Feasting on Christ: The Bread of Life

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus' Identity Revealed Through "I Am" Statements

The "I Am" statements in the Gospel of John are profound declarations that reveal the divine identity of Jesus Christ. These statements are not just metaphors but are central to understanding who Jesus is. Each statement, such as "I am the bread of life" or "I am the light of the world," invites us to focus on Jesus as the source of spiritual life and sustenance. By recognizing Jesus as the focal point of these declarations, we are invited to deepen our relationship with Him and understand His divine nature. These statements challenge us to see Jesus not just as a historical figure but as the living God who desires to be intimately involved in our lives. [03:17]

John 8:58 (ESV): "Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.'"

Reflection: How do the "I Am" statements of Jesus challenge your current understanding of who He is? What steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with Him?

Day 2: Shifting Focus from Physical to Spiritual

Jesus' declaration as the bread of life challenges us to look beyond our physical needs and desires. In a world that often prioritizes material success and physical satisfaction, Jesus calls us to recognize our deeper spiritual hunger. This hunger can only be satisfied by a relationship with Him. Just as the people of Jesus' time struggled to understand His words because they were fixated on physical needs, we too can become distracted by worldly pursuits. However, these pursuits often leave us empty and longing for more. Jesus offers us a deeper satisfaction that transcends the physical realm, inviting us to find true fulfillment in Him. [06:52]

Colossians 3:2 (ESV): "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: What are some physical desires or pursuits that have been distracting you from your spiritual growth? How can you refocus your attention on your relationship with Jesus this week?

Day 3: Fulfillment in Christ Alone

We are created with an innate hunger for God, a longing that cannot be satisfied by anything else. Pursuing worldly things may provide temporary satisfaction, but they ultimately leave us empty. Jesus, as the bread of life, offers us a fulfillment that is lasting and profound. By feasting on Jesus, we experience peace, joy, and contentment that the world cannot offer. This spiritual nourishment is what truly fulfills our deepest desires and aligns us with our created purpose: to worship and glorify God. In Christ, we find the true fulfillment that our souls crave. [09:40]

Psalm 107:9 (ESV): "For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things."

Reflection: In what ways have you been seeking fulfillment outside of Christ? How can you intentionally seek satisfaction in your relationship with Jesus today?

Day 4: Faith as a Living Trust

To feast on Jesus is to have faith in Him. This faith is not merely an intellectual agreement but involves a deep, abiding trust in His words and promises. It is about allowing Jesus to guide our lives and being obedient to His leading. As we trust in Jesus, we experience the fullness of joy and peace that surpasses all understanding. This faith is a living trust that transforms our lives and aligns us with God's will. By placing our faith in Jesus, we open ourselves to the abundant life He offers. [21:52]

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust Jesus fully? What practical steps can you take to deepen your trust in Him this week?

Day 5: Experiencing Joy and Peace in Christ

By feasting on Jesus, we experience a joy and peace that are not dependent on our circumstances. These gifts are rooted in our relationship with Him and are a result of trusting in His promises. The peace of God guards our hearts and minds, providing stability and assurance even in the midst of life's challenges. This joy and peace are a testament to the transformative power of a relationship with Jesus. As we continue to feast on Him, we are filled with His presence and experience the abundant life He promises. [17:49]

Isaiah 26:3 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of joy and peace in your relationship with Jesus, regardless of your current circumstances? What practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to keep your mind focused on Him?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we embarked on a journey to explore the profound identity of Jesus Christ through the lens of the seven "I Am" statements found in the Gospel of John. These declarations are not merely metaphors but are central to understanding who Jesus is and His divine nature. The emphasis is not on the metaphors themselves, such as "the bread of life" or "the light of the world," but on Jesus as the focal point of these statements. When Jesus says, "I am the bread of life," He is inviting us to recognize Him as the essential sustenance for our spiritual lives.

The concept of Jesus as the bread of life challenges us to shift our focus from the physical to the spiritual. Just as the people of Jesus' time struggled to understand His words because they were fixated on physical needs and desires, we too often seek fulfillment in worldly things. However, these pursuits leave us empty and longing for more. Jesus, as the bread of life, offers us a deeper satisfaction that can only be found in a relationship with Him. This spiritual nourishment is what truly fulfills our innate hunger for God, a hunger that cannot be satisfied by anything else.

To feast on Jesus, to partake in the bread of life, is to have faith in Him. It is about trusting in His words and His promises, allowing Him to be the source of our joy and peace. This faith is not a mere intellectual assent but a deep, abiding trust that leads to obedience. As we trust in Jesus, we experience the fullness of joy and the peace that surpasses all understanding, guarding our hearts and minds in Christ.

