I AM the bread of heaven
Sunday's sermon was the 3rd in a series of "I AM sermons" looking at Jesus' own claims to be God Almighty. This cannot be overstated as there are many "out there" who will say ridiculous things such as "Jesus never claimed to be God. It was something His disciples made up later."
Jesus, with His miracles, His words, His fulfilled prophecies relating to Himself and ultimately rising from the dead proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is indeed the great I AM!
Here are some points from Tim's sermon:
"Then Jesus declared, "I AM the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)
Point 1: Jesus Provides True Sustenance For Life
Yes, there is a physical hunger that humans have but there is another kind of hunger...To know that my life is not an accident. To know that my life has meaning.
Jesus boldly claims "I AM the bread of life."
To understand the verse more clearly we need to know the backdrop to the situation. Jesus had just fed the crowd of more than 5,000 with 5 barley loaves and 2 fish. 12 basketfuls were collected after the people were satisfied. Many thought "He must be The Prophet" but they didn't think to equate Him with God. That would be blasphemy in their eyes to equate someone with God. That is why people often referred to Him as "teacher" "rabbi" or "a prophet". It is Jesus who raised Himself to the level of God.
Next, Jesus put His disciples in a boat and sent them across the Sea of Galilee. The people wanted to make Him king. Jesus later walked on water to His disciples. The people from the miracle became hungry again and sought Jesus. They tried buttering Him up with "Rabbi, when did you get here?" They found Jesus but Jesus knew the real reason they followed Him. John 6:25-59 is all about Jesus moving them from the physical to the spiritual. From the temporal to the eternal. Jesus says in verse 27, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed His seal of approval." Verses 28-29 are of EXTREME importance:
"Then they asked Him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent."
But we see in verse 30 that they still wanted a sign. He already performed a mighty miracle but they were still stuck in the physical. Their focus on food in verse 31 showed that they were still only thinking about their stomaches!
Their attitude is basically, "What has God done for me today?"
Before we condemn their attitudes, we should look at ourselves. Don't we do the same thing by looking at our immediate needs?!
EVERYTHING in this world is temporary.
Here is a prediction. I predict that everyone hearing this will someday die.
You see, Jesus wanted to give them SO MUCH MORE than what they were expecting.
This is true for us as well!
The people equated Jesus with Moses or Abraham or a great prophet but Jesus was constantly telling them "Think higher, guys!!!" That is why Jesus said such things as "One greater than Solomon is here." "One greater than Jonah is here." (Luke 11:31-32)) "Before Abraham was, I AM!" (John 8:58) and "One greater than the temple is here." (Matthew 12:6) The book of Hebrews explains, "Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself." (Hebrews 3:3) "I and my Father are one." (John 8:19, 10:30) "My Father gave the bread not Moses." (John 8:32)
The point is that GOD gives the true bread from heaven, NOT religious leaders.
Bread gives life.
Religious leaders give laws
but only the bread of God gives life.
Then in verse 34, "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
Here's the main thrust in verse 35:
"Then Jesus declared, "I AM the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."
FULL SIGNIFICANCE!
Jesus did NOT say, "I am a nutrient that will supplement your daily requirements"!!!
These are His OWN words! He offers HIMSELF, not a religion or rules!
He is the only one that can sustain for all eternity.
In verse 37, He continues: "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."
How many that the Father gives Him will come to Him?! ALL
When will He drive away those who come to Him?! NEVER
verses 39-40: "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
I MYSELF will raise him up!!
THAT'S what (or more correctly "who") makes life worth living!!!
Dave Dobson shared in one of his books about a man in his 30s (the prime of life) who was dying of liver disease. He didn't complain and wasn't bitter. He felt nothing but gratitude to his parents for teaching him about Jesus and gratitude to Jesus for giving him a life worth living.
There is a lot of hopelessness and emptiness in life.
Far too many in the world are skeptical and cynical. They need to know what we know. Jesus came to eradicate that emptiness. Not for a day or a week...but for ETERNITY!
Point 2: Jesus Provides Complete Satisfaction in Life:
Looking again at verse 35, Jesus came to bring a life with no regrets, with purpose, that counts; with meaning for all eternity.
You will only be satisfied if you find what is fulfilling. (That is, your purpose)
For example: A watch's purpose is to tell time. If it rebels and decides that "it wants" to be used as a hammer, it won't be very useful. Nor would it be worth much if we tried using it to unplug drains!
What is YOUR reason/purpose for living?
You need to read verses 47-63 to fully understand.
Jesus is saying "The most important thing in your life is ME. It's all about me. I have to be your passion and purpose." As He expresses in John 15:5, "...without Me, you can do NOTHING!" (of eternal significance)
You must be consumed by Christ.
This was His answer to the question "What is the greatest commandment?"
Jesus stated that we must love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. (Matthew 22:36-40)
If so, there is an INCREDIBLE promise:
"No eye has seen,
no eye has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him"
(1 Corinthians 2:9 quoting from Isaiah 64:4)
That is, IF you devote yourself to God and love Him with all your heart.
IF you are only interested in your temporary needs, you will NEVER be satisfied.
Why?! Because the things of this world, just don't last.
"If you live long enough, you will find out that life will trash your trophies"
and in the end, you will realize that you have wasted your life.
What a tragedy to look back at the end of your life and realize that it was all in vain.
The only life that is satisfying is one that is wholeheartedly devoted to God.
What is important to Him will become important to you.
What is important to Him, you ask?!..."LOST PEOPLE"
"In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." (Matthew 18:14)
This is why the 2nd part of the Great Commandment is to love your fellow man.
If you cling to God and love Him with all your heart, He will give you a capacity to love people that you never felt possible. Beyond your ability to comprehend. Bringing eternal life to others-Now, that's a life that means something!
