Jesus: The Bread of Life and Spiritual Nourishment

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus as the Bread of Life

Jesus' declaration that He is the Bread of Life challenges us to seek spiritual nourishment in Him rather than in worldly pursuits. True satisfaction comes from a relationship with Jesus, who offers eternal life and spiritual fulfillment. Jesus' miracles, such as feeding the 5,000 and walking on water, were not just displays of power but signs pointing to a deeper spiritual truth. When Jesus declared Himself the Bread of Life, He was inviting us to look beyond our immediate physical needs and desires and to seek the true nourishment that only He can provide. This teaching was difficult for many to accept, leading to confusion and even offense, but it remains a profound truth for us today.

In our daily lives, we often get caught up in the pursuit of material success, comfort, and security. While these things are not inherently wrong, they can distract us from the deeper spiritual hunger that only Jesus can satisfy. By declaring Himself the Bread of Life, Jesus is calling us to prioritize our relationship with Him above all else. He offers us not just temporary relief but eternal life and spiritual fulfillment. As we reflect on this truth, let us ask ourselves where we are seeking our nourishment and whether we are truly finding our satisfaction in Jesus. [35:30]

John 6:35 (ESV): "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.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you seeking satisfaction outside of Jesus? How can you begin to seek spiritual nourishment in Him today?

Day 2: The Work of God

The primary work God requires of us is to believe in Jesus, the One He has sent. This belief is not just intellectual assent but a deep, trusting relationship that shapes our identity, purpose, and actions. Jesus emphasized that the work of God is to believe in Him, pointing to Himself as the source of eternal life. This belief goes beyond mere acknowledgment of His existence; it involves a deep, personal trust in Him as our Savior and Lord. It is a relationship that transforms our lives, guiding our decisions, actions, and purpose.

In a world that often values self-reliance and achievement, it can be challenging to embrace the simplicity and depth of this call to believe. Yet, this is the foundation of our faith. Believing in Jesus means trusting Him with our whole lives, allowing His presence to shape our identity and guide our actions. It is a call to surrender our own efforts and to rest in the assurance of His love and grace. As we reflect on this truth, let us consider how our belief in Jesus is shaping our daily lives and whether we are truly trusting Him in all areas. [36:56]

John 6:29 (ESV): "Jesus answered them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.'"

Reflection: How is your belief in Jesus shaping your daily life? Are there areas where you struggle to trust Him fully?

Day 3: Spiritual vs. Physical Needs

Jesus' teaching emphasizes the importance of prioritizing spiritual needs over physical desires. While our daily needs are important, they should not overshadow our pursuit of spiritual growth and relationship with God. Jesus often used physical needs and miracles to point to deeper spiritual truths. In John 6, after feeding the 5,000, He challenged the people to look beyond their immediate hunger and to seek the true bread from heaven. This teaching reminds us that while our physical needs are real and important, they are not the ultimate source of our fulfillment.

In our busy lives, it is easy to become consumed with meeting our physical needs and desires. We work hard to provide for ourselves and our families, and we seek comfort and security in material things. However, Jesus calls us to a higher priority: our spiritual growth and relationship with God. By focusing on our spiritual needs, we find true fulfillment and purpose that transcends our physical circumstances. As we reflect on this truth, let us examine our priorities and consider how we can seek spiritual growth in our daily lives. [38:16]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: Are your physical needs and desires overshadowing your pursuit of spiritual growth? How can you prioritize your relationship with God today?

Day 4: Offense and Challenge

Jesus' teachings can be challenging and even offensive to our natural inclinations and cultural norms. This offense is a call to deeper reflection and transformation, urging us to align our lives more closely with His teachings. In John 6, Jesus' teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood was particularly provocative, intended to grab attention and convey the depth of spiritual commitment required to follow Him. Many disciples found this hard to accept and turned away, but Peter's response encapsulated the heart of true discipleship: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

Jesus' teachings often challenge our comfort zones and confront our deeply held beliefs and practices. They call us to a radical transformation that aligns our lives with His kingdom values. This can be uncomfortable and even offensive, but it is an invitation to deeper reflection and growth. As we encounter challenging teachings, let us not turn away but instead seek to understand and apply them in our lives. By embracing the offense, we open ourselves to the transformative power of Jesus' words. [42:53]

John 6:60-61 (ESV): "When many of his disciples heard it, they said, 'This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?' But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, 'Do you take offense at this?'"

Reflection: What teachings of Jesus do you find challenging or offensive? How can you allow these teachings to transform your life?

Day 5: Communion as Remembrance

Partaking in communion is a profound act of remembering Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. It is a reminder of His sacrifice and the new life He offers, calling us to internalize His presence and live out His teachings daily. As we partake in communion, we remember Jesus' life and sacrifice, recognizing that He offers us His life for our life, His peace for our anger, His grace for our shame, and His love for our fear. This act of remembrance is not just a ritual but a profound acknowledgment of Jesus as the Son of God, our Savior, and the source of eternal life.

