"I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE"

Pray

Well typically I don’t talk a lot about television shows that Kim and I watch. But I thought I would highlight one particular show as we start our message this morning, this show is called alone. In case you don’t know what alone is, this show follows the 10 individuals as they survive alone in the wilderness for as long as possible using a limited amount of survival equipment. With the exception of medical check-ins, the participants are isolated from each other and all other humans. They may "tap out" at any time, or be removed due to failing a medical check-in. The contestant who remains the longest wins a grand prize of $500,000. Now the seasons have been filmed across a range of remote locations, many of which are in northern Canada, where it’s freezing Cold.

Here's what I want you to know about this tv show this morning. Despite the hardship the challengers face, despite the cold temperatures, and the predators of the wild bears and other animals, and despite all kinds of other obstacles that they must navigate. After watching 2 seasons, the number one reason that people tap out is because they don’t have enough to eat.

You see. In looking this week, I found that each person can go without food for 43 to 70 days before dying from starvation. But if a person isn’t feed adequately in time, inevitably they will die.

You see, food for us is life… it’s detrimental to our survival, we need it… and yet, we often take it for granted. But other things in life, things that weigh us down. The bad news, the letter in the mail, the phone call we didn’t expect… but whether some needs or more obvious than others, friends, we all have many needs this morning.

You see, last week we began on a 7-week Journey entitled the 7 I am Statements of Christ. We looked at the death and resurrection of Lazarus. And we saw that we serve a God of power, a god of compassion and one who wants everyone to come to repentance.

But this, we’re going to transition to another area of needs as we examine that Jesus is the bread of life. If you have your bibles look with me at John 6. As you turn there, there are 3 points that we will consider together. 1 we see that Christ is our 1. Provider. 2. Sustainer. 3. Advocate.

1. Provider

As we begin looking at John 6, we see that Jesus finds himself in Galilee, the northern part of Israel. And at the start of John 6 Jesus is going to perform a miracle to start the chapter, which will then transition to a message relating to miracle.

And the scripture that we read this morning, about the feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle (aside from the resurrection of Jesus) that is covered in all 4 gospels. And it’s significant, because ultimately, aside from the resurrection itself, this miracle would affect more people, then any of the others. In other words, it was the largest of Jesus Miracles.

But what I want us to see this morning, is that whenever Jesus did a miracle. He wasn’t doing it to show off. I mean we think about superheroes today, and as a kid in new camp groups, one of the questions that they might ask is: “hey, if you could be any superhero at all, who would you be and why?”

But what I want us to see this morning, is that when Jesus showed up on scene… He wasn’t showing off his miracles, just so that he could show off. No, Jesus was loving, and compassionate, and always meeting peoples deepest felt needs. We see that this morning as we examine the scripture together.

John 6::1-15

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

So, we just covered a bit of scripture here. But let’s unpack what’s taken place.

So, we notice that there is a crowd of 5,000 men present, which according to my studies, I found this was likely somewhere in the range of 15,000 – 20,000 people when you count the women and children present.

And during this phase in Jesus earthly ministry, he was gaining popularity as he had performed other miracles,and people wanted to come and check out for themselves who this Jesus was after all. And what we learn from the other gospels is that during the course of the day that Jesus would go on to feed heal those present and teach them, but again, what we see here is that the motive is compassion and love.

But as the day is getting late, a situation takes place. A problem arises, as the there is no food.

And yet, Jesus we’re told, would take this opportunity, and use it as a teaching moment for his disciples and for us this morning. As he would turn to Philip and ask in verse 5: “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” and what’s interesting is in verse we’re told 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. (And then) 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

Then we see from the scriptures that Andrew would speak up and say: “9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

You see, Jesus knew the problem. He also knew the solution. But he wanted to use his disciples as part of this miracle. He didn’t want to just tell them about it, he wanted to test them, to see what was in their heart… and then allow them to be a part of what he would do through them.

