I AM the Bread of Life
John 6:32-40
32Jesus 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. 33For 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.”
35Then 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. 36But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39And 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. 40For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
What are we looking for or wanting from Jesus?
Pot of Gold at the end of the rainbow?
A “Yes” man
Someone who will take the fall for our decisions or judgements?
Do we have the best donuts and coffee or why else are we here?
Jesus is substance - something solid
Augustine - “There is a God-shaped vacuum inside of us”
True or false
“Bread” has a history:
Moses - in the wilderness - God is with us
Moses in the temple - Exodus 25:23-30; Leviticus 24:5-9
Jesus feeds 5000
Jesus statement
In the upper room - bread represents His body - represents His presence
Jesus is saying:
He is essential for life
He is referring to eternal life
He is speaking of His self-sufficient existence - “aseity”
Come and believe - uses bread as an invitation to come and believe
He alleviates spiritual hunger
“Jesus came Not to Give Bread but to Be Bread” John Piper
Closing Prayer
I come to You this morning that you might feed my soul and my heart and my mind - that you might be the sustenance that I need to sustain my spiritual life - I come that You might feed me with things of eternity and goodness and grace. That at Your banquet table, I might be filled with mercy, and peace, and hope. You are indeed the Bread of my life, O God. Thank you for being my Savior and Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.
TODAY’S PREACHER
Randy Reese is the Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC