"I Am" "The Bread Of Life"

In Jesus Holy Name August 19, 2018

Text: John 6:47-50

“I Am” “The Bread of Life”

Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! The Good news of Easter is not that Jesus lived and died but that “Jesus Died and Lives” and He will return again. (read the text)

Every year Americans spend about 500 million dollars on Twinkies. Yes, you heard me right. TWINKIES. Those golden cakes, tasty cream filled treats that taste so good but have no nutritional value. You can even buy them fried at your local fair. This truth about Twinkies reminds me that many people are hungry to have peace with God. Yet so many things they try have no nutritional value and they are left empty like the crew of the Pirates of the Caribbean.

If you watched the movie “The Pirates of the Caribbean” then you know that the crew of the “Black Pearl” was cursed. No matter how much they eat, they could not be satisfied. They cannot taste. They cannot enjoy. They cannot be filled. The bread turns to ashes in their mouth. This is the plight of the world. They eat but will not be satisfied. They seek happiness, but will not find it. “Augustine said, “our hearts are restless until they rest in Jesus.

On the island of Molokai which is not often visited by many tourists there is a wonderful bakery. People will start arriving after midnight just to line up for their bread when the doors open at 5 a.m. There is nothing like the aroma of fresh bread early in the morning.

Did you know that 1777 was the first time wheat was first planted (as a hobby crop) in the United States.

Here is an interesting fact. Did you know that 1928 Was the year pre-sliced bread was invented in Chillicothe, Missouri, after being worked on for 16 years.

Did you know that 3,975 feet was the longest loaf of bread in the world. It

was made at a bakers' party in Portugal in 2005. When sliced, it fed over 15,000 people.

Fresh Bread. Perhaps it’s white or wheat or rye or sourdough or pumpernickel. Some prefer Italian bread, others French bread. My guess is that some of you may still have a bread making machine in your cupboard.

Fresh bread. There is nothing like the aroma that can fill a kitchen. Just the smell of fresh bread can cause your mouth to water. Did you know that you can now order those dark European and German breads made in Germany or Italy or France, shipped frozen to your door? There is an advertisement on Facebook… and they will send you the frozen dough and you can bake it yourself.

On our cruise last week you could have freshly baked bread every day.

So I did a little research. I discovered that the cooking chefs on the ship used 600 lbs. of butter every day. 250,000 eggs per week. 170,000 lbs. of fresh fruit and vegetables and 5,330 lbs. of bacon. Each day we had our share of bacon.

We love what tastes good, but like those who eat Twinkies, people often forfeit what we really need for healthy bodies and minds.

It is estimated that more than 20 million people in the United States need professional treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. U.S. citizens spend over 50 billion dollars each year on illegal narcotics to dull their pain or for momentary happiness. People are searching for happiness, fulfillment, relief from pain. We are hungry souls. We are a hungry nation but often for the wrong things. We need the Bread of life.

Tony Evans a famous Baptist preacher of Oak Cliff Fellowship in Dallas, Texas writes: “When Jesus told His followers that He was the bread of life, He was giving them a solution—not just for their physical hunger but also for their emotional, mental, and especially their spiritual hunger.

We all experience cravings—things we long to have. Many of these cravings are God-given. Acceptance is certainly something God wants each of us to experience. The need to feel secure is a primary teaching for the Savior.” (Tony Evans)

In the opening words of John chapter 6 Jesus has just fed 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and two small fish. When Jesus and his disciples reached the other side of the lake, those who were part of the 5,000 recently fed where waiting for him. Jesus said: “You are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

Jesus accuses the crowd of ignoring the message of His miraculous signs and only following Him for the “free meal.” In other words, they were so enthralled with the food, they were missing out on the fact that their Messiah had come.