I am the Bread of Life
Encountering Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsSeeking our satisfaction and sustenance in Christ alone. We want to use Jesus as a way to get to things that we think will satisfy, but Jesus IS that which satisfies.
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James Smith
James Smith
Was a 1995 graduate of Bloomfield High School in Bloomfield, Connecticut.
But he found his true home in Mount Vernon Ohio where he graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University with a BA in Youth Ministry in 1999.
But he now lives in Bowling Green with is wife of 10 years, Karen.
He is in the midst of weight loss journey that
1999 was a good year for James, not only did he graduate from college, but he also married the love of his life, Kelly that same year.
After a 5 year stint in youth ministry, James eventually found his way back to Mount Vernon Nazarene University where he has served in a variety of roles for over 11 years.
He and Kelly love their 4 kids Hallie, Judah, Phin, and Asher. Kelly has been blessed to work from home so she can be a full-time mommie to her kiddos.
James and Kelly are devoted members of Lakeholm Nazarene church where James has had opportunities to preach from time to time.
He is also passionate about missions, particularly to the country of Guatemala where he has led several mission teams to serve with the agency he helps to lead, Encuentro (en-QUEN-tro) Missions.
CONFESSION: I do not know James Smith, but I know a lot about James Smith after spending 10 minutes looking at his facebook profile.
According to google, James Smith is the most common name in the US.
Just because I know a lot about James Smith from Mount Vernon, Ohio doesn’t mean I know James Smith.
It is the difference between “Impersonal Knowledge” vs “Personal Knowledge”
To actually know someone we actually have to engage with a person, communicate with them for a period of time.
When we see aspects of someone’s true heart, what makes them them, then we can say we KNOW them.
Encountering the REAL JESUS
Encountering the REAL JESUS
Over the next 7 weeks we are going to examine 7 accounts where Jesus makes a claim about Himself.
Each of the claims are called “I am Statements” because Jesus says of Himself: I am...
These are 7 encounters with the REAL JESUS in which Jesus introduces aspects of who He REALLY is rather than the identities we place on Him or ideas we have about Him.
What we learn ABOUT US:
What we learn ABOUT US:
We are all on a search for TRUE SATISFACTION.
We are all on a search for TRUE SATISFACTION.
jn 6 22-
22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
We are on a search for LASTING SATISFACTION.
We are on a search for LASTING SATISFACTION.
Hunger is a common feeling most of us get a few times a day. It is quite a motivating feeling, sending us on a search for something to quench our appetites.
We will go to great lengths to find some way of quenching our hunger.
Hunger is a common feeling most of us get a few times a day. It is quite a motivating feeling, sending us on a search for something to quench our appetites.
We will go to great lengths to find some way of quenching our hunger.
22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”
jn 6:22-25
The crowd = the crowd Jesus fed with 5 loaves and 2 fish
- Just crossed the sea of Galilee and walked on water
The disciples had crossed the sea of crossed the sea of Galilee the night before and Jesus had walked on water to them.
Jesus ust crossed the sea of Galilee and walked on water
The crowd woke up the next morning looking for Jesus because of what he had done, wanted to make Him King.
There was quite an effort to find Jesus
- They were looking for Jesus because of what he had done, wanted to make Him King.
- There was quite an effort to find Jesus (got into boats—5000+ people
got into boats—5000+ people potentially
They call Jesus Rabbi, which means “teacher” and misses who He really is.
We misunderstand our TRUE NEED.
We misunderstand our TRUE NEED.
John 6:26—Jesus’ response
26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
Jesus’ response points straight to the motivations of their hearts.
They missed the person for the product.
They missed the giver for the gift.
He says the crowd is not seeking Him, they are seeking what He offers them
- He says the crowd is not seeking Him, they are seeking what He offers them
The miracle was to put on display the glory (wonder/magnificence) of God in Jesus and to point them to Him, not to food.
They missed the person for the product. The miracle was to put on display the glory (wonder/magnificence) of God in Jesus and to point them to Him, not to food.
Jesus says “You need to stop working so hard to find food that will only temporarily satisfy.
We work hard for THINGS that PERISH.
We work hard for THINGS that PERISH.
The total amount of consumer debt in the US is nearly $4 trillion in 2018.
Credit card debt in May 2018 broke the previous record of $1.02 trillion set in 2008.
Auto loans totaled $1.113 trillion in 2018.
1.7 billion searches for pornography since beginning of 2014.
About 2 million children are exploited every year in the global commercial sex trade.
More than one-third (34.9% or 78.6 million) of U.S. adults are obese.
