If you would, please open up your Bibles this morning to John chapter 6.
John chapter 6.
This is the chapter that R.C. Sproul calls the most important chapter in the Gospel of John.
I'm not sure that I could make a claim like that,
but I'm confident that as we spend the next several weeks walking through this chapter together,
we will see just how rich and how beautiful and how full it is of the glory of Christ,
how it presents our need for Him and the ways that He has provided for us.
So let's turn there now, John chapter 6, and we'll read verses 1 through 35.
Follow along with me as I read.
After this, Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.
And a large crowd was following Him because they saw the signs that He was doing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.
Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
Lifting up His eyes then and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward Him,
Jesus said to Philip,
Where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?
He said this to test Him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
Philip answered Him,
Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get just a little.
One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him,
There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?
Jesus said,
Have the people sit down.
Now there was much grass in the place,
so the men sat down, about five thousand in number.
However, Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks,
He distributed them to those who were seated,
so also the fish, as much as they wanted.
And when they had eaten their fill, He told His disciples,
Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.
So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
When the people saw the sign that He had done, they said,
This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.
Perceiving then that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king,
Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.
And when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,
got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum.
It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.
When they had rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat,
and they were frightened.
But He said to them,
It is I. Do not be afraid.
Then they were glad to take Him into the boat,
and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
On the next day, the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea
saw that there had only been one boat there,
and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples,
but that His disciples had gone away alone.
And other boats from Tiberias came near the place
where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples,
they themselves got into the boat and went to Capernaum seeking Jesus.
When they found Him on the other side of the sea,
they said to Him,
Rabbi, when did you come here?
Jesus answered them,
Truly, truly, I say to you,
you are seeking Me, not because you saw the signs,
but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
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.
Then they said to Him,
What must we do to be doing the works of God?
Jesus answered them,
This is the work of God,
that you believe in Him whom He has sent.
So they said to Him,
Then what sign do you do that we may see you and believe you?
What work do you perform?
Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness,
as it is written,
He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
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.
For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.
They said to Him,
Sir, give us this bread always.
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.
This is the Word of God.
Let's bow once more and pray.
Father,
this is a picture of Your glorious provision for our need.
In Christ.
So we pray now as we open up this Word
and discuss it in this brief time,
Lord, would You do eternal work in us
as we open up Your Word and seek You in it.
We pray in Christ's name.
Amen.
Two weeks in a row,
now we have quoted C.S. Lewis,
and if you thought there's no way
he's going to do it three weeks in a row,
you were wrong.
We're going for three.
This one is from his book,
The Weight of Glory.
He says this.
He says,
It would seem that our Lord finds our desires
not too strong but too weak.
We are half-hearted creatures,
fooling about with drink and sex and ambition
when infinite joy is offered us.
Like an ignorant 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,
we are far too easily pleased.
I wonder this morning as we read this passage
if that describes you.
You and I,
we were made for eternal,
infinite joy in Christ,
and anything less than that is too small.
But far too often,
I think we are earthly-minded.
We have tunnel vision
for our physical, immediate needs,
and we ignore the greatness
of our inheritance in Christ.
We seek temporary satisfaction,
and we ignore the eternal joy
that's offered to us in the gospel.
In other words,
we make a really big deal
out of really small things,
and a really small deal
out of really big things.
I want our passage this morning
to help correct that in us.
What we see here in John chapter 6
is two more signs that Jesus performs.
We've seen already,
Jesus came performing signs and miracles.
He came performing these physical signs,
meeting physical needs.
But the whole point
was to demonstrate a greater,
truer, more lasting promise
that our greatest needs
and our greatest desires
are met ultimately and only in Christ.
We're going to see this
in three ways this morning.
This will be our outline this morning
if you're taking notes,
following along.
We're going to see three ways
Christ meets our deepest needs.
Three ways Christ meets our deepest needs.
First, we see that Jesus
is a God of great provision.
Jesus is a God of great provision.
Look there with me
to the beginning of chapter 6.
