Jesus The Bread of Life Part 1

Introduction

Last week we left the crowd of followers trying to "take Jesus by force". We said this represented a desire to make Jesus what they wanted him to be. What this crowd was really looking for was a deliverer. In their limited understanding of the Messiah, they had skipped over the "Lamb of God" and were looking for the "Lion of God".

Revelation 5:4–5 KJV 1900

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

They were looking for the Kingdom of God that will be set up on this earth. A Kingdom in which Christ will rule and reign from the throne of David in the city of Jerusalem. A kingdom that will follow the 7 year period of time known as the "Great Tribulation" or "Jacob's Trouble".

Jeremiah 30:7 KJV 1900

Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; But he shall be saved out of it.

Question: Is looking for the Kingdom wrong? The kingdom of God will be a wonderful time. The problem lies not in looking ahead to the kingdom, but trying to force that kingdom into existence on their own timetable and in their own terms.

This failure to see Jesus for who he was and who he is, was due in large part to the selfish desires that controlled their hearts. They hated the Romans just as much as they hated the other Gentile powers that had ruled them for the last 5-600 years. They wanted a Sovereign not a Sacrifice. They wanted a Liberator not a Lamb. They were looking for a Baron not a piece of Bread!

But in the account we are looking at today that is exactly how Jesus presents himself. He presents himself as the Bread of Life.

Notice the crowd is still "seeking Jesus"

The crowd had noticed that Jesus was gone and that the disciples had taken a ship toward Capernaum and so they likewise did the same.

So we see that this crowd was still "seeking after Jesus".

John 6:25 KJV 1900

And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

I. There is a Rebuke by the bread(vs 25-32)

The rebuke centers around a false perspective - Earthly bread vs Eternal bread. It centers on a false motive!

John 6:26 KJV 1900

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.

1. You are not seeking me because you understand the significance of the miracles I have performed

2. You are seeking me because your flesh is intent on receiving some immediate benefit - a temporary provision

Application: Why are we in church this morning?

I think our reason for "seeking Jesus" would solve many of the issues we face.

II. There is a Revelation of the bread(vs 33-52)

The revelation focuses on the substance of the heavenly bread which we learn is Jesus Christ.

A. The True Bread is Eternal (vs 27)

"which endureth unto everlasting life"

John 6:27 KJV 1900

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Stop working so hard to provide for such a temporary need. Don't you understand there is something far more significant? God will give it to you!

James 4:14 KJV 1900

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

There must be a realization of our need.

Do you realize your Soul is eternal? One thing that separates man from all of God's creation is the fact that we are eternal beings created in the image of God.

Genesis 1:26–27 KJV 1900

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 2:7 KJV 1900

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Illustration: In the early sixties a woman by the name of Jane Goodall spent much of her life in the jungle studying chimpanzees. Scientist tell us that Chimpanzees share 98% of our DNA. She made many observations throughout her studies. She found that Chimpanzees are very emotional creatures. She found that baby chimpanzees form very close bonds with their mothers that stay with them for the rest of their life. But there is one thing that Jane Goodall failed to conclude. Although the same God that created the chimpanzee created man, He never breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. God did not give the chimpanzee a living soul! He did however, give one to man.

B. The True Bread is Excluding Works (vs 28)

There must be a relinquishing of our labor

John 6:28–29 KJV 1900

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Didn't Jesus just say "labour not", didn't he just say "which the son of man shall give"?

Romans 9:32 KJV 1900

Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

Our works are a platform for our pride and man does not so readily relinquish this platform.

I use to wonder why so many people scoffed at the message of the gospel. I use to wonder in amazement how so many trust in their good deeds, they are hanging on to hope that they have sufficiently satisfied the price of redemption.

Titus 3:5 KJV 1900

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Galatians 2:16 KJV 1900

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Song: Rock of Ages

Not the labors of my hands can fulfill thy law's commands; could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow, all for sin could not atone; thou must save, and thou alone.

C. The True Bread is Extended to All (vs 29)

"that ye believe on him whom he hath sent"

John 6:29 KJV 1900

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

They wanted to "work the works of God". But the standard for this work is to high for man to participate in it. For hundreds of years they have failed to keep the law of Moses. Now they were looking for some new work they could participate in?

The Philippian Jailer asked a similar question in Acts 16

Acts 16:28–31 KJV 1900

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Jesus said the same thing to Nicodemus

John 3:16 KJV 1900

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

D. The True Bread Exceeds Expectations (vs 30-31)

There must be a resignment of our expectations.

John 6:30–31 KJV 1900

They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

How presumptuous

What more could he have done?

Matthew 12:39 KJV 1900

But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

E. The True Bread Exists as a Person (Jesus Christ) (vs 33-51)

John 6:33–34 KJV 1900

For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

Notice the repeated personal pronouns through the next section of Scripture. Each point directly to the Saviour Jesus Christ

vs 35 "I am the bread of Life"

vs 36 "ye have seen me"

vs 37 "giveth me...I will in no wise cast out"

vs 38 "I came down from heaven"

vs 39 "sent me....I should lose nothing"

vs 40 "seeth the son....believeth on him...I will raise him up"

vs 41 "I am the bread which came down"

vs 42 "I came down from heaven"

vs 44 "I will raise him up"

vs 45 "cometh unto me"

vs 47 "he that believeth on me hath everlasting life"

vs 48 "I am that bread of life"

vs 51 " I am that living bread"

John 6:51 KJV 1900

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.

III. There is a Requirement of the bread(vs 52-59)

The requirement centers on our response to the bread that is prepared and presented. If we desire the life that comes with this bread we must eat. There is no other way.

John 6:52–53 KJV 1900

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 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.

A. It's a precise requirement

Many scoff at this point of the gospel, but the Scripture could not be clearer.

John 14:6 KJV 1900

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 10:1 KJV 1900

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

B. It's a promising requirement

John 6:54 KJV 1900

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Illustration: We just had a presidential election in this country and those who were old enough made a choice to vote or not to vote. But when it comes to the matter of Jesus Christ and the bread of life you do not get the opportunity to pass. You will either eat or you will not. I cannot understand why a person would choose to reject the "bread of life" but many do.

IV. There is a Rejection of the bread (vs 60-66)

The rejection highlights an unfortunate reality. Most will reject the "bread of life", while they spend their entire life focused on "the meat that perisheth".

John 6:60 KJV 1900

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

John 6:66 KJV 1900

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.