As we prepare to partake in communion, let us reflect on Jesus as the bread of life. Let us remember His sacrifice on the cross and trust in Him for our spiritual nourishment. In doing so, we align ourselves with our created purpose: to worship and glorify God, finding true fulfillment in Him alone.

Key Takeaways

1. Understanding Jesus' "I Am" Statements: The "I Am" statements in the Gospel of John reveal Jesus' divine identity. They emphasize that Jesus is the central figure in these declarations, inviting us to focus on Him as the source of spiritual life and sustenance. [03:17]
2. **The Spiritual vs. Physical Realm**: Jesus' declaration as the bread of life challenges us to look beyond physical needs and desires. Our true hunger is spiritual, and only Jesus can satisfy this deep longing within us. [06:52]
3. The Fulfillment of Our Hunger: We are created with a hunger for God, and only He can fulfill it. Pursuing worldly things leaves us empty, but feasting on Jesus brings peace, joy, and contentment. [09:40]
4. Faith as the Work of God: To feast on Jesus is to have faith in Him. This faith is not just intellectual but involves trusting in His promises and allowing Him to guide our lives. [21:52]
5. Joy and Peace in Christ: By feasting on Jesus, we experience the fullness of joy and peace that surpasses understanding. These are not dependent on circumstances but are rooted in our relationship with Him. [17:49]
** [17:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:42] - Introduction to the "I Am" Statements
[03:17] - Jesus' Claim to Divinity
[04:59] - The Emphasis on Christ
[06:02] - Jesus as the Bread of Life
[06:52] - Spiritual vs. Physical Understanding
[08:47] - Our Spiritual Hunger
[09:40] - Created to Hunger for God
[10:33] - God's Menu vs. The World's Menu
[11:35] - Fulfillment in Christ
[12:50] - The Approval of God
[14:01] - Benefits of Feasting on Christ
[15:44] - Fullness of Joy
[17:49] - Peace of God
[20:09] - How to Feast on Christ
[21:52] - Faith and Trust in Jesus
[23:34] - Trust Leading to Obedience
[26:23] - Christ as Our Treasure
[27:16] - Communion and Reflection

Sermon Clips

It tells you and I that we have a hunger for something. It tells you and I that we have a hunger or a need. But again, often we're not able to discern that, etc. And oftentimes... We feel as even though we receive these things, whether it's fame, fortune, whatever else. Oftentimes, we feel ourselves still feeling hungry. [00:08:47] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

We were made... To hunger after God. And we were made... To have this desire for God. And only God can be the one to fulfill that as well. In Isaiah chapter 43 verse 7, it talks about that we are created for his glory and his praise. We're made to worship God. And because that is our created purpose... We cannot be satisfied until we do worship God or give him glory. [00:10:08] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

When we feast on him, he is the one that gives us peace, joy, contentment, and security. He is the only one who completes us and gives us fulfillment. And unfading satisfaction in him. What does that mean? We need to, again, feast on Jesus. Because that is, again, we were made to feast on Jesus. We were made to feast on the Lord. [00:11:53] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

This joy is about being present in the Lord and receiving his joy and his joy completing you and completing your joy in him. And here John Piper says that this joy, even though you may have ups and downs in your life emotionally and what not, spiritually or whatever, your joy in God far outweighs those other joys. [00:16:20] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

When we feast on Christ Jesus and him alone, we receive the fullness of joy. Because his joy replaces our joy. And his peace replaces our peace. The apostle Paul talks about this in his letter to the Philippi church. Turn with me to Philippians chapter 4. You know, everyone should know this verse. It's a very well -known popular verse. [00:18:04] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

As we fill ourselves with Christ Jesus. Right? As we pray. As we connect with him. As we fill ourselves in worship and prayer and worship and whatever other things. As we're thankful. What you're going to notice is that the peace of God is going to start to fill you. And that nervousness is not going to be as bad as it used to be. [00:19:25] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

The people were asking Jesus at this moment in verse 29, verse 28, sorry, about the work of God. How do I gain this? What work do I do to gain this? And the response that Jesus gives here in verse 29, it says, he says, this is the work of God. That you believe in him whom he has sent. [00:21:00] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

The labor that we do, if there's a labor or work that we do, is trusting Jesus and everything that he has said in his word. That is faith. It's not just an intellectual belief, but it's a letting go of what you believe and saying, Lord, I believe what you believe in. I trust in whatever you say and do. [00:23:49] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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