WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 Well, thank you so much, Emma. Folks, are we well? 00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:07.679 Oh, we are quiet this morning. Are we well? 00:00:08.220 --> 00:00:12.800 It's great. Well, please have those verses in John chapter 6 open in front of you. 00:00:13.660 --> 00:00:18.719 As Alistair mentioned, we're starting a new series today that we're going to be in over the next few months 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:22.379 seeking to answer the question, who is Jesus? 00:00:23.559 --> 00:00:27.960 And we're going to spend some time in John's Gospel looking at not so much what Jesus did, 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:32.320 but about what Jesus said about himself. 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:38.539 As we see him declaring to the world that he's entered, this is who I am. 00:00:39.700 --> 00:00:44.920 Now, there are seven of these I am sayings that Jesus makes in John's Gospel. 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:47.939 We're going to be looking at the first of these today that we find in John chapter 6. 00:00:48.019 --> 00:00:50.900 But before we get to work, let's just pause for a minute and let's pray together. 00:00:50.899 --> 00:01:17.120 Father God, would you help us today, whoever we are and wherever we are before you and whatever we think about you, 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:26.939 to grasp something more of the true identity of Jesus and to see and understand why that identity changes absolutely everything. 00:01:27.800 --> 00:01:30.780 And so we ask that you would come and be with us by your spirit this morning. 00:01:30.939 --> 00:01:34.719 Would your word come alive to us, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:43.819 So if someone was to ask you today, what has been the highlight of your life so far, what would you answer? 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:55.519 So for a very talented 39-year-old Englishman, if you asked him that question, he would undoubtedly point you to this moment in his life. 00:01:57.379 --> 00:02:00.000 He was Johnny Wilkinson living the boyhood dream. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:04.140 He's got a job playing the sport that he loves. 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:08.300 He's been chosen to represent his country at the World Cup. 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:12.300 He and his team have made it to the final of that World Cup. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:22.000 And in the dying seconds of the game, he slots the drop goal that wins his country, the World Cup, for the first time in their history, 00:02:22.099 --> 00:02:24.860 becoming the first European team to do so. 00:02:24.860 --> 00:02:30.300 This moment is one of the most watched and celebrated clips on YouTube. 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:33.200 It's not like the English to go on about a World Cup victory, is it? 00:02:34.380 --> 00:02:37.600 Here is what Johnny Wilkinson said in the days following that game. 00:02:38.980 --> 00:02:45.120 I sat in the changing room in Sydney after that epic battle until pretty much everyone had left. 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:53.580 I didn't want to wave goodbye because I didn't want to let go of the moment and give in to its inevitable passing. 00:02:53.580 --> 00:03:02.060 I had already begun to feel the elation slipping away during the lap of honour around the field. 00:03:02.700 --> 00:03:04.400 Is that not a fascinating admission? 00:03:05.540 --> 00:03:11.720 Of someone who got to the top and realised as good as that moment was, 00:03:12.540 --> 00:03:14.640 that not only was it gone in an instant, 00:03:15.700 --> 00:03:21.200 but that it had no way of bringing lasting satisfaction in life. 00:03:22.100 --> 00:03:22.960 Fascinating quote. 00:03:23.580 --> 00:03:29.100 Why is it that the things in life that we spend ourselves for, 00:03:29.800 --> 00:03:32.480 because we think they will bring us lasting satisfaction, 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:35.680 why is it that those things never do? 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:43.520 Now, if you're of a certain generation, you might remember Keith Richards' famous song, Rolling Stones, putting it well. 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:47.300 When I'm driving in my car and the man come on the radio, 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:53.379 he's telling me more and more and more about some useless information supposed to fire my imagination. 00:03:53.540 --> 00:03:54.500 Deep lyrics, isn't it? 00:03:55.580 --> 00:03:57.460 The 60s man, lyrics were lyrics. 00:03:57.460 --> 00:03:58.820 That's what I say. 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:00.340 I can't get no satisfaction. 00:04:00.980 --> 00:04:02.800 I can't get no satisfaction. 00:04:02.980 --> 00:04:06.920 Because I try and I try and I try and I try. 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:10.420 I can't get no, no, I can't get no satisfaction. 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:12.159 Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones. 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:17.280 He didn't write it because he fancied having a vent about annoying radio adverts. 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:25.439 He wrote it because there's something, a deep longing in the human soul for something lasting and permanent that will truly satisfy us. 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:32.719 And that's why the claim that Jesus makes in John 6 is huge. 00:04:33.779 --> 00:04:37.540 I've loved over the last couple of weeks just spending time in my study with this passage. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:41.300 And it struck me again, what Jesus says here is enormous. 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:48.600 Because into our unsatisfied and into our restless worlds has stepped one who's declared, 00:04:49.180 --> 00:04:51.819 if you've got it there, verse 35 of chapter 6, 00:04:52.620 --> 00:04:55.240 I am the bread of life. 00:04:55.439 --> 00:04:59.620 Whoever comes to me will never go hungry. