Hunger & Thirst 2

Week 1 – Strive after the things of God and experience His goodness.

Week 2 – Jesus is the Bread of Life that is given to nourish us spiritually as individuals and as His Church.

Have you ever been so hungry that it was hard to be satisfied?

Eating These Foods Can Actually Make You Hungrier

· Sugar

· White Refined Flours/Grains

· Fast Food

Many foods increase our hunger rather than help it! We know that overeating increases the appetite for more calorie-rich foods, especially foods that stimulate our hungry hormones such as insulin, and overeating can also reduce our cell sensitivity to leptin (our ‘stop eating’ hormone)

John 6:30–35 | NLT

30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do?

31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven.

33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Jesus describes himself as the Bread of Life, Satisfies Our Spiritual Hunger

When the crowd asked Jesus for a sign, they were referencing the manna that God provided in the wilderness. They knew that their ancestors had been fed with bread from heaven—manna.

· It was a temporary provision from God to sustain them.

But here, Jesus is revealing something much greater. The manna was just a shadow of what was to come. The true bread from heaven is not something that Moses provided but what God has now provided in His Son!

Jesus tells us, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35).

He’s not talking about physical bread; He’s speaking about spiritual sustenance, that deep hunger within us. No earthly bread, no worldly achievement, no possession, and no other relationship can ever satisfy the hunger in our soul.

Only Jesus can:

· Fill the longing for meaning

· Fill the craving for purpose

· Fill the desire for connection with God

Bread and water is not a high-end meal à Jesus is for everyone

If you are spiritually hungry, Jesus is offering you more than just temporary relief. He’s offering Himself. Just as we need daily bread to survive physically, we need Jesus daily to live spiritually. Let us ask ourselves, “Am I feeding my spirit with the Bread of Life?”

Through Jesus, We Have Life-Giving Nourishment for All Eternity

In verse 33, Jesus says, “For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

The bread from heaven is not just for a select few, not only for those who seem “qualified” by earthly standards; it is given for the world. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was for every person, and through His resurrection, He gives us access to eternal life.

John 6:40 | NLT

40 For it is my Father’s will that all who see His Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”

The bread of life that Jesus offers doesn’t just satisfy us in this life; it sustains us for eternity. It is His desire, the Father’s will, that no one perishes. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus made a way for us to be fed with everlasting life.

We should not take this bread lightly.

When we partake of Jesus, we’re committing to live in His ways, to abide in His word. It’s not a one-time act but an ongoing relationship.

Just like when we eat every day, we need to come to Jesus daily, feeding on His word, praying in His name, and living in His Spirit. This is how we receive true, lasting nourishment.

We are Nourished Together in Christ, as His Church

When Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life, He’s not just addressing individuals in isolation; He’s addressing us as a community, His body, the Church.

When we come together as a church to worship, study the Word, pray, and share life, we are feeding on Him together.

1 Corinthians 10:17 | NLT

17 And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.

Just as bread unites the grains, we are united in Christ.

Think about how Jesus taught us to pray:

Matthew 6:11 – “Give us this day our daily bread”

This is not just a personal request; it’s a prayer for the whole community. Jesus doesn’t simply nourish individuals; He nourishes His entire body, the Church. When we gather as His people, when we encourage one another, when we serve and minister, we’re being nourished together.

Let’s be intentional about feeding on Christ as His Church

Let’s commit to being together

Let’s commit to encouraging one another

Let’s work to building each other up in love

Hebrews 10:24-25

24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

In a world that constantly tries to pull us apart, we are called to come together as the body, united in Jesus, who is our Bread of Life.

Application Point:

Jesus offers us something the world can never give—spiritual nourishment that satisfies now and forever.

He is the Bread of Life, given to feed our souls, to give us eternal life, and to unite us as His Church. The question is, will we come to Him and taste and see that He is good? Will we daily feed on the One who sustains us?

This week, let’s seek to feed on Jesus, the Bread of Life, and encourage each other to do the same. When we come to Him and believe, He promises we will never hunger or thirst spiritually again. We’ll be filled, renewed, and empowered to be His witnesses in this world.

We will be nourished together through Jesus.

The feasts and meals during the holiday season are not just tables filled with food but also tables filled with people. Meals are better when the tables are full of food and everyone has a place to sit.