Communion is a time to reflect on the depth of Jesus' love and the significance of His sacrifice. It is an opportunity to renew our commitment to Him and to internalize His presence in our lives. By remembering His life, death, and resurrection, we are reminded of the new life He offers us and the call to live out His teachings daily. As we partake in communion, let us do so with a heart of gratitude and a renewed commitment to follow Jesus. [01:02:19]

1 Corinthians 11:24-25 (ESV): "And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'"

Reflection: How does partaking in communion deepen your understanding of Jesus' sacrifice? How can you live out His teachings in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to reflect on the profound questions Jesus asked during His ministry, particularly focusing on His discourse about being the "Bread of Life" in John 6. Jesus often used questions to provoke thought and challenge our understanding, and His miracles frequently led to a mix of wonder, awe, confusion, and even grumbling among the people. In John 6, after feeding the 5,000 and walking on water, Jesus declared that He is the Bread of Life, urging us to believe in Him for true spiritual nourishment. This teaching was difficult for many to accept, leading to confusion and even offense.

Jesus emphasized that the work of God is to believe in the One He has sent, pointing to Himself as the source of eternal life. He challenged the people to look beyond their immediate physical needs and desires, urging them to seek spiritual fulfillment in Him. This message is still relevant today as we often get distracted by worldly pursuits and forget that true satisfaction comes from a relationship with Jesus.

Jesus' teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood was particularly provocative, intended to grab attention and convey the depth of spiritual commitment required to follow Him. This was not about literal consumption but about internalizing His life and sacrifice. Many disciples found this hard to accept and turned away, but Peter's response encapsulated the heart of true discipleship: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

As we partake in communion, we remember Jesus' life and sacrifice, recognizing that He offers us His life for our life, His peace for our anger, His grace for our shame, and His love for our fear. This act of remembrance is not just a ritual but a profound acknowledgment of Jesus as the Son of God, our Savior, and the source of eternal life.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus as the Bread of Life: Jesus' declaration that He is the Bread of Life challenges us to seek spiritual nourishment in Him rather than in worldly pursuits. True satisfaction comes from a relationship with Jesus, who offers eternal life and spiritual fulfillment. [35:30]
2. The Work of God: The primary work God requires of us is to believe in Jesus, the One He has sent. This belief is not just intellectual assent but a deep, trusting relationship that shapes our identity, purpose, and actions. [36:56]
3. **Spiritual vs. Physical Needs**: Jesus' teaching emphasizes the importance of prioritizing spiritual needs over physical desires. While our daily needs are important, they should not overshadow our pursuit of spiritual growth and relationship with God. [38:16]
4. Offense and Challenge: Jesus' teachings can be challenging and even offensive to our natural inclinations and cultural norms. This offense is a call to deeper reflection and transformation, urging us to align our lives more closely with His teachings. [42:53]
5. Communion as Remembrance: Partaking in communion is a profound act of remembering Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. It is a reminder of His sacrifice and the new life He offers, calling us to internalize His presence and live out His teachings daily. [01:02:19]
### [62:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:33] - Opening Prayer
[31:09] - Announcements and Dismissal of Children
[32:19] - Introduction to the Series
[33:01] - Miracles and Questions
[35:30] - Jesus as the Bread of Life
[36:56] - The Work of God
[38:16] - Spiritual vs. Physical Needs
[42:53] - Offense and Challenge
[46:25] - The Spirit Gives Life
[49:58] - Belief and Trust in Jesus
[54:10] - Jesus as the Son of God
[56:31] - The Mount of Transfiguration
[58:03] - Listening to Jesus' Voice
[60:20] - Peter's Response
[62:19] - Communion and Remembrance
[66:36] - Closing Prayer and Song

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What miracles did Jesus perform before declaring Himself as the Bread of Life in John 6? ([35:30])
How did the people react to Jesus' teaching about being the Bread of Life? ([33:39])
What was Peter's response when Jesus asked if the disciples wanted to leave too? ([01:00:20])
What does Jesus mean when He says, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent"? ([36:56])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus used the metaphor of bread to describe Himself and His mission? ([35:30])
How does Jesus' teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood challenge our understanding of spiritual commitment? ([41:22])
What does Peter's declaration, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life," reveal about true discipleship? ([01:00:20])
How does Isaiah 55:2 relate to Jesus' teaching about seeking spiritual nourishment over physical needs? ([48:09])