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:05.019 And whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 00:05:05.139 --> 00:05:09.180 Now, as far as claims go, I don't think you get much bigger than that. 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:19.159 To be able to eternally satisfy and give lasting life to stressing and wandering and searching human souls. 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:25.840 And you have to say, it's not as if Jesus has walked in and gone really shy and humble on his claim, is it? 00:05:26.660 --> 00:05:32.980 He's not tiptoed in and he said, hey folks, I know there's some lovely worldviews out there about wisdom and what life is all about. 00:05:33.340 --> 00:05:34.620 I know it's a bit like Heinz. 00:05:34.660 --> 00:05:36.120 I know there's 57 varieties. 00:05:36.300 --> 00:05:38.260 Would you mind terribly if I made it 58? 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:41.079 Right, he's not saying that. 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:42.480 He's not offering an opinion. 00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:45.120 He's declaring the truth. 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:49.199 How often that we make Jesus British when he's not British. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:51.819 He is not offering an opinion. 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:55.579 He is declaring to the world that he is so much greater than anyone else. 00:05:55.579 --> 00:06:00.819 And what he has to offer is so much better than anything else. 00:06:01.899 --> 00:06:08.899 And that he is the, not a, he is the bread of life. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:12.399 So what do you make of Jesus' claim today? 00:06:15.339 --> 00:06:20.479 Well, I think did C.S. Lewis say that when it comes to Jesus, really we've only got three options. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:24.579 He's a liar, he's a lunatic, or he's Lord. 00:06:26.539 --> 00:06:27.519 So which is it? 00:06:28.759 --> 00:06:31.419 Let's pick up the story at verse 25. 00:06:31.599 --> 00:06:36.439 In the immediate context, Jesus, at the beginning of chapter 6, has just fed the 5,000. 00:06:37.359 --> 00:06:42.699 See, he's done a miracle involving bread to set up a teaching about him being the true bread. 00:06:43.479 --> 00:06:46.560 Now this is one of the sign miracles that we get in John's Gospel. 00:06:47.159 --> 00:06:54.319 And the signs, the things that Jesus did, are designed to point us to who Jesus is. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:07:00.459 Now I always love it at this time of year in our city because you go up to the top of the Royal Mile and what do you see? 00:07:01.019 --> 00:07:05.779 You see lots of people taking lots of pictures of the sign that points to the castle. 00:07:05.779 --> 00:07:06.979 Right? 00:07:06.980 --> 00:07:17.560 And I see it every time and I think to myself, what are you doing focusing on this sign when the thing that the sign is pointing to is so much more glorious and it's there? 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:20.480 It's exactly the same with Jesus. 00:07:20.700 --> 00:07:21.939 The signs in John's Gospel. 00:07:22.500 --> 00:07:24.939 They point us to who Jesus really is. 00:07:24.960 --> 00:07:26.520 He's just fed the 5,000. 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:34.639 And this crowd of people who have either seen him do this or have heard that it's happened are on the hunt to find him. 00:07:35.219 --> 00:07:41.219 Because Jesus has left the far shore of the Sea of Galilee where this miracle took place. 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:52.579 And incidentally, having walked on water, he's joined his disciples in their boat and he's arrived with them on the other side of the sea at this little town called Capernaum. 00:07:52.579 --> 00:07:56.259 And this huge crowd, they find Jesus. 00:07:56.379 --> 00:07:57.459 Do you see verse 25? 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:04.259 But Jesus knows what has motivated this people to search for him. 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:06.279 Verse 26. 00:08:06.419 --> 00:08:09.500 They seek him not because they want to believe in him. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:12.759 They seek him because they want his stuff. 00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:18.299 Now in this instance, the stuff that they want is bread. 00:08:18.300 --> 00:08:23.540 Now put your hand up this morning if you had bread in some kind of form for breakfast this morning. 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:27.439 Good 60-70%. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:31.660 Now imagine if we went around the room and asked what the different kinds of bread were. 00:08:31.780 --> 00:08:33.740 We'd come up with many different answers. 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:35.740 I mean, you go into Tesco, this is what you find. 00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:43.440 You find brown bread, white bread, wholemeal bread, gluten-free bread, cheese bread, olive bread, tomato bread, rolls, croissons, buns. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:53.180 And I'm sure there's tons more because bread is so cheaply available and so freely available in so many forms that we sometimes just take it for granted. 00:08:54.100 --> 00:08:58.560 But that is not the case in first century agrarian Palestine. 00:08:58.780 --> 00:09:01.780 Bread comes in one form and that one form is bread. 00:09:03.540 --> 00:09:05.500 Bread is bread. 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:05.539 Bread is bread. 00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:15.080 And experts estimate, commentators say, that 85% of a person's wage goes on bread. 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:23.919 So put simply, people in this day, they work to eat and they work for bread. 