Here we see this extraordinary miracle,
the feeding of the 5,000.
This is the only miracle
except for the resurrection.
This is the only miracle
that shows up in all four gospels.
And it shows us that our God
is a need-meeting God.
He is a God of great provision.
Look there to verse 1.
John tells us that
after the encounter with the Pharisees
that we discussed last week,
Jesus went away to the other side
of the Sea of Galilee
and it seems like a large crowd
was following Him there.
Jesus' popularity was growing.
Mark 6 in a parallel account
and Mark tells us that
when the people recognized Jesus
and His disciples
and saw where they were headed,
people from all of the neighboring towns
ran there ahead of Him
to meet Him there,
to get there in advance of Him.
But John clues us in here
to their motive.
And just like we've already seen already,
they were seeking Christ
not for Him,
but for what they might get from Him.
They were seeking Christ
not for Christ,
but for what Christ might do
for them.
As these crowds gathered around,
Jesus looked up,
He saw them,
He saw all the people coming to Him,
and He saw an opportunity
for a lesson.
So He asks Philip,
His disciple,
where are we going to buy bread
so that all of these people
may eat?
John tells us plainly there
in verse 6
that Jesus said this
to test Him
for He Himself
for He Himself knew
what He was going to do.
This was a test.
Would Philip
see with spiritual trust,
with the eyes of faith
in Christ,
would he see
that Christ is able
to provide all the needs
of anyone who know Him,
or would he see
with natural,
physical sight?
Well, how did Philip respond?
He responded
like how most men would.
Philip,
he began to calculate the tab.
How much is this going to cost?
Some of you men
have raised daughters
who got engaged
and got married,
and you've had the experience
of calculating the tab
of a wedding bill.
How much is this going to cost
to feed this many people?
Maybe you felt like
what Philip was feeling here.
Philip,
he was thinking rationally here,
thinking logistically.
How in the world
are we possibly
going to feed
this many people?
What we see here
is a picture,
is an image
of great need.
We call this
the feeding of the 5,000,
but everyone agrees
that the number
was actually far,
far greater
than 5,000.
In verse 10,
it says,
just the men
added up to 5,000.
Are you considering
that this was
the time of the Passover,
the busy time,
where many more people
were there in the town,
considering that women
and children
were also there with them?
The number,
actual number,
likely was much closer
to 20,000 individuals
there on the hill.
And Peter says,
even eight months' wages,
200 denarii,
eight months' wages,
wouldn't even begin
to cover it.
Now, this was a tremendous need.
It's almost comical
what happens next.
Look there to verse 8.
Andrew,
Simon Peter's brother,
he steps up to the task
and says,
well, there is a boy here
who has five barley loaves
and two fish.
Well, what are they
for so many?
You know, it's interesting.
This account shows up
in all four Gospels.
John's is the only account
that gives us this detail
that these were barley loaves.
I'm not sure about you,
but when I read this story,
when I think,
the image in my mind,
I'm thinking something
more like a French baguette,
a large loaf of bread.
That's not what this was.
These were barley loaves.
This was poor people bread.
This was the cheapest possible bread
that you could buy.
It was something more like crackers,
just enough for the little boy to eat.
And the fish,
it wasn't redfish
or largemouth bass
that would feed several people.
These were more kind of like sardines,
something that would just
give a little bit of flavor
to the crackers.
You see Andrew's dilemma here.
He's looking at this meager provision
and saying,
this is barely enough
to feed this little boy.
How in the world
will this feed the multitude?
The gap between what they needed
and what they had
was great.
It was an impossible situation.
What we see,
this is not impossible with God.
Verse 10,
it says,
Jesus had the people sit down.
This is the first miracle.
The 20,000 people sat down
and listened to what he had to say.
And he took these loaves
and when he had given thanks,
he began to pass them out.
And in the same way,
he began to distribute the fish.
And according to verse 11,
look at this.
It says,
they all had as much as they wanted.
