Go! And Never Hunger Again - John 6:35 Series

Go! And Never Hunger Again - John 6:35

Introduction: The Hunger of the Human Heart

“Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” — John 6:35 (NLT)

Have you ever noticed how much of our lives revolve around hunger? Not just physical hunger — though we certainly understand that. I’m talking about spiritual hunger — that deep, gnawing emptiness that drives people to chase satisfaction in money, success, relationships, pleasure, or even religion.

We live in a world where people have full stomachs but empty souls. They scroll endlessly on their phones, consume entertainment, pursue careers — and yet, still feel hollow inside. That’s because the hunger of the heart can only be satisfied by the Bread of Life — Jesus Christ.

In John 6:35, Jesus makes one of the most profound statements in all of Scripture. He doesn’t say, “I’ll show you the bread of life,” or “I’ll give you the bread of life.” He says, “I AM the Bread of Life.”

He doesn’t point to something outside of Himself — He points to Himself as the only source of true life, satisfaction, and eternal hope.

This morning, we’re going to explore what that means — not just for the people who heard Him 2,000 years ago, but for us today.

1. The Context: From Full Stomachs to Empty Hearts

In John chapter 6, the crowd had just witnessed one of Jesus’ most famous miracles — the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1–15). Jesus had multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed thousands of hungry people.

But the next day, those same people came looking for Him again — not because they believed in Him, but because they wanted more bread!

“You want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.” — John 6:26 (NLT)

They were satisfied in their stomachs but not in their souls. They wanted another meal, not a Messiah.

Jesus confronts them with a truth that cuts across every generation: physical bread can only fill you for a moment — but the Bread of Life satisfies forever.

The Greek word Jesus uses for “life” here is ??? (zoe) — it means life in its fullest, eternal, God-given sense. It’s not just biological existence (that’s bios in Greek) — it’s spiritual vitality. Jesus isn’t offering existence; He’s offering abundance.

How many today chase after the temporary “bread” of this world — possessions, achievements, popularity — and still find themselves spiritually starving?

The truth is, your heart was made for God, and nothing else will fill it. As Augustine said, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

2. The Declaration: “I AM the Bread of Life”

When Jesus says, “I AM the Bread of Life,” He’s not just making a poetic statement. He’s revealing His divine identity.

In Greek, the phrase is ??? e?µ? (ego eimi) — the same phrase God used in Exodus 3:14 when He revealed Himself to Moses:

“God replied to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.’” — Exodus 3:14 (NLT)

By using this phrase, Jesus was declaring Himself to be Yahweh in the flesh. The eternal, self-existent God had come down to give Himself as the bread that gives life.

John 1:14 (NLT): “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.”

Jesus is not distant; He is present. He didn’t send bread from heaven — He came down as the Bread of Heaven.

R.T. Kendall once wrote, “The Christian faith is not a religion of doing, but of receiving — receiving Christ Himself.”

And that’s the heart of it — we receive Christ as the nourishment of our souls. Religion says, “Do more.” Jesus says, “Come and eat.”

The Empty Banquet Plate

Imagine attending a grand banquet with a table full of food, but never actually eating. You could sit there, smell the aromas, admire the dishes — and still starve to death.

That’s how many people treat Jesus. They attend church, sing the songs, hear the message — but never partake of the Bread of Life.

Jesus isn’t offering an idea to admire; He’s offering Himself to receive.

3. The Promise: “Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.”

Notice the promise: “Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.”

The phrase “comes to me” in Greek, ???eta? p??? µe (erchetai pros me), implies continuous action — whoever keeps coming, keeps believing.

Faith is not a one-time event; it’s an ongoing relationship.

Psalm 107:9 (NLT): “For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”