I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
JOHN 6:25-41
INTRODUCTION:
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, SATURDAYS WERE ALWAYS A SPECIAL TIME AT OUR HOUSE. IT WAS A DAY THAT WE DID A GENERAL HOUSECLEANING. WE ALL HAD A JOB TO DO, AND MINE WAS TO DUST THE STAIRS, AND HELP CHANGE BED LINEN. IT WAS ALSO A SPECIAL DAY BECAUSE IT WAS A DAY THAT MOM WOULD BAKE BREAD. ALMOST EVERY SATURDAY THERE WOULD BE A BIG PAN OF BREAD DOUGH RISING ON THE CUPBOARD. I USED TO LIKE IT WHEN THE DOUGH WOULD COME OVER THE SIDES AND ONTO THE CUPBOARD BECAUSE I COULD EAT SOME OF IT AND MOM WOULDN’T NOTICE BECAUSE WE’D BE PUTTING IT BACK INTO THE PAN. SHE’D ALWAYS MAKE SIX LOAVES, AND A PAN OF ROLLS, AND LET ME TELL YOU WE DIDN’T NEED TO BE CALLED TWICE FOR SUPPER THAT NIGHT. FRESH HOMEMADE BREAD SMOTHERED IN MOLASSES AND BUTTER, BEANS AND HOMEMADE ROLLS, LIFE DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT, EXCEPT FOR THE DAY THAT SHE INTRODUCED ME TO FRIED BREAD DOUGH. I DECLARED A NATIONAL HOLIDAY THAT DAY IT TASTED SO GOOD.
BREAD WAS A STAPLE FOR US, AS I’M SURE IT WAS FOR MANY OF YOU. WHETHER WE WERE RICH OR POOR, THERE WAS ALWAYS BREAD ON THE TABLE, AND WE FOUND COMFORT IN IT.
THE STORY IS TOLD THAT AS WORLD WAR II WAS DRAWING TO A CLOSE, THE ALLIED ARMIES GATHERED UP MANY HUNGRY ORPHANS. THEY WERE PLACED IN CAMPS WHERE THEY WERE WELL FED. DESPITE EXCELLENT CARE, THEY SLEPT POORLY. THEY SEEMED NERVOUS AND AFRAID. FINALLY, A PSYCHOLOGIST CAMP UP WITH THE SITUATION. EACH CHILD WAS GIVEN A PIECE OF BREAD TO HOLD AFTER HE WAS PUT TO BED. THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF BREAD WAS JUST TO BE HELD – NOT EATEN. THE PIECE OF BREAD PRODUCED WONDERFUL RESULTS. THE CHILDREN WENT TO BED KNOWING INSTINCTIVELY THEY WOULD HAVE FOOD TO EAT THE NEXT DAY. THAT GUARANTEE GAVE THE CHILDREN A RESTFUL AND CONTENTED SLEEP.
EACH OF THE “I AM” STATEMENTS REPRESENTS A PARTICULAR RELATIONSHIP OF JESUS TO THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF MEN AND WOMEN. JESUS IS THE LIGHT IN DARKNESS, THE GATE TO SECURITY, AND THE SHEPHERD THAT GUIDES. TODAY HE IS THE BREAD THAT SATISFIES AND GIVES LIFE ETERNAL. IN EVERY “I AM” STATEMENT JESUS WANTS US TO RECEIVE HIM, NOT FOR THE GIFTS HE CAN GIVE US, BUT FOR WHAT HE CAN BE TO US.
RAVI ZACHARIS WRITES THIS ABOUT JESUS’ STATEMENT “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE”.
“ JESUS’ WORDS WERE INTENDED TO LIFT THE LISTENERS FROM THEIR BARREN, FOOD-DOMINATED EXISTENCE TO THE RECOGNITION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE SUPREME HUNGER OF LIFE THAT CAN ONLY BE FILLED WITH A DIFFERENT BREAD. FOD AND POWER BLIND THE MIND TO THE NEED FOR NOURISHMENT AND STRENGTH OF SOUL.”
IT WAS ST. AUGUSTINE WHO NOTED THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAS WITHIN THEM A GOD-SHAPED VACUUM IN HIS SOUL. WE CAN AND DO ATTEMPT TO FILL THAT CAVITY WITH A HOST OF OTHER THINGS, BUT FINALLY NOTHING FILLS OUR HUNGER FOR REDEMPTION AND SIGNIFICANCE EXCEPT JESUS AND HIS GOSPEL.
