Sermon Central
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How We Love His Salvation Series
Contributed by John Dobbs on Feb 11, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: Jesus tops the manna miracle with the feeding of the 5,000 and then tops that - John 6:35 “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
How I Love His Salvation
Introduction
One of the most familiar stories of the Old Testament is the provision of manna in the wilderness. God gives the food that was needed for survival for over 40 years. Amazing, but there were some problems with manna.
-Physical Only: Fed body, but spiritual meaning is lost on them.
-Short Shelf Life: Cannot sustain more than a day - every day gathered - no way to store it up.
-Eventually you will still die, does not prevent death - temporary in nature.
-Unavailable at times - if you don’t follow instructions precisely, you will be hungry. Especially on the Sabbath!
-Plentiful but not always appreciated.
-Misunderstood: Reflects the restless discontent of God’s people. Manna was God’s loving response to the complaints of His people, who then complained about it not being enough.
It’s hard for us to identify with having one food source, one food type, and a schedule to keep.Who can decide where to eat without driving around for an hour?
The manna story is referred to a couple of times in our text. But this chapter begins with Jesus recreating the manna provision by providing food for 5,000 people with a few loaves and fish.
John 6:14 “When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the prophet who is come into the world!”
This miracle is more than just feeding the hungry. Jesus tops the manna miracle with the feeding of the 5,000 and then tops that - John 6:35 “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
Jesus is everything manna could never be. He can bless more than 5,000! He fulfills and exceeds the promise of manna in every way.
1. Jesus the Bread of Life
He Fulfills all of our Greatest Needs. Manna was crucial to the survival of Israel, but it could only supply the physical needs of the people. Physical bread is important / necessary; but not the only thing of importance. Matthew 4:4 “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Jesus provides something for us that can only be found in relationship with Him. Forgiveness, Grace, Mercy, Strength, Belonging, Hope, Companionship…
He Sustains us Every Day. Manna lasted for a day, at the most two days on Sabbath. What Jesus offers lasts for eternity. So many things we turn to cannot give us what we search for. “The world is spending its billions on ‘that which is not bread’: … alcohol, tobacco, narcotics, gambling, and all of the vain and empty luxuries and superficialities that this world of ‘Vanity Fair has to offer. …And all the while, the Lord God is calling to mankind and pleading with his people…” (Gwynne) John 6:37 “…whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”
He Provides Eternal Life. John 6:49-50 “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.” The one great commonality we all share is that life is short. We are all terminal.
JAMES 4:14 AMP “…What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor - a puff of smoke, a mist -
that is visible for little while and then disappears [into thin air].”
John 6:40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have
eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
This is our ultimate hope and faith: I will raise him up.
Responses To Jesus as the Bread of Life
Reject Him. (36 …you have seen me and yet do not believe.”). Manna was not always appreciated, but if Israel did not eat it, they had no alternative. Manna was God’s loving response to the complaints of His people, who then
complained about it not being enough. Many people reject Jesus as Lord of their lives. Over and over in this text He emphasizes their need to believe in His identity, His mission, His purpose, and His Truth. Still, some do not.
When we reject Jesus, we reject his promise (vs 37)…whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
Trust Him (40 …Everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.”). Israel demonstrated trust in God by minding His rules about gathering Manna. We demonstrate our trust in Jesus by listening to Him and trusting Him to save us, keep us saved, and give us life. We demonstrate our trust in Christ through repentance and baptism. Jesus told Nicodemus to be born of water and