You see, the truth is… Many of us this morning, like to be fixers of things. When problems arise, when situations come up, we like to be creative and think of how we can handle it… we like to think of how we can solve the problem. Can anyone relate with that this morning?That when a problem arises, that you think of how you need to fix it?

You see, I was listening to a local Christian radio station this week and the pastor on their said something that really made me think. He pointed out that if you really want God to do something big in your life… ask him to do something that you can’t do on your own. He went on to explain, “things that we can do on our own, we really don’t need God’s help for…” But then he said, “but ask God to do something that’s bigger than you, ask Him to do something out of your comfort zone. Ask him to do something that you can’t do on your own…” and if you do, he’ll show up in a big way.

I wonder for us this morning. Do we take this approach this morning. Do we allow God into our problems? You see, with the disciples that afternoon, they didn’t really have another option as Phillip would go on to say, that what Jesus was asking would take more than a half of years wages. But the question is, is God big enough for what you’re going through this morning? Phillip and Andrew.

You see, I don’t know about you, but man life can cause me to worry sometimes. And yet, I’m reminded of the words of Matthew 6: 25-27 which explains: 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?

Friends, this morning. We can rejoice, because our father knows what we need before we even ask him. Wherever you are this morning, you can be confident, that although you might feel a little uneasy about your current circumstance, you know God has your back, and friends we serve a big, big God this morning.

2. Sustainer

As we Fast forward in John 6: 25-33, we realize that it’s the next day. Jesus now turns the miracle… into the message. We’re told: 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. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

If we stop for a moment, I want us to consider a few things. First, the disciples that are gathered are not just the 12, but there are other followers of Christ who are there who are listening to what he’s saying. and about these followers, verse 66 would go on to say: 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

You see, here was the problem at stake. The day before, Jesus had performed the miracle of multiply the bread, and taking care of their physical needs. He had healed many the day before, and yet, they rejected his message, that he was the messiah. You see, just the day before, Jesus had done a great miracle right in front of them, and yet, the Bible says that despite that… 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.

You see, the crowd that day was interested in the miracles… but they weren’t interested in the messiah. They wanted the benefits… but not the beliefs. They wanted the signs… but not the savior.

About this miracle John Calvin would quote Matthew 12, “This wicked question clearly shows the truth of what is said elsewhere; A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign.”

You see I want to take a moment and take us through what Jesus was explaining to them, and what really holding them up that day. If we go back to the scripture this morning. We’re told: “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. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

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

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.

You see If we could take examine this scripture for a few minutes, I want us to have a clear understanding of what Jesus was saying to those “followers” that day. Jesus would explain that Moses didn’t give them the bread. In fact, and as you know, in Exodus the Israelites were to go out each day to collect just what they needed, for if they gathered to much, enough for 2 days, it would spoil. And here Jesus compares bread that spoils as he refers to in verse 27. With true bread.

but it is my Father who gives you the truebread from heaven.

In the scripture the word give Gives is the Greek word didōmi – which is the present tense indicating that the true bread was not what was given in the past, but what the Father was currently Giving through Jesus. And the word true here is the word alēthinos which means “genuine or real” for ultimately the bread that the father would give, was only a foreshadow of the ultimate, True bread which came from Heaven in the form of Jesus himself. As only he would fully satisfy.

Jesus goes on to say: 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

The word life here is the word zōē refers not to the physical and temporal life which the manna sustained for that word in scripture is bios, instead the word zōē refers to the spiritual and eternal life that comes only through Jesus Christ.

And finally, Jesus would come to this place in verse 35 where he tells them. 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.

You see, Jesus would go on to say that he in fact, is the bread, or the source of life. And he’s not talking about satisfying the physical hunger. No Jesus is explaining that he satisfies the soul and the inner man.

You see, I love olive garden, or Texas roadhouse… On Thursday night, Kim and I were over in Lima, and we stopped by Olive Garden to get a bit to eat. And the food is delicious. Any olive garden fans? Starts out with the free bread sticks, and then the salad and soup, which you get as much of that as you want, and then the delicious fettucine alfredo. And to top it off you get those Andes mints… right, what’s not to like about Olive garden?!