TODAY WE’RE GOING TO EXAMINE THIS WONDERFUL STATEMENT THAT JESUS MAKES TO US. I HOPE IT WILL BRING GREATER SIGNIFICANCE AS WE COME TO THE TABLE TODAY. COME ALONG ON THE JOURNEY WITH ME AND AS THE SCRIPTURE STATES “TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD.”
BIBLICAL CONTEXT:
THE BIBLICAL CONTEXT OF THIS PASSAGE BEGINS WITH CHAPTER FIVE AND THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND. NOW WE KNOW THAT THIS WAS NOT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF THOSE FED. IT WOULD BE MUCH HIGHER AS ONLY THE MEN WERE COUNTED. JESUS PERFORMED MIRACLES OF HEALING FOR THE PEOPLE AND ALSO TAUGHT THEM. JESUS THEN ASKED HIS DISCIPLES WHERE THEY MIGHT FIND ENOUGH BREAD TO FEED THE PEOPLE. PHILIP VOLUNTEERS THAT EIGHT MONTHS WAGES WOULDN’T FEED THEM ALL, AND ANDREW FINDS A BOY WHO HAS THE FIVE BARLEY LOAVES AND TWO FISH. WITH THAT JESUS PERFORMS THE MIRACLE AND FEEDS EVERYONE, WITH THE DISCIPLES GATHERING 12 BASKETS OF LEFTOVERS.
THAT NIGHT FEARING THAT THE MISPLACED ZEAL OF THE CROWD WOULD NOT COMPEL THEM TO MAKE HIM KING OF ISRAEL BY FORCE, JESUS W2ALKED ACROSS THE WATER TO REACH THE CITY OF CAPERNAUM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE. UNDETERRED, THE CROWDS THE NEXT MORNING ALL PILE IN BOATS, CROSS THE SEA OF GALILEE, AND WHEN THEY FIND HIM BEGIN INTERROGATING HIM ABOUT HOW HE CROSSED THE LAKE WITHOUT A BOAT AND IF HE WILL PERFORM ANOTHER MIRACLOUS SIGN TO PROVE HE IS THE MESSIAH. WHAT BECOMES SADLY CLEAR IN THE ENSUEING DISCUSSION IS THAT THE CROWD FOLLOWING JESUS COMPLETELY MISSES THE POINT OF THE MIRACULOUS FEEDING OF THE 5000, AS WELL AS THE OLD TESTAMENT ANTECEDENT THE MIRACULOUS FEEDING OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BY GOD IN MANNA – BREAD FROM HEAVEN – DURING THEIR FORTY YEAR WILDERNESS WANDERING.
IN THE CROWD THAT IS WITH JESUS WE SHALL SEE FOUR DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE EMERGING.
POINT ONE: THE MATERIALIST:
MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED JESUS AT THIS POINT WERE HOPING FOR A POLITICAL SAVIOR. THEY WANTED POLITICAL SOLUTIONS, FREE HANDOUTS, AND MATERIAL GOODIES. FOR THEM JESUS WAS THE LATEST AND BEST GRAVY TRAIN. THESE PEOPLE HAD WATCHED ROME HAVE LIMITED SUCCESS IN INSTITUTING A SORT OF WELFARE PROGRAM THAT THEY CALLED A BREAD FOR PEACE. THERE WERE MANY HUNGRY JOBLESS PEOPLE IN ROME AND THE GOVERNMENT TRIED TO BUY THEM OFF WITH BREAD AND OTHER GOODIES. THE PLAN BACKFIRED AS THE DEMANDS OF THE CROWD SIMPLY GREW AND GREW.
JESUS SAW THE SAME THING IN THESE PEOPLE. LOOK AT VERSE 26.
JOHN 6:26: Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
MISSIONARIES IN THIRD-WORLD COUNTRIES OFTEN REFER TO WHAT THEY CALL “RICE CHRISTIANS.” THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY IN EXCHANGE FOR FOOD OR SOME OTHER PHYSICAL BENEFIT.
THIS IS A PRACTICE THAT IS PRESENT IN NORTH AMERICAN CHURCHES AS WELL. WE USE THE CHURCH TO DEVELOP BUSINESS CONTACTS, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, OR COMMUNITY STATUS. THESE PEOPLE LOOK TO GOD ONLY FOR WHAT THEY CAN GET. THEY ARE QUICK TO TURN THEIR BACK ON GOD THE FIRST TIME HE FAILS TO DELIVER WHAT THEY WANT.
