I AM Series - John 6:35-39

Jesus is essential for your life ( Bread of Life)

Welcome

Pastoral Burdens (if any)

Intro I AM series: core to the IAM - is Jesus saying he is YHWH (John 8:58.)

READ John 6:35-39.

Pray

Main idea: Jesus is essential for life

Intro: What are the essentials you would need to survive?

Context:

Quick overview of Johns Gospel: The BIG U.

Bread is a staple food. A person can survive on bread & water.

A person can not survive without bread (food) & water.

Jesus says He is the bread of Life = Jesus is essential for life, without Him you wont live (spiritually).

Jesus sets up his discourse (I am the bread of Life: John 6:22-59) with two signs (miracles).

Movement 1: Jesus Feeds 5,000 + ( John 6:1-15)

v.7-8

we will always be confronted with problems to big for us to solve

we are powerless, like Philip, looking for human solution - “I can fix it.”

Why did Jesus ask Philip the question? - So Philip (us) would learn no problems or situation is match for Jesus power.

Don’t be hard on the disciples: Yes, they saw Jesus turn water into wine (a miracle/great work) and still doubted.

We are the same: doubting God when we face a situation beyond us.

v.11-13

What is not much in our hands, is enough (MUCH) in Jesus HANDS.

“as much as they wanted.” & “When they were full”

God will always be enough for everyone

Jesus Supplies it is never to little

Ephesians 3:20: Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us.”

God is able to supplies above & beyond what we ask:

grace, patience, mercy, love, compassion, healed heart, restored: mind, relationship, marriage, job, identity, strengthen, endurance, courage, etc…

Illustration: dead ends when driving….Following Jesus never leads to a dead end. Jesus never rant into a problem he cant solve.

Dead end - No wine at the wedding - No problem

Dead end - No food in the wilderness - No problem

Dead end - No path forward at the red sea - No problem

Dead end - Sin enters into the world & all humanity - No problem

Collect the leftovers nothing is wasted

12 for the 12 tribes of Israel= Jews & In matthew account 7 basket = Gentiles

the 12 disciples (those who distributed) had a basket too. When you follow Jesus and minister (distribute/feed) his kingdom to others. He will ALWAYS make sure you have a basket (enough). God’s leftovers is not second days leftovers. He leftovers is FRESH.

Movement 2: Jesus walks on water in the storm (John 6:16-21). Walking on water.

Sea’s in the bible means chaos.

Jesus comes near in the storms

“it is, I” = I AM YHWH and there is not need to be afraid.

They were willing to take him board = they invited them in the boat.

when in the storm of life - Who you invite in the boat matters!

At once (immediately) the boat made it to the shore.

When Jesus is invited in the boat (by you) they make to the shore.

John does not say the storms stops! John makes it known the boat make it because Jesus was in it!

Movement 3: Look at the right thing. John 6:25-34)

v.25-25 Looking for the hand of Jesus instead of looking for Jesus. We want the blessing but not the blesser!

we often hunger for the wrong bread

Moved by full stomach (physically) not full hearts (spiritually)

v.27 Work Priorities (Spiritual over material)

Work for Spiritual food over physical food = Seek spiritual over the material.

We are lifeless because of misplaced priorities.

To busy

unwilling to surrend

comfort

people pleasing

fear

Work for the food that last for eternal

Look to Jesus

2 Corinthians 4:18 “So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Believe (trust/obey) NOT preform (do)

“This is the work of God - Believe in the one he has sent.”

Don’t mistake the source behind resource

Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness..”he (moses) gave them bread from heave to eat. .

God give the true bread from heaven.

Movement 3: God gives bread to those who are hungry

v.34: “Sir, give us this bread always.”

We are spiritually hungry. There is a growling of the soul that indicates emptiness inside. We were made to live on some sort of fuel.

we’re not sure where to find it or don’t want it

we feel hungry, so we look for something to fill the emptiness inside us.

We make sure we don’t go hungry (physically)

Compare that to how much time and energy and effort we put into making sure our spiritual hunger is met.

Only God’s Bread can give life

Jesus is the bread of life and he promises life to all who receives him:

Jesus makes it clear by say this 9x (v.27,33,40,47,50,51,54,57,58)

Read v.47-48

Read v50-51

“may eat of it and NOT DIE” = Kept from spiritual death

“eats of this bread he WIL LIVE forever.” =

God GIVES security in JESUS HAND

v.37 “I will never cast out.”

v.38 “I should lose none”

Movement 4: You Must Eat the Bread to live (John 6:35)

Thinking about eating is not eating

Knowing nutritions facts is not eating

Understanding how food is processed in the body is not eating

Same for Jesus

Thinking about jesus is not believing

Knowing facts about Jesus is not believing

Understanding how Jesus saves a person is not Believing

**To Come & Believe is to internalized the truth of Jesus. It is to receive Jesus into you soul**

Come to me (Jesus)

Leave beyond the world and your old ways to NEW ways in Jesus

Believe in me (Jesus)

Trust & obey in who Jesus is and his ways.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied’ - Matthew 5:6.

Movement 4: Will go or will you stay (John 6:60,63,66-69)

v.60 “This teaching is hard. who can accept it?”

The flesh give NO life but the SPIRIT give LIFE

v.63 “The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”

Will you turn back or stay?

v.66-69 “From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you? Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”