge His unnatural abilities to do those things which no other man can do, but cannot understand why He is able to do them.
They seek answers. They seek an understanding.
When explained in this way, we might ask the question, “What exactly was it that kept them from being believers? They obviously were intrigued by Jesus. They eagerly sought out the truth of who He was.”
Furthermore, when they come to Jesus asking questions, it seems as if Jesus somewhat sends them away. Why is that?
First I want to be clear that these people did not fully believe in Jesus. Towards the end of the chapter, we see Jesus actually make this statement:
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you?
62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
We know by these verses that these people who seemingly were seeking after Jesus, did not really believe in Jesus. Not fully.
They believed in His existence. How could they not. He was right there in front of them. They could see Him, touch Him, and hear Him. They did not deny that He physically existed.
They even acknowledged that He was a teacher, some even said a prophet. They witnessed His teachings and His miracles, so there was no way to deny that He was obviously a gifted individual.
The problem was that they could not come to the point of faith that acknowledged Him as the Son of God. They kept looking for one more thing: one more miracle, one more truth, one more supernatural unveiling of some kind.
Maybe you can relate to them. Maybe you have acknowledged that Jesus was a real man. Maybe you have zero doubts whatsoever about the fact that He was born of Mary, raised by Joseph, or even that He performed some amazing miracles that you really don’t know how to explain. But maybe like these Jews, you too have never come to the point of being able to say like Peter did in verse 69, “we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
As we look at these people’s first encounter with Jesus, we see that they are still trying to figure Him out.
25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
These people are once again astonished. They watched the disciples leave. They knew for a fact Jesus did not get into the boat with them, or any other boat that left the shore, yet here you are on the other side of the lake. You have not had enough time to walk around the lake, so how and when did you get here?
Instead of getting into all of that and telling them that He simply walked across the lake on foot, Jesus gets straight to the heart of the matter:
26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
Jesus says, “Listen, you seek Me, but for the wrong reasons. You do not seek Me because you witnessed My miracles and now believe that I AM, but because you ate some bread and became full. And now you simply want more bread.”
27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
You are seeking physical fulfillment, but I am not here for that. What I have to offer is a spiritual blessing. This bread in which you should be seeking is that bread which brings complete filling.
See, the problem was that they could not get passed the physical unto that which is spiritual. Every human being seeks out ultimate fulfillment. Every single person in the world will acknowledge their lack of perfection. Deeply rooted within the genetic makeup of all human beings is this longing for something greater than what we are in and of ourselves. These people had this same longing, but they could not come to a point of satisfaction in their souls that Jesus was the answer and ultimate fulfillment of that longing.
They always needed a little more.
28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
They are still failing to see what matters most. Now they want to know what secret formula they must follow in order to work the miracles that Jesus Himself performs. Jesus response is epic:
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
Being a child of God is not measured by miracles. It is measured by faith in the miracle worker. It is not required of you to do anything extraordinary that you might have eternal life, you simply have to believe in Jesus.
Being saved isn’t so much about what you get from God as it is about what you give to God. When someone gets saved, they devote their life to the Father. They give everything. They give themselves to God. Sadly, most people want salvation for other reasons. They want to be saved because they get to skip out on hell, so they can go to heaven, or so they can have a peace about death. All of those things do accompany salvation, but that is not why someone is to be saved. We are to be saved simply so that we might have a relationship with Almighty God and live in His presence.
Fine then, they said. If it is not about us coming to the place of performing miracles, but rather believing in You, who can perform miracles, what miracle will You do that we might believe?
30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?
31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”
Because of Jesus’ recent miracle of feeding the 5,000, these people had food on the brain apparently. They want another miracle of food. It is almost as if they are saying, “You fed a few thousand. Big deal. Moses fed millions and did it for days. When you do a miracle of that caliber, then we will believe.”
Moses was a great man of God, but he was not God. The Jews put so much stock into Abraham, Moses, and the other patriarchs, that it was almost as if they worshipped these men more than they did the God who empowered them.
Jesus stops them here and clarifies a few things:
32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give 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.”
First, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven. My Father did that. Moses was simply a tool in My Father’s hand. Don’t get it twisted....Moses was a great man of faith, but the power he operated in came from God alone.
Secondly, Moses did not give you bread. You were not there a couple thousand years ago when Moses led your ancestors through the wilderness, you are here now. The bread you seek comes from My Father and He gives you a better bread than that of the time of Moses.
Thirdly, that bread was limited. That bread only had the ability to quench immediate hunger, and then one would have to eat of it again. Day after day, they would have to go gather more manna. It was limited to the temporary physical nourishment of the body.
Also, it was limited to a very specific people group, which was the Jews in the wilderness. The bread in which you are being offered now is for the whole world.
Jesus says, “Listen to me. You say that my miracle is child’s play in comparison to what My Father did through Moses, but I am telling you that quiet the opposite is true. It was the miracle of Moses day that was limited and it is I who AM the real miracle...”
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
Where’s it at? If this bread is so awesome that it towers above that manna of Moses’ day, then where is it? Give it to us so that we might partake of it. Let it fall from the heaven’s so that we might eat it!
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Jesus is the bread of life!
Why is God able to act continuously in love and never run out? Because God is love.
Why is God able to shine light into the darkest places of our hearts and never be overtaken by the darkness? Because God is light.
Why was Jesus able to take a few loaves of bread, multiply it, feed thousands, and never run out? Because He is the bread of life!
The miracle I performed showed you so much more than you were able to see.
I care for the people. I did not have to feed them, but I did.