Could you just imagine
being there in that crowd?
I'm not sure if I would rather
be the first person in line
or the last that day.
To be the first person in line
and to receive the provision
to take exactly what you needed
and then to see the basket pass
and see enough for the next family
and the next family
to see those baskets
work their way
all through the crowd
and realize there's enough
for everyone here?
Or to be the last person in line
and to know there's just no way
there's going to be enough for me.
There's no way
I'm going to eat my fill
and to see that doubt
just grow weaker and weaker
and our hope increase stronger
and stronger and stronger
until you realize
there's enough even for me.
Of course,
there was more than enough.
In fact,
verse 12 says that
when they had eaten their fill,
they gathered up leftovers.
The 12 baskets
with fragments
from the five barley loaves.
This tremendous need
was overcome
by a miraculous
and tremendous provision.
I wonder if you've ever experienced
the provision of God.
Amanda and I,
there's been times
in our marriage
where Amanda and I
have had a very clear need,
more than a few times
in our marriage.
And I can think back
on a few of those times
and praise God
specifically for the ways
that He has provided
exactly what we needed.
There's one time
when I was in seminary
and we were just dirt poor
and our money was drying up quickly
and we sat down
and we talked about
what we needed
just to make ends meet,
where the gap was
in our budget
and we discussed
an exact dollar amount.
We didn't share this
with anybody else.
And within a week,
Amanda got a phone call
from a friend
who said that she needed her
to come
and to watch her little girl.
Would she be willing?
She couldn't pay much.
But what she offered to pay
was exactly
what we needed.
You hear story
after story
about God doing this.
He's a need-meeting God.
Our God loves
to provide
for the needs
of His people.
Our God knows
our needs
better than we know
them ourselves
and it delights Him
when we receive
from His hand
good provision
and when we return
back to Him
thanksgiving
for all that He's provided.
But
we need to realize
that we have
no promise
of this type of provision
on this side
of eternity.
this miracle
here
and the feeding
of the 5,000
is not a promise
of physical provision
here and now
but a pointer
to eternal provision.
It is a pointer
to true
and lasting
satisfaction
in Christ.
That is what we need
more than anything else.
That's our greatest need.
More than food
on the table.
More than money
in our bank account
more than a roof
over our head.
We need our sins
forgiven
in the presence
of Christ
with us.
We need our souls
to be satisfied
in Him.
Our greatest need
is Christ Himself
and the good news
of the gospel
is that He is
here
to give us
as much
as we want
of Him.
this is what
He tells us
in verse 35.
He says
the point
of this sign
the point
of this provision
is that
I am
the bread
of life.
I am
the bread
of life.
Come to me
not just to have
your bellies filled
but that you might
find true
and lasting
satisfaction
for your souls.
Church
we need
to think
bigger
not less
of our needs
and we need
to think
bigger
not less
of God's
provision.
Is this
what we seek
after?
Is this
what we
hunger for?
Is this
what we
desire
more than
anything?
Let your
temporary
need
teach you
of your
eternal
need
and let
God's
temporary
provision
teach you
point you
to his
eternal
provision
of
himself
in
Christ.
Second
we see
that Jesus
is a
God
of great
protection.
Jesus
is a
God
of
great
protection.
Just like
all of us
want
provision
I think
it's safe
to say
all of us
want
protection.
All of us
want to
be safe.
We want
protection
from danger.
We want
security
from our
enemies.
We want
to feel
safe.
That's
what the
Jews
wanted
as well.
Look
there to
verse 14.
It says
when they
saw this
sign they
praised
him.
This is
the prophet
who is
to come
into the
world.
And not
only that
verse 15
says they
were about
to come
and take
him by
force
to make
him
king.
Now we
have to
understand
that the
Passover
season for
the Jews
was just
bursting
with
national
pride
and
patriotism.
This was
like the
4th of
July on
steroids.
They were
just zealous
and excited.
They were
supercharged
with pride
for the
Jewish
nation.
