Embracing Jesus: Our True Bread of Life
Summary
In my sermon today, I focused on the profound truth that Jesus Christ is everything to us, and how this truth is not merely an event in history or words on a page, but a living reality that should transform our lives. I drew from the narrative in John chapter 6, where Jesus, after feeding the 5,000, addresses the crowd that sought Him not for who He is, but for the physical sustenance He provided.
I began by recounting the story of how Jesus miraculously fed the multitude and then disappeared to pray, leaving the crowd puzzled about His whereabouts the following day. Their pursuit of Jesus was driven by a desire for more food, not understanding the spiritual significance of His presence. When they finally found Jesus on the other side of the sea, they questioned Him about His arrival, but Jesus redirected the conversation to a spiritual plane, emphasizing the importance of seeking eternal life over temporary, physical needs.
Jesus challenged the crowd's understanding of what it means to work for God. He clarified that the only work God desires is faith in Him. The crowd, however, was fixated on physical signs and wonders, comparing Jesus to Moses, who provided manna in the wilderness for 40 years. They failed to grasp that Jesus was offering something far greater than physical bread—He was offering Himself, the true bread from heaven, as the source of eternal life.
I emphasized that Jesus wants us to change our focus from temporal needs to our spiritual need for salvation. He invites us to believe in Him wholeheartedly, to consume Him as the bread of life, which means to fully embrace His sacrifice on the cross for our sins. This is not a half-hearted commitment but a total surrender to His saving grace.
Throughout the sermon, I reiterated that God is a personal God who draws us to salvation. He knows our doubts, our questions, and our needs, and He works in our lives to bring us to a place of belief. I shared personal anecdotes of how God drew me to Himself, illustrating that God's desire is for everyone to be saved.
In conclusion, I called for a response to the message of salvation, urging those who have not yet put their full faith and trust in Jesus to do so today. I invited them to come forward, to talk with someone about the gospel, and to make a decision to follow Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
- The pursuit of Jesus must transcend our physical needs and focus on our spiritual hunger for eternal life. Just as the crowd sought Jesus for more bread, we often seek Him for temporary solutions, missing the true sustenance He offers—Himself, the bread of life. Our deepest need is not for the things of this world, but for the salvation that only Jesus can provide. [38:07]
- True faith is not about performing religious duties or adhering to a set of laws; it is about believing in Jesus Christ and trusting in His finished work on the cross. This simple yet profound truth remains the cornerstone of our relationship with God. It is not our good works that please God, but our faith in His Son. [38:46]
- The will of God is clear: He desires for all to be saved and to have eternal life. This is accomplished not through our own efforts, but through the true bread from heaven—Jesus Christ. When we consume Him, we are given by the Father to the Son, and we will never be cast out. [45:46]
- God's personal involvement in our lives is evident in His constant drawing of us to salvation. Reflecting on our life's journey, we can see the various ways God has reached out to us, creating a thirst for Him and guiding us to the truth of the gospel. Our salvation is a testament to His relentless love and pursuit. [47:44]
- The hard sayings of Jesus, such as the need to consume His flesh and drink His blood, are not meant to confuse but to convey the depth of commitment required for salvation. We must fully embrace Jesus, not merely as a historical figure or a religious icon, but as our Lord and Savior, in whom we place our complete trust. [56:14]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- John 6:26-29
- John 6:32-35
- John 6:48-51
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the crowd's primary reason for seeking Jesus after He fed the 5,000? ([34:51])
2. According to Jesus in John 6:29, what is the "work of God" that people must do? ([37:25])
3. How does Jesus describe Himself in John 6:35, and what promise does He give to those who come to Him? ([44:18])
4. What was the crowd's reaction to Jesus' teaching about being the bread of life, and how did it affect their decision to follow Him? ([01:00:46])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus redirected the crowd's question about how He arrived to a discussion about seeking eternal life? ([35:32])
2. How does Jesus' statement in John 6:29 challenge the common understanding of what it means to "work for God"? ([37:25])
3. What does Jesus mean when He says He is the "bread of life"? How does this metaphor help us understand His role in our spiritual lives? ([44:18])
4. Why do you think many of Jesus' disciples found His teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood difficult to accept? ([01:00:46])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own pursuit of Jesus. Are there times when you seek Him more for physical or temporary needs rather than for spiritual sustenance? How can you shift your focus to seek Him for eternal life? ([34:51])
2. Jesus emphasized that the work God desires is to believe in Him. How does this understanding change the way you approach your faith and daily life? ([37:25])
3. Jesus invites us to consume Him as the bread of life, which means fully embracing His sacrifice. What does it look like in your life to fully embrace Jesus' sacrifice? Are there areas where you are holding back? ([44:18])
4. Consider the ways God has personally drawn you to Himself throughout your life. Can you identify specific moments or experiences where you felt His guidance? How do these experiences strengthen your faith? ([47:44])
5. Jesus' teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood requires a deep commitment. Are there aspects of your faith where you feel you are only partially committed? What steps can you take to fully commit to Jesus? ([01:00:46])
6. Peter's response to Jesus' hard teaching was to affirm his belief in Jesus as the source of eternal life. How can you cultivate a similar attitude of trust and commitment, even when you don't fully understand everything? ([01:02:05])
7. Reflect on the personal anecdotes shared in the sermon about how God drew the pastor to Himself. How can you share your own story of faith with others to encourage them in their spiritual journey? ([47:44])
Devotional
Day 1: Spiritual Hunger Transcends Physical Needs
The pursuit of Jesus must go beyond our earthly desires, focusing on the spiritual hunger that only He can satisfy. Often, like the crowd following Jesus for more bread, individuals chase after Him seeking temporary fixes to life's problems. However, the true nourishment He offers is Himself—the bread of life. This spiritual sustenance is not found in the perishable things of this world but in the salvation and eternal life that Jesus provides. It is essential to recognize that the deepest human need is not for material wealth or comfort but for the redemption and hope that is found in Christ alone. [38:07]
"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 6:35 ESV
Reflection: What physical or material desires might be distracting you from your spiritual need for Jesus? How can you shift your focus to Him this week?