But the problem is, while Olive Garden will take care of my physical needs, it does little for in here… it does little for my heart… Friends, that’s why so many people shop, to satisfy this itch, that’s why so many people over eat, or indulge in sinful activity, because there is a desire within us to worship something greater than ourselves, and to serve a particular master in our lives.. and the question is, will we serve Christ? The question is will we let Him sustain us? The question is, when life gets tough… what do you run to?

You see Matthew 6:11, makes it clear. Jesus teaches us how to pray and he says: 11 Give us today our daily bread.The problem is we can’t expect yesterday’s bread to get us through today’s needs. Friends what are we turning to? Friends, Jesus is that bread this morning.

In Matthew 4:1-4. Jesus is in the wilderness being tempted by the devil, and the scripture tells us: 4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

You see here, Satan was trying to appeal to Christ’s physical needs. To his desire to eat. And yet, Jesus takes the scripture and says that it’s not all about the physical. “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” That word here for word you may remember is not the general Greek word logos which refers to all scripture but to the word rhema which means a specific word, for a specific problem for a specific day.

Jesus would talk of the same sort of satisfaction and filling in Matthew 5:6 where he states: Blessed (or happy) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.

You see, although God is the source of all Physical life, listen, he is also the source of our spiritual life as well.And the truth is When you don’t eat… You start to feel tired; you probably get a headache, you feel weak, perhaps unmotivated…

3. Advocate

This next point, we’re not going to spend a ton of time on. But as I was reading through the scripture this week, this verse Just kind of jumped out at me.

John 6:37 continues 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

You see ultimately, Jesus is saying that the very reason that he came from heaven was to do his fathers will. And that the will of God is that he would raise up and prepare those who have been given to him by God. And so, as a Father would raise up those that he is responsible for. Yes, Jesus here is saying that he has a responsibility to lose none of all those he has been given but to raise them up at the last day.

And friends this morning. Our job as parents, as loved ones, as a church. is to do the will of the one has sent us.What is that will. It’s the same as Jesus. We ourselves, are to lose none of all those that he has given to us, but raise them up at the last day.

Friends, here’s the point. Jesus is rooting for us this morning. Jesus is on your side. He has your back. You’re not in this alone. But we have a responsibility to the next generation to do the same. You see, even as a minister, do you know who my first ministry really is? My first ministry is really my family. A wise pastor once told me the order of priorities in my life should be 1. God. 2. My family. 3. The church. Some pastors throughout time, have gotten this order wrong… they place their ministry over their relationship with God, and their families take a back seat… but friends, for me, for you, this morning our priorities should be God, Family, church…

My question is, you have little kids. Innocent, young, just starting out in the word… they don’t know anything. They’re lives have such potential for impact, such potential for change… what will you do with what god has called and equipped you to?

I’m going to call Lisa forward at this time.

And as she’s coming forward, I just want to read the account of Luke of the feeding of the 5,000 the bible tells us that on that day:

Luke 9:17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

I would transition for a moment to your life with Christ. To your walk.

I walk ask you this:

1. Are there needs in your life that seem bigger than you this morning?Are there health needs? are there financial needs? Are there other struggles or things you’re dealing with this morning?

- God may not always answer the way we want, but he does ask us to come and meet with him. He knows what’s best for our lives, and he’s working all things for good this morning.

2. Are you satisfied spiritually this morning? Put another way, what motivates you? What fuels you?What’s getting you through from one day to the next? This morning, perhaps it’s time to spend more time in the word… Perhaps it’s time to spend more time in prayer, in devotion to Christ…

3. Are we doing our part to help raise the next generation. Do we take that responsibility seriously this morning, that Christ has positioned us… during the last days, to do the will of the Father and to raise up the next generation?

Pray

John 6: 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.