And so
it makes
sense,
doesn't it,
that at
this time
of the
year more
than any
they would
be thinking
and seeking
and looking
for and
hoping for
a king.
Someone who
would rule
over their
people.
Someone who
would triumph
over the
Romans.
Someone who
would lead
them and
protect them.
And who
better than
this guy
who just
gave us
all a
free lunch?
Right?
We all
want this,
don't we?
We all
share a
desire and
a need
for good
leadership.
And that
desire,
we need to
see this,
the desire
was not
wrong,
but the
timing was.
Jesus was
not there
to rule
and to
reign.
Not yet.
He was
not there
to be
their king.
Not yet.
He still
has work
to do.
And the
kingdom that
he was
coming to
establish
was much
bigger,
much better,
much greater
than what
they could
ever imagine.
The protection
that he was
coming to
provide for
his people
was much
better,
much more
lasting than
they could
have ever
imagined.
I feel
like I
need to
make this
application
here,
especially
with election
season coming
up.
We'll probably
need to talk
about this
a few more
times before
then.
Our desire
for good
leadership is
not a bad
one.
It is
good and
it is right
for us to
desire godly
leadership,
to pray for
our leaders,
to cast a vote
for those who
we feel might
lead us in
the will
of God,
to desire
godly
leadership,
to pray that
God would
send us
political
leaders who
would lead
and serve
in ways
that are
pleasing to
him and
are a blessing
to the
people.
But we
have to
realize that
this desire
for God
fearing
leadership,
for us to
be a God
fearing
people,
it will
not be
totally
realized on
this side
of eternity.
It is not
fully realized
in the
Republican
Party,
it is not
fully realized
in the
Democratic
Party,
it is not
going to be
fully realized
in America
or in any
other nation
of the
earth.
That desire
will be
fully realized
when Christ
returns,
when Christ
establishes
his kingdom
on the
earth.
Jesus knew
that his
time to
reign was
not yet
here.
So verse
15 says,
when Jesus
saw that
they were
wanting to
make him
king,
he didn't
remain,
he didn't
stick around,
he withdrew
again to
the mountain
by himself.
Apparently,
his disciples
didn't wait
around for
Jesus.
They went
on without
him because
it says,
when evening
came,
they went
down to
the sea,
got into
a boat,
and started
across the
sea to
Capernaum.
And it
was dark.
Now for me,
that's strike
number one.
I don't
think I've
ever been
out to
sea,
out on
a boat
in the
ocean when
it's pitch
black,
maybe some
of you
have.
But I
imagine that
that is
not the
best time
for them
to be
out at
sea,
especially
they didn't
have the
modern
conveniences
that we
have of
GPS
navigation
or even
boat
lights to
see where
they're
going.
Everything
is just
dark and
eerily lit
up by
the moon.
And to
make things
worse,
strike number
two,
the waves
begin to
get rough.
The water
starts to
get choppy
because verse
18 says a
strong wind
was blowing
there throughout
the area.
Now I have
been on a
boat when
things got
choppy and
I liked it
for a little
bit.
It was kind
of fun until
it wasn't.
You feel out
of control
and dangerous
and apparently
the Sea of
Galilee is
about 600
feet below
sea level
and so some
combination of
cool and
warm air that
I don't quite
understand,
it comes in
and it
just mixes
up the
water and
the water
begins to
just suddenly
get violently
rough and
it happens
quickly.
The water
becomes tumultuous.
One minute the
water is calm
and the next
minute you're
tossing and
turning,
holding on to
the boat,
you're at the
mercy of the
ebb and the
flow of the
waves.
This is a
dangerous place
to be and
you can imagine
the fear in the
minds of the
disciples.
Then comes
strike number
three.
You're panicking
in the midst
of the storm,
things are dark,
things are spooky
and you look out
at the water
and there's
someone walking
on top of the
waves.
Verse 19
says when they
had rowed about
three or four
miles,
they saw Jesus
walking on the
sea and coming
near the boat.
