DEFINING JESUS
THE “I AM” STATEMENTS IN THE BIBLE
I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
JOHN 6:35-51 (NIV)
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. 36 BUT AS I TOLD YOU, YOU HAVE SEEN ME AND STILL YOU DO NOT BELIEVE. 37 ALL THAT THE FATHER GIVES ME WILL COME TO ME, AND WHOEVER COMES TO ME I WILL NEVER DRIVE AWAY. 38 FOR I HAVE COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN NOT TO DO MY WILL BUT TO DO THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME. 39 AND THIS IS THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME, THAT I SHALL LOSE NONE OF ALL THAT HE HAS GIVEN ME, BUT RAISE THEM UP AT THE LAST DAY. 40 FOR MY FATHER'S WILL IS THAT EVERYONE WHO LOOKS TO THE SON AND BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY." 41 AT THIS THE JEWS BEGAN TO GRUMBLE ABOUT HIM BECAUSE HE SAID, "I AM THE BREAD THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN." 42 THEY SAID, "IS THIS NOT JESUS, THE SON OF JOSEPH, WHOSE FATHER AND MOTHER WE KNOW? HOW CAN HE NOW SAY, 'I CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN'?" 43 "STOP GRUMBLING AMONG YOURSELVES," JESUS ANSWERED. 44 "NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS THE FATHER WHO SENT ME DRAWS HIM, AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY. 45 IT IS WRITTEN IN THE PROPHETS: 'THEY WILL ALL BE TAUGHT BY GOD.' EVERYONE WHO LISTENS TO THE FATHER AND LEARNS FROM HIM COMES TO ME. 46 NO ONE HAS SEEN THE FATHER EXCEPT THE ONE WHO IS FROM GOD; ONLY HE HAS SEEN THE FATHER. 47 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."
INTRODUCTION: THEOLOGY PROPER IS THE STUDY OF GOD. WHEN ONE DWELLS IN THIS THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH, WE ARE EXPOSED TO WHO GOD IS REGARDING HIS NATURE AND ATTRIBUTES. YET, JESUS, AS RECORDED IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN TELLS US SO MUCH ABOUT HIMSELF BY DEFINITION THROUGH THE “I AM” STATEMENTS. IT IS THOSE “I AM” STATEMENTS WE WILL BE LOOKING AT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.
TRANSITION: THIS MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE”.
AS YOU AND I BEGIN THIS STUDY, ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE YOU TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT NAMES MEAN SOMETHING. FOR JESUS, EACH “I AM” SPEAKS ABOUT SOME SPECIAL ROLE HE IS ABOUT TO FULFILL.
7 ITEMS OF SIGNIFICANCE ABOUT BREAD
1. THE NAME OF THE BREAD DESCRIBES IT'S NATURE
a. WHEAT BREAD IS MADE OF WHEAT, RYE BREAD IS MADE OF RYE, ETC.
b. THE NAME OF THE BREAD DESCRIBES ITS CHARACTER
c. THE NATURE OF JESUS IS LIFE
i. JOHN 1:4 (NIV) IN HIM WAS LIFE, AND THAT LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN.
JOHN 10:10 (NIV) THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY; I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL.
JOHN 11:25 (NIV) JESUS SAID TO HER, "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME WILL LIVE, EVEN THOUGH HE DIES;
d. THIS DESCRIPTION OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST IS ALSO A REFERENCE BACK TO THE DAYS OF MOSES WHEN GOD SENT MANNA FROM HEAVEN
i. THE MANNA PROVIDED BY GOD WAS TO PROVIDE FOR PHYSICAL LIFE – THAT THE NATION OF ISRAEL WOULD NOT STARVE
ii. JESUS AS THE BREAD OF LIFE IS PROVIDING FOR OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE – SO THAT WE WOULD NOT BE SEPARATED FROM GOD
e. WHO IS JESUS, HE IS THE ONE WHO GIVES US LIFE
i. REMEMBER, DEATH IS SEPARATION FROM GOD, AND LIFE IS A RECONNECTION WITH GOD THAT WE LOST AT THE FALL
f. WHAT ALSO NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED IS THAT JESUS IS SPEAKING ABOUT SATISFACTION
i. THERE WILL NEVER BE A SPIRITUAL THIRST OR HUNGER FOR THE PERSON WHO COMES TO KNOW CHRIST THROUGH REDEMPTION
ii. JESUS WAS THERE TO PROVIDE EVERYTHING NEEDED FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL IDENTITY
2. BREAD WAS NECESSARY
i. IN OUR CULTURE BREAD AT A MEAL IS OPTIONAL. IN FACT, MANY PLACES TO EAT DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY PUT A BASKET OR PLATE OF BREAD AT YOUR TABLE
ii. THE CULTURE OF JESUS’ TIME – BREAD WAS NECESSARY
iii. IT WAS A STAPLE FOR LIFE AND WAS MEANT TO BE CONSUMED DAILY
