I AM the bread of life

What I want people to walk away with: When we walk out of this church, I want us to stop looking for things we need to do in order to secure the physical bread that will last a short while. Instead, I want us to review and invest in the ONE who will walk with us as we secure our spiritual food.

Passages: John 6; Matthew 10:28; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Psalms 23.

Introduction:

The last two months we have focused discovering the attributes of Jesus. We have learned how to pray, how to love, and how to be with Jesus.

We are beginning a new series. This is a continuation of what we have built on previously. For the next seven weeks we will go over the SEVEN I AM STATEMENTS OF JESUS.

Every day we make thousands of choices. It would be good if one of those choices is to pick Jesus. How can we get to know Jesus better? It is difficult to choose something we don’t know. So why can’t we take the time to get to know Jesus more each day?

Point 1: History of Jesus’ revelations

The gospel of John helps people understand who Jesus is. On seven different occasions, John helps readers understand the full authority of Jesus:

I am the bread of life

I am the light of the world

I am the door/gate

I am the good shepherd

I am the resurrection and the life

I am the way and the truth and the life

I am the true vine

For the next seven weeks, we will go over the historical background, theological significant, and biblical application of each point.

Why is this important? We base on choices on the things we need while Jesus tells us what He will provide for us.

Point 2: I am the Bread of Life

Imagine a moment, let’s picture the beginning of John 6 :

Jesus feeds the five thousand - gathers multitude of people by teaching them about the Kingdom of God. The King of providence.

Jesus walks on water - The disciples witnessing the miracle of Jesus calming the storm and calming their hearts. The Storm killer.

Jesus is the bread of life - Here Jesus speaks about giving the spiritual food, compared to the physical in the previous verses.

We see this natural rhythm of the chapter where people unravel a different side to Jesus’s ministry.

While people were searching for the Messiah to feed them physically, Jesus wanted to feed them spiritually.

Conversation between Jesus and the crowd:

John 6:25–32 NIV

25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” 28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” 30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.

Let’s break down the conversation into the Q and A style:

“Rabbi when did you come here?”

Jesus responds: you need me to feed you physically again?

Problem: They saw the miracles and now they are seeking other things Jesus can give them physically

“What must we do to do the works of God?”

Jesus responds: believe in the Father

Problem: The crowds were still chasing the “to-do list” in order to secure something else from Jesus.

“What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you?”

Jesus responds: We have our heavenly Father who will provide

Problem: The crowd was seeking more signs and wonders, more proof and assurance that they are on the right path.

People’s response:

John 6:34 NIV

34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

Jesus responds with this statement about himself:

John 6:35 NIV

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Conclusion:

God provided for Moses on a daily basis, so they were seeking assurance to secure the feeding schedule for today and tomorrow

They desired “A subscription for life” instead of the spiritual security

People watched Jesus grow up, they knew his earthly family, and could not think past these physical limitations…

John 6:42 NIV

42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

Bread will fill up your physical body, what is filling up your spiritual body?

Point 3: Physical and spiritual nutrition

Example: When we go to the store, we get certain things based on the expiration date. What about the spiritual fruit? What is the expiration date on that?

Let’s look at this passage in the gospel of Matthew which helps us define the perimeters of the physical and spiritual:

Matthew 10:28 NIV

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Interpretation: We are free to choose what goes into the developing of our bodies. Jesus warns us not to invest in the things that will wash up tomorrow.

Paul write these next verses as an encouragement to the church in Corinth:

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NIV

17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Interpretation: Any smart person will never invest in something that will perish. We all want to invest in something that will last a lifetime. As believers, we invest in things that will outlast us- the Kingdom of God.

Conclusion:

The physical focuses on what we can do, the spiritual focuses on what God has already done.

I want to conclude today’s conversation on the first I AM statement by reading the assurances which are found in Psalm 23. Let’s remind ourselves of what God has done. Ultimately, It is not WHAT we have, it is WHO we have:

Psalm 23 NIV

A psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd - Relationship I lack nothing - Supply He makes me lie down in green pastures - Rest he leads me beside quiet waters - Refreshment he refreshes my soul - Healing He guides me along the right paths - Guidance for his name’s sake - Purpose Even though I walk through the darkest valley - Testing I will fear no evil - Protection for you are with me - faithfulness your rod and your staff, they comfort me - Discipline You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies - Hope You anoint my head with oil - Consideration my cup overflows - Abundance Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life - Blessing and I will dwell in the house of the Lord - Security forever - Eternity