This is
terrifying.
Matthew's account
says that they
thought they saw
a ghost and
they cried out
in fear.
But then Jesus
says something.
here that I
want us to see
this.
He says
something that
puts them at
ease.
Look at what
he said.
Verse 20,
but he said
to them,
it is I
do not be
afraid.
And then
something changed.
All of a sudden
they were glad
to take him
into the boat
and immediately
the boat was
at the land
to which they
were going.
I want you
to answer
this question
in your mind.
So what
happened to
change the
disciples'
fear into
gladness?
The storm
was still
raging.
The storm
didn't go
away.
The water
was still
choppy.
It's still
dark.
It's still
spooky.
This figure
is still
coming to
them.
What caused
the change
from fear
to gladness?
It was the
realization
temptation
that although
they were
in the
presence
of danger,
they were
in the
presence
of God.
And he
was coming
to them
not to
do them
harm,
but for
good.
These two
parts here
of Jesus'
response,
just four
words in
the Greek,
this ought
to give
us comfort
and confidence
for any
earthly
danger
that we
face.
Look what
he says.
He says,
it is I.
Just two
words here
in the
Greek,
ego,
a me.
If you
translate this
literally,
do you know
what it
says?
It says,
I am.
You may
have heard
before that
John's
gospel has
seven I
am
statements
of Jesus.
We see
another one
here in
this passage,
I am
the bread
of life.
In the
weeks to
come,
Lord willing,
we'll see
some more.
We'll hear
him say,
I am
the way,
the truth,
the life.
No one
comes to
the Father
but by
me.
I am
the door.
Before
Abraham
was,
I am.
Seven
sayings of
I am.
For some
reason,
this one
gets overlooked
in the
count.
But here
I stand,
this one
belongs.
It's no
less an I
am statement
than any
of the
others.
It's the
same two
words.
It's the
same divine
revelation of
Jesus.
Ego
a me.
It is
I,
I am,
I am.
And if you
know your
Bible,
especially the
book of
Exodus,
you know
that when
the Lord
revealed his
name to
Moses,
what did
he say?
I am
who I
am.
Tell them
I am
has sent
them to
you.
Jesus
knows
exactly
what he's
saying
here.
This is
a direct
claim to
divinity.
Jesus is
revealing
himself
as God.
But it's
the second
part of
this phrase
here that
puts them
at ease,
isn't it?
I am,
do not
be afraid.
For those
who don't
know the
Lord,
his presence
is their
greatest
danger.
More than
waves
chopping,
more than
dangerous
weather,
the presence
of God
is the
greatest
danger
for any
sinner.
But for
those who
know him,
we can
claim this
comfort,
we can
claim this
protection
from any
danger we
face.
I am,
do not
be afraid.
Christian,
we need to
know that
there is
no danger
here in
this life
no amount
of chaos,
no turmoil,
no disaster,
no earthly
threat,
no earthly
loss that
can overcome
the presence
of Christ
in you.
No matter
what dangers
you face,
if you belong
to Christ,
you are safe
in the hands
of God.
No one can
take that
from you.
I am,
do not
be afraid.
This doesn't
mean that we'll
never face
danger.
quite the
opposite,
in fact,
but what it
means is
that we
now face
any danger
with confidence.
The confidence
of Paul in
Romans,
he says,
I am sure
that neither
death,
nor life,
nor angels,
nor rulers,
nor things
present,
nor things
to come,
nor powers,
nor height,
nor depth,
nor anything
else in all
creation will
be able to
separate us
from the love
of God in
Christ Jesus
our Lord.
Lord.
If nothing
can separate
us from
that,
then what
do we have
to fear?
This is the
confidence that
Christians have
in the face
of any
earthly danger.
fear.
You may
know that
Tim Keller
passed away
last week,
you may know
that name,
after a
nearly
three-year
battle with
pancreatic
cancer.
That is the
very scenario
that men
and women
fear almost
more than
anything.
