Bread Crumbs and Doubters

John 6:35–59 “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.

But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

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. 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.” So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent…”

The Bread of Life: Our Sustenance from Heaven

Bible Passage: John 6:35–50

Summary: In this passage, Jesus declares Himself as the Bread of Life, stating that those who come to Him will never hunger and those who believe in Him will never thirst. He contrasts the temporary nature of earthly bread with the eternal sustenance He provides.

Application: This sermon can help Christians understand the importance of relying on Jesus as their source of spiritual nourishment in a world filled with temporary pleasures. It encourages them to seek fulfillment and satisfaction through a relationship with Christ rather than through worldly means.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that Jesus is the essential sustenance for our spiritual lives, urging believers to continuously seek Him for their needs and to trust in His provision as the Bread of Life.

How this passage could point to Christ: In the broader context of Scripture, Jesus as the Bread of Life points to God's desire to sustain His people throughout history, ultimately fulfilled in Christ's sacrifice and the provision of eternal life through Him.

Big Idea: Jesus is the true Bread of Life who satisfies every spiritual hunger and thirst, calling us to trust in His sufficiency for both life now and eternally.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, I recommend diving into the context of John 6 in Logos. Explore how the feeding of the 5,000 in the preceding verses sets the stage for Jesus’ declaration. Examine the cultural significance of bread in biblical times and how it relates to Jesus’ claims. Also, consider looking into the various interpretations of 'eating the bread' and what it means for believers today.

1. Promise of Permanent Fulfillment

John 6:35–40

Jesus boldly declares Himself as the Bread of Life, inviting all who believe in Him to be fulfilled.

This passage challenges us to understand that true satisfaction and sustenance come from maintaining a relationship with Jesus,

beyond any physical or temporary needs.

Belief in Jesus ensures a permanent spiritual fulfillment and a promise of eternal life, drawing attention to Christ's commitment to not lose any that the Father gives Him.

There are seven places in Johns Gospel where Jesus gets very specific in regards to His “I AM” statements that we have already studied:

• I am the bread of life (6:35; cf. 41, 48, 51)

• I am the light of the world (8:12; cf. 18, 23)

• I am the gate for the sheep (10:7, 9)

• I am the good shepherd (10:11, 14)

• I am the resurrection and the life (11:25)

• I am the way and the truth and the life (14:6)

• I am the true vine (15:1, 5)

In V-36, Jesus admonishes the crowd as, Seeing, yet not believing.

Jesus is not asking them to take some mysterious leap off a hidden cliff.... No He tells them They have seen the Signs and Miracles, and yet they ask for more.

They have seen the Divine God of their Forefathers at work in their midst and still they do not believe.

Their disbelief is then a willful and intentional refusal of the Gift God is offering them.

Regardless of their disbelief, Jesus is not deterred in His mission. It is His Fathers mission, after all.

Jesus is operating in the full confidence that whatever task God has sent Him to do, will be accomplished.

This is the same faith and confidence we can bring to any conversation we may have today.

For those seeking the Truth of God, we can testify to the Goodness of God, based on the fact that God not set us up to fail. And God’s Will, will be done as long as we are faithful to do our part. Just as Jesus did His part.

John continually points us to the fact that God wants no one to be lost in the darkness of this world.

And yet, every person has to make their own choice to follow Jesus.

God has made the Eternal offer, it is the responsibility of each person to accept that offer.

2. Perception and Prejudice

John 6:41–45

And this is where the people of the Synagogue miss the point, again.

Not seeing Jesus Divine nature for Who He really is, all they see is a man, a man who is just the son of a local carpenter.

And, of course, they begin to grumble.

Let’s explore how the crowd’s reaction to Jesus' claim challenges us to see beyond earthly skepticism and embrace divine truth. .

This area reveals human doubts and murmuring when faced with Jesus’ divine identity.

“Who is he to say...”

“Is this not the son of Joseph, who we know...”

This grumbling is so like the murmurs of the Ancient Israelites, in the desert, speaking against Moses.

It is key that listeners reflect on their own doubts and how they can overcome these by being-

1- taught by God and

2- drawn to Jesus,

highlighting the importance of spiritual awakening for true understanding.

It is telling, indeed, that Jesus did NOT meet the grumbling with attempts to justify Himself...

He simply challenged their ability to receive- Spiritually- what God is providing to them.

Jesus recounts the prophecy of Isaiah 54.13 to re-enforce the idea that it must be God who moves on the inner heart of a man, before the things of God can be truly seen and comprehended.

And this can only happen, starting with God’s initiative.

3. Privilege of Divine Revelation

John 6:46–50

Now we focus on the distinguishing knowledge that Jesus offers, which comes from having seen the Father.

Jesus sets Himself apart from all others by claiming a unique insight and relationship with God.

Through this passage, the challenge is to recognize Jesus not just as a teacher, but as the embodiment of divine revelation, compelling us to trust fully in His words and the eternal life He offers.

Jesus repeats Himself in several areas of teaching in this closing section.

All to bring the final thought in verse 50, that...

Jesus is the Bread, come from Heaven...

That Jesus is greater than the one who previously provided bread for the people (Jesus)

Just like physical bread must be consumed to be of any benefit, The Bread of Life must also be consumed- not in any earthly fashion, but by the total immersion and consuming of the Spiritual Gift of Life from God.

In the 1800s, inventors were racing to create the first flying machine. One particular inventor, frustrated by failures, decided to take a break and have some fun with his kids.

They flew kites at the park, and he was reminded that, sometimes, the best way to find inspiration is to embrace joy and simplicity.

When we approach our faith with that same light-heartedness, we can soar to new heights, just as he would eventually do with his invention.

During the Great Depression, a small bakery was famous for giving away day-old bread. Customers lined up, not just for the bread, but for the laughter and joy shared by the bakers.

They cracked jokes and allowed the community to feel a sense of relief. This reminded the townsfolk that during bleak times, happiness and hope can be found in sharing and caring for one another.

Just like that bakery, we can be vessels of joy for others in our faith journey

A humorous story from Sunday School: a child interrupted the teacher while discussing the parable of the Prodigal Son.

The child asked, 'Is the pig still in the story?' to which the teacher replied, 'Actually, the pigs are gone, but the lesson remains!'

This simple yet funny moment invites us to reflect on the enduring messages of forgiveness and grace that Jesus teaches, reminding us to keep our focus on what truly matters.

Imagine a beautiful butterfly struggling to emerge from its cocoon. The process is painstaking; it looks so difficult.

But if someone were to help it, cutting the cocoon open, the butterfly would never develop the strength to fly.

Our challenges often serve a purpose in forming us for what lies ahead.

Likewise, God allows us to go through struggles, not to harm us, but to strengthen our faith and prepare us for His calling.

Questions

How can we understand the contrast Jesus makes between temporary earthly bread and the eternal sustenance He provides?

What are some common distractions we face that might lead us away from relying on Jesus for our spiritual needs?

How does believing in Jesus as the Bread of Life change our perspective on physical hunger and thirst?