Walking away from Jesus

John 6:66

What is the value of a loaf of bread?

Global Significance: Nearly every culture has its version of bread—naan in India, injera in Ethiopia, baguette in France, pita in the Middle East, cornbread in the American South. It crosses social, economic, and geographic boundaries

In Famine: In famine-stricken lands, a single loaf represents life, hope, and provision. Bread becomes not just food but a miracle.

In some refugee camps, bread is passed from mother to child with reverence, because it may be the only meal of the day. That loaf becomes sacred.

In Affluence: In places of abundance, it may be taken for granted—a staple on every table. Yet even here, bread binds people around the dinner table.

John 6:10 “And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.”

The people followed Jesus by boat across the sea to Capernaum, not because they wanted to see more miracles, but because they were hungry.

John 6:26 “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”

The people wanted to be purposeful in their faith and do works that were seen by God as useful. That their works separated them from worldly works.

they wanted a sign so that they could believe

they defended their urgency with the faith of their fathers who lived under Moses, ate manna, and God gave them bread from heaven.

People: “We want to do greater things than our fathers. Show us a miracle, and teach us how to be holy.”

Jesus: “Take the true bread of Heaven, bread from God, the Bread of Life”

People: “Lord, give us this bread forevermore!!!”

Jesus: “I’m here. I’m the bread of life!”

Bread of Life = bred which supplies life

The Father, Jesus, and The Bread of Life

The people understood who God was.

The people understood who Jesus was.

John 6:42 “And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?”

They did not understand who the savior was, the “bread of life.”

Jesus tells them who he is:

John 6:47–51 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

Bread played an important part in their lives, yet they could not understand the reference to which he was referring.

Leviticus 23:17 “Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord.”

Exodus 25:30 “And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.”

Here, Christ was revealing another manner in which bread would play a significant role in their lives:

The Ordinance of Communion

John 6:53–55 “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.”

A look at who was in attendance:

those inside the synagogue

Jews

a crowd of people

many disciples (more than 12)

The offense of the gospel

The disciples had a difficult time hearing what he said

what turns us away from truth, God, Jesus & the Gospel?

illness, Isaiah 38:9 “The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:”

fear / lies of the devil, 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:

lack of hope, Titus 2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

Jesus perceived their spirit and unbelief

John 6:65 “And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.”

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary A. Healing the Disabled, Feeding the Hungry, Walking on Water (5:1–6:71)

God only grants to Jesus those who are willing to respond to him. The Father cooperates with a person’s decision to believe in his Son.

John 6:66 “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”

What is Jesus response?

He let them go.

John 6:67 “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?”

What is our response to the Bread of Life?

2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”

Matthew 24:10–12 “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

Wax Cold = give away, bit by bit

or…

John 6:68–69 “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

What is the value of a loaf of bread?

Cultural and Global Significance

Famine

Affluence, everyone loves bread!!

It makes you fat!

What is the value of the Bread of Life?

an invitation from God the Father to know His son, Jesus Christ.

an invitation to fellowship with God through His son, Jesus Christ as we remember Him through the act of Communion

an invitation to know our identity and whom we serve, just as Simon Peter proclaimed, “Where shall we go? “Thou art the Christ, she Son of the living God.”