“I AM…”

Scripture:            John 6:4-13

                The Bread of Life

In this series Jesus answers the “Who are You” question – with answers that begin with the words “I Am…!”

SLIDES: (Pictures of the starving) – Have you ever been truly hungry?! / Today = “I am Bread of Life”

Jesus just fed 5,000 – not to fill their bellies with food – but their hearts with something better – (Jn. 20:30-31)

I. Three Truths about “The Bread of Life” – John 6

A. Gives Assurance of Eternal Life, (verses 30-40)

1. “The meal was great!  Now what do you do for an encore?”

a. Jn 6:30-31, “What do you do for a sign, so that we may see and believe You? What work do You perform?  Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness; ‘Moses gave them bread out of heaven to eat.

1) Thru Moses – the people of God had eaten manna – for 40 years in the wilderness.

2) “If you want us to believe – you need to do better than feeding us 1x in the wilderness!!!

3) Agnostics, “He’s got to prove it!” – To which God says - (Quote Matt. 12:39; Rom. 1:20).

b. So Jesus tells them – (vs. 32), “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread of heaven, but it is My Father who gives the true bread out of heaven. - For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 

2. As is typical of John – the people want physical blessings – But Jesus offers the spiritual!

1) This is the God most people want – One who will GIVE us something for practically nothing!

2) (v. 34), “They said to Him, ‘Lord, evermore give us this bread.’”

b. THE KEY VERSE! - (v. 35), “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall NOT HUNGER, and he who believes in Me shall NEVER THIRST.”   -  [The key to this whole section!]

c. But now we see Jesus’ ENCORE –Bread of Life Gives Assurance of Eternal Life!!!

1) Just as in the sign of the 5,000 – “gather up the leftovers that nothing…,” (v. 12) 

2) (v. 39), “This is the will of Him who sent Me,  that of all He has given Me I lose nothing”

d. Only Jesus gives us assurance of Eternal Life!!

B. Separates the Eternal from the Temporary!” (verses 41-51)

1. (vs. 41-42), ““The Jews therefore were grumbling about Him because He said, ‘I am the bread that came down out of heaven. - They were saying, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? – How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven?’”

a. They could see only the temporary/physical (Jesus family) – but not the eternal/spiritual!

b. “How does God draw us away from seeing the physical (temporary) to the spiritual (eternal)?

1) Divine (magnet) – (v. 44), “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him

2) Human (iron) – (v. 45), “It is written in the prophets, ‘They shall all be taught of God.’ – Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

2. Immediately Jesus (God) begins teaching them – so they can hear & learn – and be drawn to Him!!!

a. (vs. 47-50), “Truly, truly, I say to you, - he who believes has eternal life. – I am the bread of life. – Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and they died. – This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so one may eat it and not die.”

1) Even those who ate the manna died physically – (the physical never completely satisfies!)

2) Yet those who eat the Spiritual bread – will enjoy eternal life!

b. Those who take Jesus – separate themselves from temporary existence – to ETERNAL LIFE!

C. Gives Us All We Truly Need! (verses 52-59)

1. The Jews are stuck in “worldly/physical thinking”:

a. (v. 52), “The Jews began to argue with one another, saying, ‘How can this man give us His to eat

b. How many of us today are still wanting the physical from God: great paying jobs, trouble-free marriages, children who are always obedient, parents who give great allowances, etc., etc., etc.!!!

1) (Quote Matt. 6:19-21), “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth….”

2) (Quote Matt. 20:25-27), “You know the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and….”

c. Jesus alone gives us what we truly need – (v. 54), “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life.”

1) Just as in the feeding of the 5,000 – its not about the physical – but the spiritual!

2) (v. 35), “I am the bread of life, he who comes to Me shall NEVER HUNGER, and he who believes in Me shall NEVER THIRST!”

d. For what do we truly hunger – (cf. Matt. 5:6 – or - Rev. 3:17)?

e. Only Jesus can give us all that we truly need!!!

          LORD’S SUPPER

D.  Contrast between Those who Eat “the bread of life” and those who Don’t - (verses 61-69)

1. (vs. 60), “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?”

a. The Jews continued to miss the point – So Jesus takes a different look / instead of dealing with the Himself as the “bread come down out of heaven” – He goes in a different direction.

1) (v. 62), “What then if you should behold the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?”

2) He gives them one last chance to understand the spiritual nature of His words – (v. 63), “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” – Sadly, they continued to miss the point!

3) (v. 66), “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew & were not walking with Him…”

2. The contrast is now made between those people – and His apostles.

a. (vs. 67-69), “Jesus said therefore to the 12, ‘You do not want to go away also, do you?’ – Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? – You have words of eternal life. – And we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.’”

b. Where are you today? – Do you want a Jesus who will come and take care of all your temporary, physical desires (money, power, etc.)? – If so, you will be disappointed and turn away!

c. Or are you looking for a Jesus who will fill your life with meaning – and provide for each of your eternal, spiritual needs? …!