I provided for the people. I gave them what they needed. They were hungry so I fed them.
I satisfied the people. Not only did I feed them, I fed them until they were full. And when they were filled, there was plenty left.
11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.
13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
My grace is sufficient for all of mankind. Though I gave enough that they all were filled, there was still enough left for more. No matter how many people come to me, there will always be enough grace for one more. There will always be abundance. I am the bread of life and anyone who believes in Me shall never hunger or thirst again!!!
The Picture
The Picture
33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
Jesus is trying to explain to them that the manna of the OT was simply a type and shadow of Himself, like so many other things were as well.
The Manna Was Small
The Manna Was Small
14 And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground.
This speaks of Christ’s humility. Although Jesus created the highly-valued substances of this world, He was born into a poor family and lived a poor life the entire time He was here. He knew exactly where all the gold in the world was, but chose to leave it for others, while He focused on more important things.
20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
The Manna Was Round
The Manna Was Round
14 And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground.
This speaks of Christ’s eternal nature. He is the great I AM!!!
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
The Manna Was White
The Manna Was White
31 And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
This speaks of Christ’s sinless nature. He was born perfect, lived a perfect life, and died in perfection. He never failed God in any area of life. He was indeed the sinless, spotless lamb of God!!!
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
The Manna Came At Night
The Manna Came At Night
13 So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp.
14 And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground.
This speaks of Jesus salvation. Jesus stepped into a world full of darkness and showed them the light of God.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
The Manna Was Misunderstand
The Manna Was Misunderstand
15 So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.
The word, “Manna” actually means, “What is it?” They had no clue what it was until God revealed its purpose unto them through Moses.
Jesus also was misunderstood. His own people rejected Him; His own family rejected Him; Many people today still reject Him.
11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
20 And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?”
The Manna Was Sufficient
The Manna Was Sufficient
17 Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less.
18 So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need.
This speaks of the fact that Jesus is the all-sufficient savior. He meets the need of man’s soul. Wherever you are in your walk of life, you can find that Jesus is sufficient to supply your every need.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
The Manna Was Sweet
The Manna Was Sweet
31 And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
This speaks of Christ’s fulfillment. He not only saves us, but gives us a better life....a more abundant life. He brings joy and peace to our world of gloom and doom.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
The Massa Was To Be Kept and Shared With Others
The Massa Was To Be Kept and Shared With Others
32 Then Moses said, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Fill an omer with it, to be kept for your generations, that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’ ”
This speaks of our responsibility unto Jesus. Jesus came to save us. Now, we are to share Him with the world. We are to shout Him from the rooftops. We are to take the Gospel of Jesus to every person we know.
7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
The Promise
The Promise
It Is A Promise of Salvation
It Is A Promise of Salvation
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
I love the way Jesus explains this! He says, “I came to do the will of my Father.”
Now obviously, they did not know what that will was, so He goes on to tell them, “His will is that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life.”
Praise God! Did you just hear that? God’s will is that we would be saved. Doesn’t that just pull at your heart strings? God loves you and wants you to be saved. That is why He sent Jesus. That is why Jesus came, so that you might be saved.
He also clarifies something else in these verses. To start with, He says, “The will of My Father who sent Me, is that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing,”.
Later on in vs. 65, He says something very similar:
65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
When reading these verses, it would seem as if God only calls certain ones unto Jesus, but then we read in other places that Jesus gave himself for “whosoever believeth.”
I want you to understand something today. God wants all men to be saved.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Hell was created for the devil and his angels, not humans. God has done everything in His power to grant everlasting life unto you, outside of making you choose Jesus. And that is a line He chooses not to cross.
He will not force you to believe in His Son Jesus Christ, but He is there waiting for when you do. And when you do come to the point in which you believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world, He will draw you unto Him.
I want you to know that the divine call of God upon a person’s heart to come to Christ in no way diminishes the free will of man. Rather, it magnifies the eternal nature of God. He is the great I AM. He is ever-present. God is outside of time and cannot be governed by it. Therefore, always being in the present, God’s calling and our choosing are simultaneous acts. They happen at the same time. As we believe, God draws and God draws as we believe.
Jesus is the Promise of Salvation.
It Is A Promise of Satisfaction
It Is A Promise of Satisfaction
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Those who choose to come to Christ will experience a life like never before. As we tap into the presence of God, we get to experience Heaven on Earth. We get to experience the person of Almighty God, through the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, and we get to live in that presence day by day.
All of the attributes of God that were expressed in human form by Jesus are ours to experience as well. Praise God!
Jesus is a Promise of Satisfaction
It Is A Promise of Security
It Is A Promise of Security
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Not only are we adopted into the family of God, we are secured into the family of God. It is a point of no return. It is an everlasting bond that cannot be broken. It cannot be broken because it is kept in His power, not ours. Once we have chosen grace, grace will never let us go. The grace of God is sufficient to cover all of our imperfections through Christ.
Jesus is a promise of Security.
Commitment
Commitment
Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good?
The “eating” and “drinking” of v. 53-54 is synonymous with the “coming” and “believing” of v. 35.
Have you ever given your life to God? Not for miracles sake or for the sake of His benefits, but simply because of who He is. Have you ever come to the point of belief to where you say, “God, You are good no matter what.” “Whether my life is easy or hard; whether my life plays out the way I wish or not; whether I get the desires of my heart or not....You are still God and You are worthy of my praise!!!”
He is the bread of life. He is the source of everlasting life. He is everything you long for and everything you have been missing. He alone is the answer to your every prayer. You no longer need to keep seeking for your answers anywhere else…Jesus is all you need!!!