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:30.759 So you can imagine if you picture yourself as one of the people who's seeing Jesus, hearing about what he's done, 00:09:31.199 --> 00:09:37.919 you can imagine your delight when you learn that there is a man who is a bread dispensing machine. 00:09:40.019 --> 00:09:47.679 There's no need for us to spend hours on moneysupermarket.com when Jesus can save us 85% of our salary. 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:52.719 They seek Jesus not because of who they think he is. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:56.859 They seek Jesus because of what they think is in it for them. 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:00.759 And Jesus takes their wrong motives. 00:10:00.859 --> 00:10:04.539 And I love how he so graciously but firmly and compassionately does this. 00:10:04.599 --> 00:10:08.120 He takes their wrong motives and he helps them form right ones. 00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:09.500 Verse 27. 00:10:09.500 --> 00:10:15.720 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. 00:10:15.740 --> 00:10:18.000 What a gracious and loving and truthful response. 00:10:19.460 --> 00:10:23.659 Jesus has come to give them something far better, even though they don't see it. 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:26.500 He's come to offer them something far better than stuff. 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:32.440 Okay, they say, verse 28, what must we do to get this bread? 00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:33.759 Again, they're missing the point. 00:10:35.159 --> 00:10:35.519 Mindset. 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:37.980 How many club card points do we need to collect? 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:40.200 How many scout badges do we need to wear? 00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:43.580 What do we have to do to qualify ourselves for God's blessings? 00:10:44.779 --> 00:10:46.460 It's the wrong question to ask. 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:50.980 Because no one can earn what Jesus is offering here. 00:10:51.060 --> 00:10:52.920 That's why he talks about the Son of Man giving. 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:55.200 Can't earn this. 00:10:56.560 --> 00:11:00.879 Again, see Jesus here taking their wrong motives and helping them form right ones. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:01.539 Verse 29. 00:11:01.940 --> 00:11:06.379 The work of God is this, to believe in the one he has sent. 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:07.560 That's how they'll get the life. 00:11:08.420 --> 00:11:10.240 That's how they'll get the eternal life. 00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:14.680 Not by doing, but by believing in him. 00:11:15.899 --> 00:11:20.100 Because Jesus has come to give something far better to these people. 00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:22.740 He's come to give something far better to the world. 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:25.320 And that something far better is him. 00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:30.440 As John would write in this prologue in chapter 1. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:33.780 Jesus, the one full of grace and truth. 00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:36.300 Jesus, the one in whom the Spirit remains. 00:11:37.379 --> 00:11:40.320 Jesus, the one in whom is life. 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:50.060 Now the crowd at this point, I think, understanding what Jesus is both saying of himself and what he's asking them to do. 00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:51.820 What do they say? 00:11:51.920 --> 00:11:52.860 Give us a sign. 00:11:52.860 --> 00:11:57.180 Moses gave our forefathers a sign, they say. 00:11:57.279 --> 00:11:59.080 Of course, it wasn't Moses, was it? 00:11:59.100 --> 00:11:59.899 It was God. 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:03.519 But regardless, they say, Jesus, what's your proof to back up your claim? 00:12:03.560 --> 00:12:06.919 In other words, Jesus, what evidence will you give me to follow you? 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:11.860 Perhaps it's the question in your mind this morning. 00:12:13.559 --> 00:12:15.120 Why should I trust Jesus? 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:20.579 Well, if it is, can I suggest that not only is that a good question to ask, 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:24.000 but that is the most important question that we can ask ourselves in life. 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:27.179 We take our time over big decisions, don't we? 00:12:28.419 --> 00:12:30.159 We looked into moving house recently. 00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:32.399 I tell you, we looked into that decision a lot. 00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:34.120 We did a lot of homework. 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:38.419 How much more should we do our homework with this man, Jesus? 00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:42.240 Jesus gives two answers to that question. 00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:44.759 Here's the first reason we should trust him, because of who he is. 00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:48.899 Jesus declares, verse 35, I love that. 00:12:49.700 --> 00:12:53.120 Not suggests, not throws it out there, not chucks out an opinion. 00:12:53.539 --> 00:12:56.179 He declares into a world of doubt, death, and darkness. 00:12:56.360 --> 00:13:01.000 What? Verse 35, I am the bread of life. 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:04.799 I am, says Jesus. 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:08.779 In the Greek, it's ego emi. 00:13:09.139 --> 00:13:11.159 Both words mean I am. 00:13:11.659 --> 00:13:14.820 So literally, Jesus is saying, I am, I am. 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:15.759 That's what he's saying. 00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:19.600 So Jesus is declaring, that's what the crowd are hearing. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:32.500 And it's a deliberate reference to the sacred name of God, the one that God had used to reveal himself to Moses in the burning bush in Exodus 3, where God had said, I am who I am. 00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:36.379 This is the title that Jesus uses to declare his identity to the world. 00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:37.420 He is God. 00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:41.940 And he, verse 27, you see it, is the son of man. 00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:49.120 Important title here, because I think it connects Jesus to the figure that Daniel talks about. 00:13:49.560 --> 00:13:52.300 But it also connects Jesus to Adam, and it connects him to us. 00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:54.720 This is who Jesus is. 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:56.900 Not fully man, half God. 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:58.860 Not half man, fully God. 00:13:58.920 --> 00:14:00.280 Not even half God, half man. 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:04.980 Jesus is fully God and fully man in one person. 00:14:05.900 --> 00:14:07.300 Jesus is God in the flesh. 00:14:07.400 --> 00:14:08.240 This is who he is. 00:14:08.300 --> 00:14:09.800 He is God incarnate. 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:16.439 I was reminded at this point of my friend Ben, who I lived with at university. 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:22.059 Ben's favorite meal to cook when he was trying to impress was that he would take a giant Aunt Bessie Yorkshire pudding, do you know the ones I mean? 00:14:23.079 --> 00:14:24.439 And he'd fill it with chili con carne. 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:28.120 Genuinely thought we were living the dream as students. 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:29.139 This is what he did. 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:32.839 Needless to say, Ben got married after university. 00:14:34.079 --> 00:14:35.099 This is what Ben did. 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:37.019 And he used to say to me, chili con carne, friend. 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:38.740 It means chili with meat. 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:40.680 Chili with meat. 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:43.080 Friends, the incarnation. 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:45.100 God with flesh. 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:45.820 That's what it means. 00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:49.060 God with flesh. 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:50.220 This is who Jesus is. 00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:55.200 And he is the one, verse 33, who has come down from heaven. 00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:59.580 And he is the one, verse 38, who has been sent by the Father. 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:03.460 Jesus is I am. 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:06.540 But he doesn't just leave it at that. 00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:11.060 Do you see, he goes on, verse 35, to explain what that means. 00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:13.879 What does it mean for Jesus to be I am? 00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:14.440 So what? 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:17.420 Well, it means that he is the bread of life. 00:15:17.419 --> 00:15:25.379 Now, that's a deliberate echo of the Exodus story, where God, through Moses, had provided manna for his people to eat. 00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:29.399 In the wilderness, there's the journey to the land that he promised he was taking them. 00:15:29.459 --> 00:15:32.179 Every single day for 40 years. 00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:35.519 Every single day for 40 years. 00:15:35.599 --> 00:15:37.559 God had said, take and eat. 00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:40.859 Every single day for 40 years. 00:15:40.959 --> 00:15:43.939 God had said to his people, eat and live. 00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:49.500 And so here is Jesus donning his coat of Old Testament colors. 00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:55.840 And here he is declaring to his generation, in the same way, I am the bread of life. 00:15:57.660 --> 00:16:03.820 Except, I am better than the manna that God provided for your forefathers in the wilderness. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:06.320 Because that bread, it fed people for a day. 00:16:07.300 --> 00:16:10.880 But whoever comes to me will never go hungry. 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:15.779 And whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:20.879 Because I will eternally satisfy the human soul. 00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:22.700 What a claim. 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:25.820 That's an enormous claim. 00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:29.100 That Jesus makes. 00:16:29.939 --> 00:16:32.899 But we can trust the truth of this claim because who he is. 00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:34.360 Here's secondly why we can trust it. 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.639 Because of what Jesus is doing. 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:37.539 What is he doing? 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:38.240 Follow with me. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:39.159 Verse 38. 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:40.840 The will of the one who sent him. 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:46.080 Some rich and wonderful truths about who Jesus is in these verses. 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:49.080 What is the will of the Father? 00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:50.000 Verse 40. 00:16:51.379 --> 00:16:52.919 To give eternal life. 