A terminal
condition,
it's one of the
nastiest,
cruelest dangers
that we face.
You talk about
being afraid,
you talk about
being in danger,
you talk about
needing protection.
I would imagine
when you hear
those words,
that diagnosis
from the doctor,
that is when
you want protection
more than any
other time.
You know what
he said in his
last days to
his family?
Just before he
passed,
he said,
there is no
downside in
me leaving.
Not in the
slightest.
No downside.
Why?
Because he
knew that
despite this
danger that
would kill
him,
he was
protected.
He was
safe in
the hands
of God.
He could
face it
with confidence.
Because the
Lord is with
me,
I will not
fear even
death itself.
The Lord
will protect
me.
This may
kill me,
but all
he can do
is bring me
to him.
This light
heart and
momentary
affliction
is preparing
for us an
eternal weight
of glory
beyond all
comparison.
Is this how
we view
danger,
Christian?
Is this how
we measure
risk in our
life?
Is this how
we view
safety?
We tend
to view
safety and
risk with
earthly eyes,
but Christ,
he's purchased
for us
true,
eternal
protection.
If you
want to be
safe,
truly safe,
seek shelter
in the
presence of
Christ.
And when we
reach the
shore of
eternity,
all the
chaos of
this present
life with
all its
dangers,
all its
toils and
snares,
it will feel
like it was
over in
just one
fleeting
moment.
This type
of confidence
and security
in the face
of danger,
it baffles
the world.
They don't
have this
type of
assurance.
They can't
make sense
of it.
What is the
basis of
the Christian's
confidence?
What is the
secret to
infinite joy
that lifts us
up out of
our present
circumstances?
I'll tell
you what it
is.
It is
faith in
the promises
of God.
It is
trust in
the rock
solid
promises
of God.
This is
our third
and final
point this
morning.
Third,
we see
that Jesus
is a
God of
great
promise.
Look there
to verse
25.
It says,
When the
people found
him on the
other side
of the sea,
they said
to him,
Rabbi,
when did
you come
here?
And
Jesus,
knowing
everything,
knowing that
they were
seeing with
only earthly
sight,
he went
straight to
the heart.
It says,
Truly,
truly,
I say to
you,
you are
seeking
me,
not because
you saw
the signs,
but because
you ate
your fill
of the
loaves.
Now,
listen to
this.
He says,
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 the
Father has
set his
seal.
Do not
work for
the food
that perishes.
You know,
this is all
most people
know how
to do.
This is all
that we
know how
to do.
We spend
our energy,
we work
hard,
we wear
ourselves
out so
that we
can put
food on
the table,
then we
eat the
food,
the food
runs out,
and now
we've got
to go
work some
more.
We
work to
earn enough
money,
the money
runs out,
so now
we've got
to go
work some
more.
We hope
that we'll
just work
long enough
to earn
as much
as we
can,
to earn
enough so
that we
have enough
money to
put enough
food on
the table
for the
rest of
our lives,
but at
some point
the money
will expire,
the food
will expire,
or guess
what?
We will
expire.
It's all
so empty,
but Jesus
says there
is another
way.
seek the
food that
endures to
eternal life,
which the
Son of
Man will
give to
you.
You may
remember
walking through
Isaiah 55
together late
last year,
and this
wonderful
invitation,
come everyone
who thirsts,
come to the
waters,
and he who
has no money,
come buy and
eat,
come buy wine
and milk
without money,
without price.
Why do you
spend your
money for
that which
is not
bread,
and your
labor for
that which
does not
satisfy?
Listen
diligently to
me and
eat what
is good,
and delight
yourselves in
rich food,
incline your
ear and come
to me here
that your
soul may
live.
this is the
invitation that
Christ is
making to
these Pharisees,
and it's the
invitation that
he's making
to us.
He's holding
out this
incredible offer,
a never-ending
buffet,
eternal
satisfaction,
free of
price,
eternal
provision for
our hunger,
for our thirst,
but how did
they respond?
With physical
sight.