JEANNE ZORNES WRITES:
AS A NEW CHRISTIAN, I PRESUMED JESUS’ MAIN JOB WAS TAKING CARE OF ME. HE LED ME TO A JOB, ROOMMATES TO SHARE APARTMENT COSTS, AND A CAR THAT RAN. BUT AFTER A WHILE MY TASTES GOT FUSSIER. LIKE THE ISREALITES WAKING UP TO MANNA EACH MORNING, I WAS TIRED OF THE SAME-OLD, SAME-OLD. I WANTED A HOME WITH MOR PRIVACY, A MORE INTERESTING AND BETTER PAYING, BUT LESS STRESSFUL JOB, AND A SHINIER NEW CAR. MY LIST CONTINUED TO GROW. I WANTED JESUS TO PERK ME UP WHEN I WAS DOWN, REMOVE ALL MY DIFFICULTIES, AND MAKE LIVING A WHOLE LOT EASIER. WHEN THOSE THINGS DIDN’T COME I FELT AS IF JESUS HAD WALKED AWAY FROM ME. WHAT I DIDN’T REALIZE WAS THAT HE HAD PUT LOVING DISTANCE BETWEEN US, JUST AS HE DID WITH THE CROWD THAT NIGHT, KNOWING THAT THEY WANTED TO FORCE HIM TO BE KING.
POINT TWO: THE LEGALIST
JOHN 6:28: Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
SOME PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR A FREE RIDE, THIS GROUP WAS LOOKING FOR A LIST OF RULES THAT IF THEY FOLLOWED WOULD LEAD THEM TO HEAVEN. RATHER THAN DISCOVER AND MATURE SPIRITUALLY THEMSELVES, THEY DEPEND ON THE MINISTER OR SOME OTHER CHARISMATIC INDIVIDUAL TO LEAD THEM AND LITERALLY TELL THEM WHAT THEY ARE TO BELIEVE.
OVER THE YEARS THE CHURCH HAS FALLEN AT TIMES INTO THE SIN OF LEGALISM. IT IS EASIER TO MAKE RULES THAN TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. LEGALISTS NEVER LISTEN TO A MESSAGE OR ASSESS A SERVICE BASED ON ITS POSITIVE POINTS AND WHAT IT HAD TO OFFER PEOPLE. THEY LOOK ONLY FOR THE NEGATIVE. JESUS SEES RIGHT THROUGH THIS PLOY WITH HIS ANSWER.
JOHN 6:29: Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
FOLKS LET ME TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, WE DO NOT NEED THE LAW, WHAT WE NEED IS THE GIVER OF THE LAW.
POINT THREE: THE SENSATIONALIST
I THINK THIS GROUP HAS TO BE THE HARDEST GROUP HAS TO BE THE HARDEST TO FIGURE OUT. NOW KEEP THE CONTEXT IN MIND. JUST THE DAY BEFORE JESUS HAS PERFORMED MANY HEALINGS AND ON TOP OF THAT FED 5000 PLUS PEOPLE WITH FIVE LOAVES OF BARLEY BREAD AND TWO FISH. THEN THEY COLLECT 12 BASKETS OF LEFTOVERS. I DON’T ABOUT YOU BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD EXAMPLE OF A MIRACLE TO ME. BUT NOT THE SENSATIONALIST. AFTER ALL THIS TAKES PLACE JUST LISTEN TO THE QUESTION THEY ASK HIM
JOHN 6:30-31: So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
THE MIRACLE OF THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IS OFTEN PARALLELED WITH GOD PROVIDING THE MANNA FROM HEAVEN FOR THE ISREALITES. THE MANNA SIGN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT AS THIS WAS A MIRACLE THAT HAPPENED ALMOST EVERY DAY FOR FORTY YEARS. THE PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR THE SAME THING FROM JESUS. FEEEDING THE 5000, AND WALKING ACROSS THE SEA OF GALILEE WAS OLD NEWS. NOW IT WAS TIME FOR SOMETHING NEW.
WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE THIS IN THE CHURCH TODAY. ONE WRITER CALLS THEM “PEP RALLY BELIEVERS.” BASICALLY WHAT HE WAS SAYING IS THIS “KEEP THEM WOWED AND M YOU’LL KEEP THEM AROUND, BUT BORE THEM AND THEY WILL BE GONE. THESE PEOPLE CRAVE SPIRITUAL EXCITEMENT. THEY LOVE SPECACULAR ENTERTAINMENT. THEY WANT NEW EXPERIENCES ALL THE TIME. THEY WANT JESUS TO TAKE THEM FROM ONE MOUNTAIN TOP TO THE NEXT WITH NO VALLEYS IN BETWEEN. THEY WANT ALL KINDS OF REWARDS BUT NO RESPONSIBILITY. ALL TOO OFTEN THESE PEOPLE WILL HOP FROM CHURCH TO CHURCH, TO CHURCH, TO CHURCH---ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE NEWEST STYLE, THE LATEST SEMINAR, THE MOST ELECTRIFYING CONCERT, OR THE MOST EXCITING PRESENTATION.
FRIENDS, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO LIKE WHAT I’M ABOUT TO SAY, BUT OUR WORSHIP SERVICE IS NOT PUT TOGETHER TO ENTERTAIN YOU. WHEN GOD IS DEALING WITH YOU IN SERVICE YOU MAY FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, EVEN ANGRY. IF WE PLAN THE SERVICE TO PLEASE YOU, ALWAYS TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER AND NOT CONVICTED, THEN OUR EYES ARE NOT ON GOD BUT THEY ARE ON YOU. AND IF YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN’T WORSHIP UNLESS A CERTAIN TYPE OF MUSIC IS PLAYED, OR A CERTAIN STYLE OF MESSAGE IS DELIVERED, THEN YOU ARE NOT WORSHIPPING BUT MERELY OUT TO SUIT YOUR OWN NEEDS. WORSHIP IS NOT ABOUT US IT IS ABOUT COMING BEFORE THE SOVEREIGN LORD AND RECEIVING A WORD FROM HIM.
RONALD REAGAN DISCRIBED THESE PEOPLE WELL IN A SPEECH. HE SAID: A BABYS ALIMENTARY CANAL (THEIR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM) IS A LOT LIKE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC (I WOULD SAY THE SENSATIONALIST): INSATIABLE APPETITE AT ONE END AND TOTAL LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY AT THE OTHER END.”
SOME OF JESUS’ CLOSESGT DISCIPLES WANTED JESUS ONLY FOR WHAT THEY COULD GET OUT OF HIM. THE SAD FACT IS THAT MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES TURNED THEIR BACKS ON HIM AS A RESULT OF THIS AND WOULD NOT FOLLOW HIM FURTHER.
JOHN 6:66: From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
APPLICATION:
NOW IT IS IN THE MIDST OF THIS DISCOURSE THAT JESUS MAKES THE STATEMENT “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE.” IN IT HE IS ACTUALLY DRAWING ON TWO ACTIONS OF HISTORY, WHEN GOD FED THE ISREALITES IN THE WILDERNESS FOR FORTY YEARS, WITH MANNA; AND THE MIRACLE THAT HE PERFORMED THE DAY BEFORE FEEDING OVER 5000 PEOPLE WITH THE BARLEY LOAVES. THERE ARE FOUR LESSONS THAT HE WANTS TO TEACH US OUT OF THIS PASSAGE.
1. AS IS THE CASE WITH ALL THE “I AM ” PASSAGES, JESUS IS MAKING A DIRECT CLAIM TO DIETY. HE IS REVEALING THAT HE, AND HE ALONE, IS THE SOURCE OF EVERLASTING LIFE AND THE SUSTAINER OF SPIRITUAL LIFE NOW.
JOHN 6:32-33: Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, 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 he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
JOHN 6:35: Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
2. JESUS SATISFIES HUNGER: WHAT BREAD IS TO THE STOMACH, JESUS CLAIMS TO BE FOR THE SOUL. BREAD IS A STAPLE. IT CAN BE SERVED IN MANY FORMS, BOTH RICH AND POOR HAVE IT, IT’S EATEN ALMOST DAILY, AND IT CAN SUSTAIN US.
NOW THE PEOPLE WERE UNDER A MISUNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS MOSES AND NOT GOD WHO WAS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANNA. THUS THEY WANTED THE PHYSICAL JESUS TO BE THE ANSWER TO THEIR NEEDS. JESUS BRINGS THE PEOPLE BACK TO JEHOVAH “JIRAH”. THIS NAME OF GOD MEANS “GOD PROVIDES”. JESUS WAS TELLING THE PEOPLE, THEN AND NOW, NOT TO KEEP OUR EYES ON TEMPROAL MANMADE SOLUTIONS, BUT TO GO TO THE GREAT PROVIDER.
