The Bread of Life
Notes
Transcript
We have started our study of the Life of Jesus, by examining His identity according to the gospels; especially the gospel of John.
He is declared to be God; the Word made flesh.
He is the Light of men; exposing the darkness and all sin; revealing to us the heavenly Father, God, His righteousness, and the way to salvation.
We will begin today to examine the self-proclaimed, I Am statements of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of John.
They are as follows:
“I Am” Sayings in John’s Gospel (7)
“I Am” Sayings in John’s Gospel (7)
1. “I am the bread of life” (6:35, 48; see also 6:41, 51);
2. “I am the light of the world” (8:12; 9:5);
3. “I am the door” (10:7, 9);
4. “I am the good shepherd” (10:11, 14);
5. “I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25);
6. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (14:6);
7. “I am the true vine” (15:1; see also 15:5).
I Am the Bread of Life
I Am the Bread of Life
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
The Context
Preceded by the miraculous feeding of 5,000
It is the Passover Season
After being fed, the crowd zealously seeks to find Jesus.
He and His apostles have slipped away from them to the other side of the Lake of Tiberias (the sea of Galilee) to the city of Capernaum.
They “Uber” across the lake by boats which arrive in the morning of the next day.
Jesus speaks to them in the Capernaum synagogue.
Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”
The Food Which Perishes
The Food Which Perishes
Their zeal and passion is for the earthly / material benefits (the food Jesus can supply)
This is reminiscent of the Samaritan woman whom Jesus spoke to as she was attempting to draw water from a well. (recorded in John 4:15)
The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.”
Jesus spoke spoke to her of the Living Water.
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
Now Jesus contrasts the temporal things with the eternal.
He exposes the misguided intents for seeking Him. Then He seeks to turn their hearts into the right direction. (this would be a call to repentance)
“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”
Jesus challenges them to put their energy and passion into working for the food which gives eternal Life.
When asked what “Work” they needed to do, Jesus answers them concerning the work that God requires.
The Work of Faith
The Work of Faith
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Faith is the work required of us. Not just any faith, but faith which has Jesus Christ as its object.
Faith can prove to be a hard work at times for its object is not our self, its not our means, nor is it anything under our own power to control.
The object of our faith must be Christ alone.
He is not the mere giver of the bread of life, He is the bread of life.
The people point to the manna from Heaven under Moses’ leadership in the wilderness.
Jesus makes clear that the manna came from God and not Moses.
However, a miracle as it was, those who ate that manna eventually died.
Now God has sent the true manna.
The true bread which gives eternal life.
We must labor to seek Him; to trust in, and rely upon Him and Him alone as our Savior.
The law was given before Christ, yet no one is saved by the works of the law, but by the work of Jesus christ.
Jesus is The Bread which Gives Life Eternal
Jesus is The Bread which Gives Life Eternal
“I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
The Bread Metaphor looks to the offering of Jesus as the lamb of God. The offering of His body upon the cross.
Jesus spoke concerning the partaking of His Flesh. This was a hard saying for the people to understand.
Jesus went on to explain:
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
Jesus gave Himself for us. He was broken for us.
He said to His disciples at The Last Supper after breaking the bread, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
The Bread of Life is Christ, Jesus!
We must seek the benefits of the cross, and the life of the resurrection!
We must believe on Him; Receive Him; trust and obey Him.
“Man does not live by bread alone but by every Word which proceeds from the mouth of God.” (-Jesus)
He instructs us to pray to the Father, “Give us this day our daily bread.”
The Words of Christ are Spirit and Life.
We must do the work of faith.
The Command -
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
The Assurance -
“For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”