What must
we be doing
to do the
works of God?
Do you see
that?
You see how
works-minded,
how physical-minded,
how earthly-minded
they are?
I've been working
for this bread,
it perishes,
it runs out,
you're offering
me eternal bread,
what do I have
to do?
How do I have
to work to
get that bread?
Jesus says,
this is the
work of God,
that you
believe in
him whom
he has sent.
This is the
message of the
gospel,
church.
Eternal
satisfaction
is given,
not earned,
is given
through faith
in Christ.
That is so
different from
the way that
we're wired.
We want to
work, we want
to earn what
we're given,
that's the
American way,
you work hard,
you earn a
paycheck,
you get up,
you do it
again.
That is not
the way it
works with
Christ.
And that is
not the
message of
the Bible.
One of my
favorite insights
from Tim Keller,
he said,
Buddha's final
words before
he died,
you know what
they were?
Strive without
ceasing.
Jesus'
final words on
the cross,
it is finished.
The gospel
is not a
message of
go do,
it's a
message of
this is what
Christ has
done.
Would you
receive it?
Would you
believe it?
Would you
stop working
to earn it?
Would you
receive it
by faith?
Christianity
is not
another job
where we
earn our
bread,
we receive
the bread
of life
by believing
in him.
The way
that they
responded,
I don't
think gives
us much
hope that
they got
it.
they said,
what sign
do you
do that
we may
see and
believe you?
What work
do you
perform?
Our fathers,
they ate the
manna in the
wilderness as
it is written,
he gave them
bread from
heaven to
eat.
So what
can you
do for
us,
Jesus?
What can
we see
you do
that we
might see
and believe?
And of
course,
Jesus doesn't
take the
bait,
but he does
teach them
a lesson.
Jesus said
to them,
truly,
I say to
you,
it was not
Moses who
gave you
the bread
from heaven.
Stop talking
about Moses.
Don't put
your faith
in Moses,
don't put
your hope
in Moses.
It was
not Moses,
but my
father gives
you the
true bread
from heaven.
For the
bread of
God is
he who
comes down
from heaven
and gives
life to
the world.
I am
the bread
of life.
Whoever
comes to
me shall
not hunger,
whoever
believes in
me shall
never thirst.
It is an
offer
promise of
true bread.
Not from
Moses,
but from
God.
Not manna
that perishes,
but a person
who comes
down from
heaven.
Not for
physical
sustenance,
but for
eternal life.
Not just
for the
Jews,
but for
the world.
Any
who believe
in him.
Here is the
promise,
church.
anyone who
comes to
Christ,
anyone,
from the
moment they
first believe,
they will
begin a
feast for
their soul
that will
last forever.
Now,
we can
taste it
now.
We live
by this
bread right
now,
but we
know it
will get
better and
better,
more and
more satisfying.
We will
never lack
what we
need the
most.
And our
experience of
him will
only get
better the
more we
feast on
him from
now to
the rest of
eternity.
You will
have no
hunger and
you will
have no
thirst if
only you
would believe
in him.
Church,
we were
made to
be satisfied
in him.
But we
are far too
easily pleased.
so come
to him.
Trust
him.
Feast
on him.
Lean on
him.
Believe in
him and
be satisfied
in him.
And do
not think
too small
of him.
Let's
pray.
Lord
Jesus,
we thank
you that
you are
the bread
of life.
Who came
down from
heaven,
not just
to meet
our temporary
needs,
God,
but to
meet our
greatest
needs,
our eternal
needs.
Lord,
we need
nothing more
than to have
our sins
forgiven,
to be made
right with
you,
to be satisfied
in you,
not just
now,
but into
eternity.
We praise
you that
that offer,
that promise,
is available
to any who
would come to
you in
faith.
And so we
pray now
that we
would rejoice
in that
provision,
if we
have it,
and that
we would
repent,
if we
don't,
and seek
you in
the promises
made to
us in
the gospel.
We pray
this in
Christ's
name.
Amen.