“Bread of Life” – I Am Sermon Series
John 6:22-35
February 16, 2003
Purpose: Jesus is the bread of life for our spiritual, just as bread is for our physical.
Introduction – (handed out bread at the start of the sermon-three loaves of different kinds-tell people to keep the bread going until its all gone)
Illustration – tried to fast using just bread and
water and didn’t loose any weight. Didn’t truly
understand what bread was until went on the
Adkins diet. (Carbs…energy…stored, etc.)
What is bread anyway? Why would Jesus compare himself to it?
Bread is some awesome stuff.
Bread is a substance known and used by every society
on the face of the earth.
From the American who goes the store to buy his bread
to the savage who cooks his daily ration of bread
on a stone beside his fire,bread is consumed by
people everywhere.
By the same taken, most people enjoy their bread.
While some like meat and others don’t, or
some like greens and others don’t, most people
like bread. Bread is one of the few foods that
can be tolerated by most digestive systems.
Also, bread has a satisfying quality that few other
food products have. I mean why do you have
bread makers (people like a variety of different
breads).
Anyway you slice it, (wait for the moan :-)!!) bread is good and it is a food that most people need, use and enjoy. It was no different then as it is now.
For Jesus to call himself the “BREAD OF LIFE” it makes sense, then. This is something used by everyone, enjoyed by almost everyone, and satisfied those who enjoy it.
But I have the sneeking suspicion that Jesus was taking this to an even deep level. Let me explain…
I
First we have to look at Jesus’ timing. Just before this sermon on doing and being bread, Jesus fed the crowds with bread. (John 6:1-14) Remember, the little boy had five loaves and ___fish (two, right)…and the people were amazed.
Another aspect of Jesus’ timing was that he had tried to get away from them after this miracle. (John 6:15-21). In fact, because the disciples had taken the boat while he was off praying, meditating, etc., he decided just to walk out onto the water and meet them. And when the people gathered saw the boats were gone and no Jesus, they began to search.
So we have a miracle, another miracle, and then a search…
But that’s not all, Jesus’ timing was also amazing because Jesus did this all before he was to be rejected by the Jews (v. 41) rejected by some of his disciples (v. 60) and rejected by his family (7:1ff).
Jesus knew that in the midst of everything that had happened, was happening, and would be happening that he needed to make a strong statement so that he ministry could keep moving forward toward that eventual day in Jerusalem and beyond.
And was we look at everything happening around us today, the timing is important as well. In the newsletter that you’ll receive today, I make no quams about what I believe and I’ll be honest with you it may not be what you’ve been hearing from other leaders. While they continually talk about the need for peace at all costs, they forgotten all sense of justice. I believe that we need to work through the United Nations. I believe that we shouldn’t have to go this alone. And I believe that if Hussein, Kim John Il and the rest would what’s being asked of them by the rest of the world, we wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place.
But in that newsletter article I made it very clear. I don’t follow George Bush. I don’t follow bishops who speak just because they have a golden pulpit to speak from. And I don’t need everyone else trying to tell me how I’m supposed to believe. As for me and my household, we’ll follow Jesus Christ.
There is no better timing to recognize that Jesus is the one who fills and satisfies. There is no better time to turn the rhetoric off our televisions and our radios and turn our hearts to the Lord. There is no better time to say I have nothing to fear….for neither life nor death, nor principalities nor power, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created things shall be able to separate me from the love of God found in Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:37).
Now more the ever, the timing is right for the church of Jesus Christ to stand away from the rhetoric of our day, trying to figure out whose side we’re on, and say simply “I AM ON THE LORD”S SIDE…”
This stuff doesn’t frighten me… I follow the Light, I follow the Great Shepherd, I follow the Bread of Life, and I know there is something better in-store because I do. And it is in that, where I’ll put my faith.
Jesus’ timing was excellent and so must be ours!
II
But I think there was another reason why Jesus wanted to take this deeper level. Jesus wanted to show that as the Bread of Life, there was a difference between those who believe and those who “do” what they believe. This difference between “doing and being” has been with the church ever since!
Jesus made this clear when he questioned why they had come…
They asked “What shall we do…” – Jesus said believe in One that God sent.
They said they needed a sign like with Moses…did he not just feed 5000+ with five loaves and two
fishes…did he not just disappear from their sight to end up a day’s journey from them? - - Jesus replied “Most assuredly, I say to you that My Father hive you the true bread from heaven…not Moses” – Look here I am.
They pleaded for this bread always – Jesus said “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall
never hunger and shall never thirst.”
Jesus could have just told them to follow him and send money to his ministry.
Jesus could have told them of his miraculous ability to walk on water(note he never told that to the crowds!)…
Jesus could have said, “I AM the Greatest!!!!” and then showed-off all of his ability….
But what Jesus did is point toward heaven and give the glory to whom it belongs…Instead of just “doing” or just “believing” Jesus showed them how to do both.
We need to do the same.
We can believe, and that’s fine, but even Satan believes.
We can do, and that’s fine, but if we do it for the wrong reason,inevitably we’ll get wrong results.
(Ask the congregation if there’s any bread left...hopefully, by this time there shouldn’t be any.)
Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life.” “Don’t labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which
endures to everlasting life, which I alone can give.”
Conclusion
As we learned in the first sermon of this series…Jesus is our light in the midst of darkness.
From our second…we learned that Jesus is the Great Door and the Great Shepherd of his sheep.
Today we have learned that Jesus is the Bread of Life.
Within his great timing, we do and believe, and are spiritually satisfied.
I hope that you enjoyed your physical bread this morning…but it is my prayer that you may also enjoy the spiritual bread found only in Jesus Christ as well.
Will you join me in prayer?
Gracious Bread of Life,
We come as a hungry people, maybe not in the physical sense, but definitely in the spiritual
sense.
Through you’re Word and your experience on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, we too have
experienced you’re masterful timing, and the call to believe and to do what you have set before us.
Lord, help us when we fall short. We rely upon your grace and mercy in these days.
Help us to live our lives living on your energy and substinance.
Help us to remember, that you are only you, are the source of life: life more abundant, life more
free, life more satisfying.
Lord, in the midst of all that is happening around us, help us to keep our course on that straight
and narrow which leads directly to you.
Thank you for your light.
Thank you for being the Great Shepherd and the solid door.
Thank you for your ability to provide…
In the name of One who has redeemed, we offer this prayer…Amen.
#509 – Jesus Savior Pilot Me
Closing Blessing – As we leave this place…
May the Bread of Life provide for us.
May our timing match that of the One who protects us.
And may we experience the Spirit as we do and believe,
as it leads and directs, along our journey.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, may this be our prayer…Amen
NOTE: If you did not find this sermon helpful, please contact me (gb@clergy.net) and tell me why. I appreciate everyone’s advice. Thanks.
