Bread From Heaven

I am theBread of Life

Jn 6:35Jn 6:35

• John‟s Gospel records the beautiful words: “I am the Bread of Life.”

• John‟s Gospel records the beautiful words: “I am the Bread of Life.”

• John records seven “I am” statements by Jesus.

• Jesus statements are based on God‟s statement to Moses (Ex 3:14).

• Jesus statements are based on God‟s statement to Moses (Ex 3:14).

• Moses asked God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, „The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, „What is his name?‟ what shall I say to them?‟” (v 13, ESV).

• Jesus statements are based on God‟s statement to Moses (Ex 3:14).

• Moses asked God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, „The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, „What is his name?‟ what shall I say to them?‟” (v 13, ESV).

• God replies, “I AM WHO I AM” (v 14, ESV).

• Jesus statements are based on God‟s statement to Moses (Ex 3:14).

• Moses asked God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, „The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, „What is his name?‟ what shall I say to them?‟” (v 13, ESV).

• God replies, “I AM WHO I AM” (v 14, ESV). God then says, “Say this to the people of Israel, „I AM has sent me to you‟”(v 14, ESV).

• Jesus statements are based on God‟s statement to Moses (Ex 3:14).

• Moses asked God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, „The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, „What is his name?‟ what shall I say to them?‟” (v 13, ESV).

• God replies, “I AM WHO I AM” (v 14, ESV). God then says, “Say this to the people of Israel, „I AM has sent me to you‟”(v 14, ESV).

• The divine name (“Yahweh” or “Jehovah”) comes from the Hebrew verb “to be.”

• Jesus claimed to be the “I AM.”– “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am”

(Jn 8:58, ESV).

• Jesus claimed to be the “I AM.”– “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am”

(Jn 8:58, ESV).– The Jews understood quite clearly that Jesus was

claiming divinity, for “they picked up stones to throw at him” (Jn 8:59, ESV).

• Jesus claimed to be the “I AM.”– “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am”

(Jn 8:58, ESV).– The Jews understood quite clearly that Jesus was

claiming divinity, for “they picked up stones to throw at him” (Jn 8:59, ESV).

• In tonight‟s text, Jesus claimed to the bread of life.

• Jesus claimed to be the “I AM.”– “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am”

(Jn 8:58, ESV).– The Jews understood quite clearly that Jesus was

claiming divinity, for “they picked up stones to throw at him” (Jn 8:59, ESV).

• “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (Jn 6:35, ESV).

WHAT DID JESUS MEAN BY DECLARING THAT HE WAS THE BREAD OF LIFE?

HE IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE

• “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (Jn 1:3-4, ESV).

• “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (Jn 1:3-4, ESV).– All life came through Jesus Christ.

• “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (Jn 1:3-4, ESV).– All life came through Jesus Christ.

• “By him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him” (Col 1:16, ESV).

• “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (Jn 1:3-4, ESV).– All life came through Jesus Christ.

• “By him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him” (Col 1:16, ESV).

• We are in this world because Jesus is the “bread of life.”

• Scripture presents a high view of human life.

• Scripture presents a high view of human life.– “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your

life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Mt 6:25, ESV).

• Scripture presents a high view of human life.– “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your

life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Mt 6:25, ESV).

– “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Mt 10:31, ESV).

MODERN SOCIETY HAS MOVED AWAY FROM THAT TRUTH.

JESUS IS THE SUSTAINER OF LIFE.

• Bread—i.e., food—is absolutely essential for life.

• Bread—i.e., food—is absolutely essential for life.• God provides food.

• Bread—i.e., food—is absolutely essential for life.• God provides food.

– The Israelites in the wilderness.

• Bread—i.e., food—is absolutely essential for life.• God provides food.

– The Israelites in the wilderness.– Elijah was sustained for 40 days with two meals of a

cake and a jar of water (1 Ki 19:4-9).

• Bread—i.e., food—is absolutely essential for life.• God provides food.

– The Israelites in the wilderness.– Elijah was sustained for 40 days with two meals of a

cake and a jar of water (1 Ki 19:4-9).– God provides us with food, too.

• Bread—i.e., food—is absolutely essential for life.• God provides food.

– The Israelites in the wilderness.– Elijah was sustained for 40 days with two meals of a

cake and a jar of water (1 Ki 19:4-9).– God provides us with food, too.

• “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Mt 5:45, ESV).

• Bread—i.e., food—is absolutely essential for life.• God provides food.

– The Israelites in the wilderness.– Elijah was sustained for 40 days with two meals of a

cake and a jar of water (1 Ki 19:4-9).– God provides us with food, too.

• “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Mt 5:45, ESV).

• “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things [food & clothing will be added to you” (Mt 6:33, ESV).

JESUS GIVES SATISFACTION IN LIFE

• “Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

• “Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”– Jesus Christ satisfies our inner desires.

• “Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”– Jesus Christ satisfies our inner desires.

• “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house,and you give them drink from the river of your delights” (Ps 36:7-8, ESV).

• “Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”– Jesus Christ satisfies our inner desires.

• “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house,and you give them drink from the river of your delights” (Ps 36:7-8, ESV).

• “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Mt 5:6, ESV).

• “Jesus said to her, „Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again” (Jn 4:13-14, ESV).

HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUSTO HAVE YOUR DESIRES SATISFIED?