So, LET'S EAT! Come to Jesus!
Jesus, with His miracles, His words, His fulfilled prophecies relating to Himself and ultimately rising from the dead proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is indeed the great I AM!
Here are some points from Tim's sermon:
"Then Jesus declared, "I AM the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)
Point 1: Jesus Provides True Sustenance For Life
Yes, there is a physical hunger that humans have but there is another kind of hunger...To know that my life is not an accident. To know that my life has meaning.
Jesus boldly claims "I AM the bread of life."
To understand the verse more clearly we need to know the backdrop to the situation. Jesus had just fed the crowd of more than 5,000 with 5 barley loaves and 2 fish. 12 basketfuls were collected after the people were satisfied. Many thought "He must be The Prophet" but they didn't think to equate Him with God. That would be blasphemy in their eyes to equate someone with God. That is why people often referred to Him as "teacher" "rabbi" or "a prophet". It is Jesus who raised Himself to the level of God.
Next, Jesus put His disciples in a boat and sent them across the Sea of Galilee. The people wanted to make Him king. Jesus later walked on water to His disciples. The people from the miracle became hungry again and sought Jesus. They tried buttering Him up with "Rabbi, when did you get here?" They found Jesus but Jesus knew the real reason they followed Him. John 6:25-59 is all about Jesus moving them from the physical to the spiritual. From the temporal to the eternal. Jesus says in verse 27, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed His seal of approval." Verses 28-29 are of EXTREME importance:
"Then they asked Him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent."
But we see in verse 30 that they still wanted a sign. He already performed a mighty miracle but they were still stuck in the physical. Their focus on food in verse 31 showed that they were still only thinking about their stomaches!
Their attitude is basically, "What has God done for me today?"
Before we condemn their attitudes, we should look at ourselves. Don't we do the same thing by looking at our immediate needs?!
EVERYTHING in this world is temporary.
Here is a prediction. I predict that everyone hearing this will someday die.
You see, Jesus wanted to give them SO MUCH MORE than what they were expecting.
This is true for us as well!
The people equated Jesus with Moses or Abraham or a great prophet but Jesus was constantly telling them "Think higher, guys!!!" That is why Jesus said such things as "One greater than Solomon is here." "One greater than Jonah is here." (Luke 11:31-32)) "Before Abraham was, I AM!" (John 8:58) and "One greater than the temple is here." (Matthew 12:6) The book of Hebrews explains, "Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself." (Hebrews 3:3) "I and my Father are one." (John 8:19, 10:30) "My Father gave the bread not Moses." (John 8:32)
The point is that GOD gives the true bread from heaven, NOT religious leaders.
Bread gives life.
Religious leaders give laws
but only the bread of God gives life.
Then in verse 34, "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
Here's the main thrust in verse 35:
"Then Jesus declared, "I AM the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."
FULL SIGNIFICANCE!
Jesus did NOT say, "I am a nutrient that will supplement your daily requirements"!!!
These are His OWN words! He offers HIMSELF, not a religion or rules!
He is the only one that can sustain for all eternity.
In verse 37, He continues: "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."
How many that the Father gives Him will come to Him?! ALL
When will He drive away those who come to Him?! NEVER
verses 39-40: "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
I MYSELF will raise him up!!
THAT'S what (or more correctly "who") makes life worth living!!!
Dave Dobson shared in one of his books about a man in his 30s (the prime of life) who was dying of liver disease. He didn't complain and wasn't bitter. He felt nothing but gratitude to his parents for teaching him about Jesus and gratitude to Jesus for giving him a life worth living.
There is a lot of hopelessness and emptiness in life.
Far too many in the world are skeptical and cynical. They need to know what we know. Jesus came to eradicate that emptiness. Not for a day or a week...but for ETERNITY!
Point 2: Jesus Provides Complete Satisfaction in Life:
Looking again at verse 35, Jesus came to bring a life with no regrets, with purpose, that counts; with meaning for all eternity.
You will only be satisfied if you find what is fulfilling. (That is, your purpose)
For example: A watch's purpose is to tell time. If it rebels and decides that "it wants" to be used as a hammer, it won't be very useful. Nor would it be worth much if we tried using it to unplug drains!
What is YOUR reason/purpose for living?
You need to read verses 47-63 to fully understand.
Jesus is saying "The most important thing in your life is ME. It's all about me. I have to be your passion and purpose." As He expresses in John 15:5, "...without Me, you can do NOTHING!" (of eternal significance)
You must be consumed by Christ.
This was His answer to the question "What is the greatest commandment?"
Jesus stated that we must love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. (Matthew 22:36-40)
If so, there is an INCREDIBLE promise:
"No eye has seen,
no eye has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him"
(1 Corinthians 2:9 quoting from Isaiah 64:4)
That is, IF you devote yourself to God and love Him with all your heart.
IF you are only interested in your temporary needs, you will NEVER be satisfied.
Why?! Because the things of this world, just don't last.
"If you live long enough, you will find out that life will trash your trophies"
and in the end, you will realize that you have wasted your life.
What a tragedy to look back at the end of your life and realize that it was all in vain.
The only life that is satisfying is one that is wholeheartedly devoted to God.
What is important to Him will become important to you.
What is important to Him, you ask?!..."LOST PEOPLE"
"In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." (Matthew 18:14)
This is why the 2nd part of the Great Commandment is to love your fellow man.
If you cling to God and love Him with all your heart, He will give you a capacity to love people that you never felt possible. Beyond your ability to comprehend. Bringing eternal life to others-Now, that's a life that means something!
So, LET'S EAT! Come to Jesus!
posted by Andrew Brown at 1:02 PM
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