iv. CHRIST IDENTIFYING HIMSELF AS THE BREAD OF LIFE WAS DECLARING THAT HE WAS OUR DAILY NEED TO SPIRITUAL LIFE AND SATISFACTION
v. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE FORGOTTEN IS THAT THE ESSENCE OF HUMAN LIFE IS SPIRITUAL, NOT PHYSICAL BREAD WAS NECESSARY
3. BREAD WAS AVAILABLE AND SUITABLE FOR ALL
i. BREAD IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IS TRULY WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION
ii. THERE IS SOME SORT OF BREAD IN EVERY CULTURE AND PEOPLE GROUP
iii. JESUS AS THE BREAD OF LIFE IS AVAILABLE TO EACH AND EVERY PERSON
iv. JESUS ALLUDES TO THIS TRUTH BY TELLING US IN THE LORD’S PRAYER – “GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD”
1. GOD IS WILLING TO PROVIDE ALL THAT WE NEED DAILY IF WE WILL ASK HIM
a. GOD HAS PROVIDED HIS WORD
b. GOD HAS PROVIDED US LIFE
c. GOD HAS PROVIDED THE WORLD WE LIVE ON
d. GOD PROVIDED MERCY WHEN WE NEEDED IT
e. GOD PROVIDED A SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS
f. GOD PROVIDES OUR NEEDS
g. GOD PROVIDES FOR OUR DESIRES
h. GOD PROVIDES JESUS, NOT ONLY AS A SAVIOR, BUT AN EXAMPLE
i. GOD PROVIDES HIS ABIDING PRESENCE IN THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
4. BREAD WAS USED FOR CLEANSING
i. WE EVEN DO THIS WITHOUT THINKING
ii. TODAY WE USE NAPKINS WITH TO CLEAN OUR FACES
iii. TODAY WE USE BREAD TO CLEAN OUR PLATES
iv. REMEMBER WITH THE STORY OF LAZARUS, HE ATE THE BREAD/CRUMBS THAT FELL FROM THE TABLE OF THE RICH MAN?
1. BREAD WAS USED TO CLEAN ONES FACE AT THE END OF THE MEAL
v. JESUS AS THE BREAD OF LIFE IS THE ONE WHO CLEANS US FROM ALL OF THE DIRT IN OUR LIVES
5. BREAD DOES NOT GROW ON TREES, IT MUST BE SUPPLIED
i. GRAIN NEED TO BE GROWN, CUT DOWN, BEATEN, GROUND, AND FINALLY BAKED
ii. CHRIST WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT HE DID IN ORDER TO PROVIDE US WITH THE GIFT OF SALVATION
ISAIAH 53:5 (NIV) BUT HE WAS PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, HE WAS CRUSHED FOR OUR INIQUITIES; THE PUNISHMENT THAT BROUGHT US PEACE WAS UPON HIM, AND BY HIS WOUNDS WE ARE HEALED.
1 PETER 3:18 (NIV) FOR CHRIST DIED FOR SINS ONCE FOR ALL, THE RIGHTEOUS FOR THE UNRIGHTEOUS, TO BRING YOU TO GOD. HE WAS PUT TO DEATH IN THE BODY BUT MADE ALIVE BY THE SPIRIT,
6. BREAD PRODUCES GROWTH
i. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO JUST KNOW ABOUT BREAD. KNOWING ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF BREAD DOES NOTHING FOR OUR NOURISHMENT AND STRENGTH
ii. ONCE BREAD MOVES INSIDE US, THAT IS A DIFFERENT STORY.
1. CONSUMED
2. DIGESTED
3. USED
iii. BREAD PRODUCES GROWTH WHEN IT GETS INSIDE US
JOHN 15:4-5 (NIV) REMAIN IN ME, AND I WILL REMAIN IN YOU. NO BRANCH CAN BEAR FRUIT BY ITSELF; IT MUST REMAIN IN THE VINE. NEITHER CAN YOU BEAR FRUIT UNLESS YOU REMAIN IN ME. 5 "I AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. IF A MAN REMAINS IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT; APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.
7. BREAD SATISFIES A HUNGRY SOUL
i. WHY? BECAUSE JESUS AS THE BREAD OF LIFE SATISFIES THE DEEPEST NEEDS OF MY HEART AND LIFE
ii. THINK ABOUT THIS:
1. WHEN THE NATION OF ISRAEL WAS REBELLIOUS, AND COMPLAINING GOD PROVIDED MANNA FOR THEIR NEEDS
2. CHRIST CAME TO US AT THE RIGHT TIME – WHEN THE FULNESS OF TIME WAS COME – GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON
3. WHEN THE MANNA WAS PROVIDED ISRAEL WAS IN THE WILDERNESS OF SIN
EXODUS 16:1 (NIV) THE WHOLE ISRAELITE COMMUNITY SET OUT FROM ELIM AND CAME TO THE DESERT OF SIN, WHICH IS BETWEEN ELIM AND SINAI, ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE SECOND MONTH AFTER THEY HAD COME OUT OF EGYPT.
a. GOD’S MANNA FROM HEAVEN CAME RIGHT WHERE THE PEOPLE WERE WHEN THEY NEEDED IT
b. MANNA WAS FREE
c. MANNA WAS SWEET TO THE TASTE
d. EACH PERSON WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN MANNA
WHEN CHRIST SAYS – I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE HE IS EVERYTHING THE MANNA FROM HEAVEN POINTED TO AND WAS NOT.
CHRIST AS THE BREAD OF LIFE PROVIDES EVERYTHING WE NEED TO SATISFY OUR SOULS, CLEANSE OUR LIVES AND SUSTAIN OUR SPIRITUAL WALK WITH CHRIST