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:56.320 To save sinners for himself. 00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:59.659 To give life to dead souls. 00:16:59.820 --> 00:17:02.860 To rescue men and women, boys and girls around the globe for himself. 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:05.339 This is the beating heart of God the Father. 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:08.319 This is the heart that's driving this whole salvation project. 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:09.679 He doesn't want people to perish. 00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:11.879 He wants people to live. 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:14.639 He wants to give people eternal life. 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:18.259 And to whom will he give it? 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:23.439 We'll see these two paradoxical yet gloriously true declarations that Jesus makes in these verses. 00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:28.179 Feel the arms of Jesus wide open as he declares twice. 00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:29.180 Verse 35. 00:17:29.180 --> 00:17:30.180 Verse 35. 00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:30.779 Whoever. 00:17:32.120 --> 00:17:33.420 Whoever comes to him. 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.820 And whoever believes in him. 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:37.920 Jesus will give to them eternal life. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:47.120 And at the same time see him declare according to the mystery, the mysterious and marvelous plan of the triune God hatched, conceived in eternity past. 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:47.980 Verse 37. 00:17:49.340 --> 00:17:53.100 That all those that the Father gives to him will come to him. 00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:55.500 And verse 39. 00:17:55.639 --> 00:17:56.879 He will lose none of them. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.919 It's to these people, this people. 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.939 Of course, they're the same thing, aren't they? 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:05.079 This people who believe in the Son. 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:06.980 And that the Father gives to the Son. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:09.059 That Jesus will give eternal life. 00:18:10.639 --> 00:18:11.659 Now how is he going to do that? 00:18:13.899 --> 00:18:14.799 Because verse 40. 00:18:14.879 --> 00:18:16.299 They will be the ones who look to the Son. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.459 And what does it mean to look to the Son? 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:25.620 Well, later on in this chapter, verse 53, Jesus declares that through his death on the cross. 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:29.640 As John the Baptist declared in John chapter 1, 00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:32.759 See the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:35.759 Through his death, Jesus was able to give life. 00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:43.140 That whoever eats his flesh, whoever drinks his blood, symbolically saying that whoever feeds on him, 00:18:43.700 --> 00:18:47.960 whoever believes in him, whoever is found in him the bread of heaven, 00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:52.900 it will be they who benefit from everything that his life, death and resurrection will accomplish. 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:53.920 This is life. 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:56.140 John 17. 00:18:56.420 --> 00:19:00.420 Jesus will pray to the Father and say that this is eternal life, 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:04.220 that they know you, the one true God, and his Son who you have sent. 00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:05.559 This is life. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:11.240 Once an enemy of God because of our sin, now we're at peace with God. 00:19:11.340 --> 00:19:12.140 This is life. 00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:17.360 Once under condemnation because of our sin, Jesus paid it all. 00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:19.720 Now the recipient of outrageous forgiveness. 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:20.700 This is life. 00:19:22.300 --> 00:19:28.100 Once separated from God because of our sin, now gloriously adopted into his family. 00:19:28.800 --> 00:19:29.620 This is life. 00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:31.420 Not stuff. 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:33.380 Not things. 00:19:34.100 --> 00:19:34.820 Not careers. 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:37.259 Not even being cured of my illness. 00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:39.180 Not doing well in my exams. 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:41.300 Not life being plain sailing. 00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:45.480 Life is a relationship with the God who made us. 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:48.299 This is life, says Jesus. 00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:49.960 I am the bread of life. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:53.220 All those things are because of our union with him. 00:19:53.659 --> 00:19:54.859 It's glorious what he's saying. 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:56.740 It's a huge claim that he's making. 00:19:57.220 --> 00:20:00.359 But it's one that we can trust because of who he is. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:03.659 And it's one that we can know because of what he is doing. 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.720 Friends, are you here this morning? 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:08.099 Let me ask you, what do you make of Jesus' claim? 00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:15.559 I remember well the first time it dawned on me that is when I read John chapter 6. 