In the US alone, an estimated 54 million people over the age of 12 have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons in their lifetime.
We are a hungry people, looking to money, sex, food, drugs, and a variety of other things to fulfill that hunger.
We are a hungry people. We are looking to money, sex, food, drugs, and a variety of other things to fulfill that hunger.
The numbers inside and outside the church are not dramatically different.
We say we know Jesus, but we are looking for other things in this world to satisfy us and we are left hungry and thirsty.
Our pursuit points to our desire for eternal satisfaction.
We learn about JESUS:
We learn about JESUS:
Jesus is the END of our SEARCH.
Jesus is the END of our SEARCH.
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”
jn 6
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father 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.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father 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.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
john 6:28-34
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
The crowd wanted to do what the needed to get more food, better living conditions, maybe a few toys, and some security (inference I know).
The crowd wanted to do what the needed to get more food, better living conditions, maybe a few toys, and some security (inference I know).
The crowd wanted to do what the needed to get more food, better living conditions, maybe a few toys, and some security (inference I know).
The crowds “So what do we need to do to keep this bread and fish thing coming?”
o The crowds “So what do we need to do to keep this bread and fish thing coming?”
o Jesus answers “Believe in me.”
Jesus answers “Believe in me.”
§ Jesus is enough, He is all you need
Jesus is enough, He is all you need
Believe, trust, put faith in, rely on…
§ Believe, trust, put faith in, rely on…
§ It is not a cognitive response, it is a brain, heart, and hands response.
It is not a cognitive response, it is a brain, heart, and hands response.
vv. 30-34
They miss it again “show us a sign, why should we believe in you” = HE ALREADY DID!!
- They miss it again “show us a sign, why should we believe in you” = HE ALREADY DID!!
Jesus “first off it was my dad who gave you the bread.”
- Jesus “first off it was my dad who gave you the bread.”
Jesus “Secondly, I am not talking about manna and filling your bellies.
- Jesus “Secondly, I am not talking about manna and filling your bellies.
Jesus is what we TRULY NEED.
Jesus is what we TRULY NEED.
30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father 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.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
jn 6 30-
“I am the bread you are seeking”
“I am the bread you are seeking”
In your work, I am the bread!
o In your work, I am the bread!
o In your family, I am the bread!
In your family, I am the bread!
In your finances, I am the bread!
o In your finances, I am the bread!
o In your relationships, I am the bread!
In your relationships, I am the bread!
Be satisfied in ME (—They ate and were satisfied, and there was an abundance)
o Be satisfied in ME (—They ate and were satisfied, and there was an abundance)
42 And they all ate and were satisfied.
Stop looking elsewhere, Jesus is the bread that will never leave you hungry, never leave you thirsty, never leave to looking for the next thing that will satisfy you for a moment.
Jesus is the SOURCE of LASTING SATISFACTION.
Jesus is the SOURCE of LASTING SATISFACTION.
Stop looking elsewhere, Jesus is the bread that will never leave you hungry, never leave you thirsty, never leave to looking for the next thing that will satisfy you for a moment.
48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
“Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and they died” the manna met their physical need, but not their eternal need
The manna was the bread of “bios”- physical life
It sustained their physical life
It was brought to them every morning, just enough for the day
And they even realized it’s inefficiencies
4 Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”
numb 4
Fast-forward 1000s of years and people haven’t changed.
They are looking to bios bread to fulfill a Zoe need.
Jesus is the Bread of “ZOA”- eternal, abundant life
We are hungry for something that will fill us up and not leave us hungry again.
“I am the living bread…if anyone eats of this bread, he will “ZOA” forever.”
Jesus is the ZOA bread that fulfills our ZOA need.
The SEARCH for REAL SATISFACTION is complete in JESUS
How can we find TRUE SATISFACTION?
How can we find TRUE SATISFACTION?
RECEIVE Jesus as the BREAD OF LIFE.
RECEIVE Jesus as the BREAD OF LIFE.
53-
53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
It is not enough to be a fan of Jesus.
To think Jesus was a pretty good dude
Receiving Jesus means we recognize Him as our savior above whatever else we are looking to for salvation.
PURSUE Jesus as the BREAD OF LIFE.
PURSUE Jesus as the BREAD OF LIFE.
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”
6
Disciplines of the faith
Mission and purpose of the faith
aligning with the WILL OF GOD not looking for God to bless our will for us.
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
REST in Jesus as the BREAD OF LIFE.
REST in Jesus as the BREAD OF LIFE.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
john 6 68-
john 6 67
Has Jesus become the source of eternal satisfaction in your life?