Day 2: Faith Beyond Works
True faith is not about the rituals or laws one follows but about a deep-seated belief in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. This faith is the foundation of a relationship with God, not the deeds one performs. It is a profound yet simple truth that God is pleased not by human efforts but by trust in His Son. This cornerstone of faith calls for a wholehearted commitment to Jesus, recognizing that salvation is not earned but graciously given through His finished work. [38:46]
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
Reflection: How can you remind yourself this week that your relationship with God is based on faith, not your accomplishments or religious duties?
Day 3: God's Desire for Universal Salvation
The will of God is for all to find salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true bread from heaven. This divine plan is not something that can be achieved through human effort but is a gift that comes from accepting Christ as the source of life. When one partakes in the bread of life, they are united with the Father and the Son in an eternal bond that cannot be broken. This is the heart of the gospel: that God's love and grace are available to all who believe. [45:46]
"And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day." - John 6:39 ESV
Reflection: In what ways can you share the message of God's desire for salvation with someone who may not yet know it?
Day 4: God's Personal Pursuit of Us
God's involvement in our lives is a testament to His relentless pursuit of our salvation. He knows each person intimately—doubts, questions, and needs—and works to guide them toward belief. Reflecting on one's life journey, it is possible to see the various ways God has created a thirst for Himself and led to the truth of the gospel. Salvation is not a chance occurrence but a deliberate act of God's love drawing individuals to Him. [47:44]
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." - Luke 19:10 ESV
Reflection: Can you identify moments in your life where God has been drawing you closer to Him? How can you respond to His pursuit today?
Day 5: Embracing Jesus Fully
The teachings of Jesus, such as the call to consume His flesh and drink His blood, are meant to illustrate the depth of commitment required for salvation. Embracing Jesus means more than acknowledging Him as a historical figure or a religious symbol; it means trusting Him as the Lord and Savior. This commitment involves a complete surrender to Jesus, placing one's entire trust in His redemptive power and love. [56:14]
"Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." - John 6:56 ESV
Reflection: What does fully embracing Jesus as your Lord and Savior look like in your daily life? How can you deepen your commitment to Him starting today?
Quotes
"You have to put all your faith and all your trust in Jesus Christ. You have to jump with both feet; there's no half-heartedness. I trust him. The day I got saved, I remember kneeling down and God dealt with my heart... I said, 'God, I don't get it all, I don't understand it all, but I believe you and I trust you to save me.' There is a weight that lifted up from my shoulder; he transformed my life." [59:28]
"God's Will and God's desire for every single person is to be saved for all of eternity, and he does everything possible to draw us unto himself... I'm sure you can look back at your life and look at little things that God did in your life to draw you to himself... God loves us so much... and he's drawing us to Salvation; he wants us to be saved, we simply have to believe in him." [47:44]
"The bread of life, he that comes to me shall never hunger, and he that believes on me shall never thirst... Jesus Christ is saying yes, what God used Moses to do was amazing, but you must look to God. What he's offering you now is so much more, it's so much greater than anything that Moses was able to accomplish." [44:18]
"The only work that is pleasing to God is faith and trust in him. These men had worked to find Jesus to meet their physical needs, their hunger, but they needed to work to find Jesus to meet their spiritual needs... Jesus says that we must seek him not just for the physical things... but rather for our spiritual need of Salvation." [38:07]
"Jesus Christ will say unto them verily verily I say unto you... he's going to help them to understand what their focus and what their perspective and what their understanding of God must be... Jesus said unto them, 'Moses gave you not that bread from heaven, but my father gives you the true bread from Heaven.'" [41:27]
"Jesus tries to explain to them what he's saying and he's what he's telling them is they need to look to the Cross... 'except ye eat the Flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.'... he's referring to the Cross as Jesus Christ was in the upper room with his disciples the night before his crucifixion." [56:14]
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