Application Questions

Jesus challenges us to seek spiritual nourishment in Him rather than in worldly pursuits. What are some specific worldly distractions in your life that you need to address? ([35:30])
Reflect on the statement, "The work of God is to believe in the One He has sent." How can you deepen your trust and relationship with Jesus in your daily life? ([36:56])
Jesus' teachings can be challenging and even offensive to our natural inclinations. Can you recall a time when Jesus' words challenged you? How did you respond? ([42:53])
During communion, we remember Jesus' sacrifice. How can you make this act of remembrance more meaningful in your personal spiritual practice? ([01:02:19])
Peter's response to Jesus highlights the importance of recognizing Jesus as the source of eternal life. How can you cultivate a similar attitude of dependence on Jesus in your life? ([01:00:20])
Jesus offers His life for our life, His peace for our anger, His grace for our shame, and His love for our fear. Which of these exchanges do you need most in your life right now, and how can you embrace it? ([01:03:41])
Reflect on the idea that Jesus' teachings can sometimes offend us because they challenge our way of thinking. How can you remain open to being challenged and transformed by Jesus' words? ([42:53])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Jesus is coming along and in this teaching as I said he's fed the 5,000 he's walked on the water he comes out and he starts talking about this bread of life thing and people are kind of wondering what is it that he's actually talking about and what's the matter with God I don't understand this you know and he's there firing questions at him and then he makes the statement he says well the work of God is this the work of God is this you need to believe in the one when he is sent and if speaking of himself there you need to believe in the one that he is sent." [35:30] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Jesus is doing what Jesus does. He's taking something in our everyday life and he's drawing it and showing it and painting a better picture. So he's doing this and he's talking, listen, this is going to satisfy your soul and now I'm not going to, you know, necessarily going to do another sign. I mean, we know that Jesus goes on to do some other things and all that kind of stuff. But he's talking, I am the bread of life. I want to bring hope. I want to bring life to you." [38:16] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The spirit gives life. The flesh counts for nothing. The words I've spoken to you, they are full of spirit and life. Let's just pause for a moment. This right here helps us to understand Jesus isn't talking about some sort of cannibalism. He's not talking about anything like that. He's not talking about actually eating his flesh or drinking his blood. These things have a spiritual component to it, a depth to it, far beyond just a great meal, far beyond that, something to truly satisfy our souls." [42:53] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The spirit, gives life. Remind ourselves, what is the work of God? The work of God is this, that we would believe in the one whom he has sent. That we would believe and trust in Jesus Christ. Not to chase after the things of this life solely as if to gain some form of esteem or value or identity or purpose from them. Mark, in his gospel, wrote this and he says, listen, it's possible to gain the whole world and yet forfeit and lose your soul." [46:25] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jesus brings new purpose. He brings new value. He brings a new lens in how to see life and how to experience it. Followers and disciples of Jesus are one who do the work of God. And they believe in the one whom he has sent. These men and women who are following Jesus, as you read, as you heard, some were falling away. Some were leaving. They were being confused by the teaching. They were concerned. They were challenged. They were feeling offended by it. They were falling away. They pushed back. They grumbled. They muttered, we follow Abraham." [49:58] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Does this offend you? Does Jesus sometimes offend you? Like, does sometimes when you're reading, you just kind of go, yeah, no, not interested. Flip the page. I've got to go back to my favorite one. God so loved me. And he does. And that's why sometimes he has to kind of gently poke us a little bit. Try to get our attention. Be careful. Watch where you're going. Watch which direction. Watch where you're placing your values. Watch where you're putting all your energy and your mind and your thinking and your, and what your purpose is." [51:52] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Can God still get your attention? I mean, as the author of life, can God still get your attention today? He has come to offer us life. The spirit offers. He offers us life. Jesus is the bread of life. He comes to offer it to us today. In him, we have life and light. And Jesus asks that second question. You don't want to leave too, do you? And he knew, he knew the answer to the question. The way it's written in the original language, it indicates that it's not that he was really afraid that these were going to be leaving. But he was just like, you get what I'm saying, right? You guys understand?" [59:19] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Listen, leaving can sometimes even happen being here, which is weird. Those people were there. They were following him. And yet they were starting to leave, even though they were still following. They were starting to leave. They weren't believing anymore. It just becomes sort of rote memory, just duty. They've lost the life that the Spirit wants to come and offer to you. And to me, taste and see, Psalm 34, 8. Taste and see and know that the Lord is good." [01:01:12] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "He says to us, my life for your life. He says, my peace for your anger. My peace for your bitterness. He comes and he offers us his grace for our shame. Those things that you really can't even forgive yourself for. He offers us his grace and his mercy. He says, my love. My love and my hope for your fear. I don't know what fears overtake you in the middle of the night. But he offers us his love. He offers us his hope. He offers us his presence for the unknown." [01:03:41] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jesus died and was raised that we can truly follow him in all of life for all of life. That's the gift. That's the blessing. That's the opportunity. I'm going to pray. And then when you're ready, you feel free to take that. And then Jake, you'd lead on. God, thank you so much. Jesus, thank you so much. Holy Spirit for your presence here today. We, I pray, I claim, I ask that we might discover the life that Jesus was speaking about here. That we would discover what it is to have you meet us and truly satisfy our souls." [01:06:36] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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