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:18.460 That Jesus tells me this. 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:20.419 Not to show off. 00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:23.059 He tells me this because he loves me. 00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:31.440 That he's here on earth in my fallen flesh because he loves me. 00:20:32.399 --> 00:20:39.179 And he's here because he doesn't want me to settle for things in life that will not satisfy my soul. 00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:42.159 Because they will not deal with my biggest problem. 00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:43.599 Why is he telling me this? 00:20:43.659 --> 00:20:44.700 Because he loves me. 00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:52.240 Do you find it true in your own life that how often we just get caught up in just chasing stuff? 00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.759 Chasing things. 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:56.640 Expanding ourselves. 00:20:56.680 --> 00:21:00.779 Expanding ourselves in the pursuit of things that we think will make us happy, will make us whole. 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:03.220 Why is it those things never work? 00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:11.400 Remember my brother and I, when we were young, we got our first ever mobile phone. 00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:15.180 And my mum and dad said, you can't have two phones, you have to have one phone. 00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.820 So we worked together to get this phone. 00:21:17.560 --> 00:21:18.220 Do you know what we did? 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:20.860 It was a Sony Ericsson, if you ever remember the Ericsson phones, right? 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:25.420 It held ten text messages, but you only could have nine because then the tenth couldn't get in. 00:21:26.300 --> 00:21:27.780 Ten text messages, big aerial. 00:21:27.840 --> 00:21:28.940 This was the Ericsson phone. 00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:30.720 Do you know how we got that phone? 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:34.880 We collected 30 Coke ring pulls. 00:21:36.380 --> 00:21:38.620 Do you know where we got those ring pulls from, the most of them? 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:41.079 We were sifting through bins. 00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:43.439 That's how we got our Coke ring pulls. 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:45.359 At last the phone arrives. 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:47.459 We got this phone in our hands. 00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.699 We're absolutely delighted. 00:21:48.879 --> 00:21:50.479 Honestly, we thought we were the bee's knees. 00:21:51.919 --> 00:21:58.719 You see, six months later, when everyone in my class had a phone that was so much better than the Ericsson phone. 00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:04.759 I remember looking at it, holding it, thinking, I did all that for this. 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:09.759 I put myself through all that for this. 00:22:09.879 --> 00:22:12.759 I went through bins for this. 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:18.799 Live long enough and you realize that it's not just true for the little things in life. 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:21.220 It's true for the big things. 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:30.519 Why is it that the things in life that we spend ourselves for because we think they will bring us lasting satisfaction never do? 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:33.960 C.S. Lewis nailed it, I think, as he said, 00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:40.660 We are half-hearted creatures fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us. 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:48.839 Like a child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. 00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:53.779 So we are because we are far too easily pleased. 00:22:54.399 --> 00:23:00.919 Here is Jesus declaring to a world that is far too easily pleased that I am the bread of life. 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:07.319 Now look what the majority of this crowd say at verse 60 when they hear Jesus say this. 00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.759 This is a hard teaching. 00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:14.920 Not hard as in Jesus is talking in riddles. 00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:17.400 Hard as in this message is offensive. 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:24.279 It's offensive because Jesus is saying by implication that without him I'll die. 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:28.279 Because it's hard many walk away. 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:35.440 It's one of the striking things about John chapter 6 that John chapter 6 starts with a huge crowd following Jesus 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:38.920 and it ends with just the 12 at verse 67. 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.740 Remember, one of those 12 is Judas. 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:44.320 So are they going to go too? 00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:46.100 That's Jesus' question. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:47.940 Are they going to go too? 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:51.100 Well, look how Peter responds at verse 68. 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:56.680 Some of the most breathtakingly brilliant words, I think, in all of Scripture. 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.880 Where else will we go, Lord? 