PSALM 34:8: Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
3. HE IS ETERNAL LIFE GIVING:
JOHN 6:47-51: I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
CHRIST HAS GIVEN US HIS ALL. IT’S NOT ABOUT LIVING TO A SET OF RULES, OR A SUPERNATURAL SIGN, OR MATERIALSIM. THESE ARE REASONS TO TURN FROM CHRIST. WHAT DOES JESUS SAY? SOMETHING LIKE THIS. “QUIT COMPLICATING THIS. I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. YOU WANT ETERNAL LIFE, PARTAKE OF ME. I HAVE MADE THE SACRIFICE, MADE MY LIFE AVAILABLE TO YOU. JUST RECEIVE IT AND YOU WILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. YOU WILL NEVER DIE.
4. HE WAS SACRIFICED FOR ALL. THIS BRINGS US HERE TODAY. IN JESUS WORDS WHAT HE WAS SAYING IS THIS “ THE BREAD THAT I GIVE IS MY FLESH, WHICH I GIVE FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD.” CHRIST DIED FOR ME AND EACH OF US IN HERE. JESUS CHRIST WENT TO THE CROSS, THE BREAD OF LIFE BROKEN FOR US ALL.
CONCLUSION:
NOW I BELIEVE THERE WAS A FOURTH GROUP THERE AS WELL, AND ONE FINAL LESSON WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS ACCOUNT. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THERE, WHO WERE THERE TO FOLLOW JESUS AND MAKE UP THEIR MINDS ABOUT WHO HE REALLY IS. THE WORLD OF JESUS’ TIME WAS FULL OF SEEKERS, JUST AS IT IS NOW.
IT BEGS THE QUESTION, WHAT DO THEY SEE WHEN THEY COME TO SEEK JESUS IN OUR CHURCH? DO THEY SEE THE LEGALIST, THE MATERIALIST, OR THE SENSATIONALIST? OR DO THEY SEE PEOPLE WITH OPEN ARMS SEEKING TO BE THE BEST WAITERS, LONGING TO SERVE THEM THE BREAD OF LIFE THAT WILL SATISFY THEIR NEEDS. I’M CERTAIN THAT AMONG THOSE WHO TURNED THEIR BACKS ON JESUS IN THIS ACCOUNT WERE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT TURN AWAY BECAUSE OF JESUS’ WORDS, BUT RATHER THE REACTION OF THESE THREE GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
There was a beggar who came and sat before a baker. “I want bread,” he said.
“How wise you are,” the baker assured him. “Bread is what you need. And you have come to the right bakery.” So he pulled his cookbook down from his shelf and began to tell the beggar all he knew about bread.
He spoke of flour and wheat, of grain and barley. The baker’s knowledge impressed even himself as he cited the measurements and recipe. When he looked up, he was surprised to see that the beggar wasn’t smiling. “I just want bread,” he said.
“How wise you are.” The baker applauded his choice. “Follow me, and I’ll show you our bakery.” Down the hallowed halls he guided him, pausing to point out the rooms where the dough is prepared and the ovens where the bread is baked.
“No one has such facilities. We have bread for every need. But here is the best part,” he proclaimed as he pushed open two swinging doors. “This is our room of inspiration.”
The baker knew the beggar was moved as they stepped into the auditorium full of stained-glass windows. The beggar didn’t speak. The baker understood his silence. With his arm around his shoulder, he whispered, “It overwhelms me as well.”
Then the baker leaped to the podium and struck his favorite pose behind the lectern. “People come from miles to hear me speak. Once a week my workers gather, and I read to them the recipe from the cookbook of life.”
By now the beggar had taken a seat on the front row. The baker knew what he wanted. “Would you like to hear me?”
“No,” he said, “but I would like some bread.”
“How wise you are,” The baker replied. And he led him to the front door of the bakery. “What I have to say next is very important,” he told him as they stood outside. “Up and down this street you will find many bakeries. But take heed; they don’t serve the true bread. I know of one who adds two spoons of salt rather than one. I know of another whose oven is three degrees too hot. They may call it bread,” the baker warned, “but it’s not according to the book.”
The beggar turned and began walking away. “Don’t you want bread?” the baker asked him. He stopped, looked back, and shrugged, “I guess I lost my appetite.”
The baker shook his head and returned to his office. “What a shame,” he said to himself. “The world just isn’t hungry for true bread anymore.”
AS WE COME TO THE TABLE TODAY, LET US SEARCH OUR HEARTS, AND PRAY THAT THIS SPIRITUAL BAKERY WILL ALWAYS SERVE THE BREAD, NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT.
