I Am The Bread Of Life Series

So you know I really like to give a course rationale when I begin a new series.

So keep this in mind as we pursue the purpose of these sermons over the next few weeks.

I know I usually would be preaching a sermon on New Years' and time. But this year I want to keep the Christmas theme going for awhile. Why did Jesus come down the first time and what was his purpose?

Jesus himself told us why he came the first time.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

With this in mind. I want to examine some of the sayings and teachings of Christ that can transform us by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Now those who have been around here awhile know that Jesus was born in the house of bread.

So maybe you know that Bethel means house of God. Beth house of and El for God.

So Bethlehem is the house of Bread. You may say so what, what’s the big deal. Well, when you take John 6 where Jesus reveals the statement “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

So to begin with Jesus being born in Bethlehem the house of Bread, and he is the Bread of Life, I want to begin with that phrase and take a closer look at what it means for us and our eternity.

Let’s set the scene Jesus is going to feed the 5,000

6 Sometime after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are leftover. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

After feeding the 5,000 then he sends his disciples to cross back over the Galilee to the other side remember the disciples took the boat and Jesus walked on water and joined them with the incident of Peter trying to walk on water. The crowd follows Jesus when they realize he crossed over because they want him to keep feeding them.

25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ 32 Jesus 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. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Belief in Jesus is the Bread of Life.