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:04.900 Not as in we've got nowhere else to go, like the premier in at Capernaum is closed for refurbation 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:06.160 and we've nowhere to stay for the night. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:10.920 Rather, we've nowhere else that we want to be than right here with you, Jesus. 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:16.920 Because we know that you are unlike anyone else we've ever met. 00:24:17.100 --> 00:24:19.980 And you have the words of eternal life. 00:24:20.060 --> 00:24:22.040 These are not the words of a confused heart. 00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:24.000 These are the words of a satisfied soul. 00:24:26.060 --> 00:24:29.200 Friends, can I say to us this morning that right here where Peter is, 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:36.100 is the most freeing place that you and I can ever find ourselves in life. 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:39.440 That in Jesus Christ we've got everything. 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:46.740 When we can come to know and say for ourselves what St. Augustine wrote in his confessions all those years ago, 00:24:47.080 --> 00:24:49.140 you have made us for yourself, O God, 00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:52.759 and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you. 00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:58.860 Let me just ask us two questions as we work towards a close this morning. 00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:03.200 Firstly, are you here this morning and you've not eaten the bread of heaven? 00:25:05.060 --> 00:25:11.220 You're here today and you're toiling, you're sweating, you're working it out for food that spoils. 00:25:12.800 --> 00:25:15.780 Living for things that are going to be here one minute and gone the next. 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:17.799 Are you here today and your soul is restless? 00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:25.619 Could it be that God is irresistibly drawing you to himself by his spirit this morning through his word? 00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:28.619 Come and eat. 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:31.180 Take and eat. 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:36.440 As a side note, see how Jesus is undoing the take and eat that all went wrong in Genesis 3. 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:43.399 Maybe you feel an inner prod this morning to find out more about that baptism service 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:46.680 where you can publicly say, nailing your colours to the mass, saying to the world, 00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:48.460 this is the man that I follow. 00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:50.560 Come to the bread of life. 00:25:52.280 --> 00:25:54.900 Secondly, are we delighting ourselves? 00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:58.440 Are we satisfying our souls every day with this bread of heaven? 00:26:00.280 --> 00:26:03.920 Feasting on God's word, filling our souls with scripture, 00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:07.060 delighting ourselves in who Jesus really is. 00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:14.879 Friends, is Peter's confession, as we see it hit us here, is this our confession? 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:23.240 You know, Johnny Wilkinson, he retired from rugby in 2014, international rugby rather, 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:25.940 and here's what he said as he reflected on his career. 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:32.220 To say that I have played through four World Cups, two Lions Tours and 91 games 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:35.200 after a ridiculous number of injuries and other setbacks 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:39.820 gives me an incredibly special feeling of fulfilment. 00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:44.059 But by now I know myself well enough to know 00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:49.000 that I will never truly be satisfied. 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:56.859 Jesus says, I am the bread of life. 00:26:58.299 --> 00:27:02.259 Whoever comes to me will never go hungry. 00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:08.339 And whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:11.460 That's what you make of his claim this morning. 00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:13.160 Let's pray together. 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:13.279 Amen. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:24.200 And so, Heavenly Father, in this silence now, 00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:28.299 we would ask you to search our hearts 00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:33.359 and to prune any branches, to do any work in our hearts, 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:35.660 to refine us that you need to do. 00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:40.160 Father, would you strip away the things of the world that will not last 00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:41.640 that creep into our lives? 00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:44.839 Father, would you replace it with that overwhelming sense 00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:46.579 of the greatness of the person of Jesus? 00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:49.960 Father, thank you so much that you love us. 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:53.899 And so, Lord, we ask that you continue with us now, 00:27:54.679 --> 00:27:58.519 that we would continue, whether for the first time or the hundredth time, 00:27:58.939 --> 00:28:04.439 to turn and to eat and to savour Jesus, the bread of life. 00:28:05.199 --> 00:28:06.779 Father, thank you that you hear us, 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:09.379 because we pray in Jesus' worthy name. 00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:10.299 Amen.