SERMON ON THE BREAD OF LIFE–JOHN 6:22-71–LESSON 15
Introduction:
The theme of the message is Life Sustained. Jesus told the crowd about food the “which endureth unto everlasting life,” v. 27. Those who are sustained by this bread “shall never hunger,” v. 35. Jesus also promised to sustain a relationship with those who trust Him, vs. 56-57.
I. “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE,” vs. 32-40.
A. Moses did not give Israel the Bread of Heaven, v. 32.
B. Jesus sets the record straight. God the Father gave the manna to Israel, v. 32, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.”
C. This is the first of the “I AM” declarations that Jesus made.
1. Jesus is the bread of God divine bread, v. 33, “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.”
2. “Bread of life” is that which provides life.
3. That bread is the “true bread from heaven.”
a. The manna in the wilderness sustained life only for a while.
b. The “true bread” is spiritual bread and sustains life for eternity.
4. That bread give everlasting satisfaction, v. 35, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” The “never” is emphatic in the Greek text, “no, never.”
5. Jesus states the will of the Father, v. 40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
II. THE JEWS SAW JESUS AS A MAN ONLY, vs. 41-42.
A. The Jews saw Jesus only as “the son of Joseph.”
B. They did not see the incarnate Son of God, John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
1. They did not see the WORD, the Son of God, John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2-The same was in the beginning with God. 3-All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
2. They did not see “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” of John 1:29 as John the Baptist saw Him.
The did not see Him as the PROPHET OF GOD, John 4:44, “For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.”
3. They did not see Him as the “Bread of Life,” as He claimed. v. 41, “The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.”
III. “NO MAN CAN COME TO ME, EXCEPT THE FATHER WHICH HATH SENT ME DRAW HIM.” vs. 43-46.
A. God reveals His Son to whom He wills, Matthew 11:27, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”
B. God educates a man regarding his need of Jesus Christ, v. 45, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”
IV. “YOUR FATHERS DID EAT MANNA IN THE WILDERNESS AND ARE DEAD.” vs. 47-51.
A. The Jews had eaten manna in the wilderness, but they died because it was only a type of the Bread of Life.
B. Jesus is the Living Bread, v. 50, “This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.”
1. This bread came down from heaven, v. 51.
2. “The bread that I will give is my flesh.” v. 51.
V. “EXCEPT YE EAT THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN, AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, YE HAVE NO LIFE IN YOU.” vs. 52-59.
A. As often happens, Jesus’ teaching was not understood, John 4:15, “The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.”
B. Jesus is saying that a man must IDENTIFY himself with Jesus Christ in order to go to heaven. He must TRUST HIM AS SAVIOR!
1. In the OT the sinner had to identify himself with his offering by putting his hand on the head of the animal as he confessed his sin, Leviticus 1:4, “And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.”
2. Only then did the priest accept the offering.
VI. THE JEWS ARE OFFENDED, vs. 60-71.
A. As the people began to understand His teaching, they found it to be totally unacceptable.
B. Many of the Galilean disciples turned away from Him, v. 66, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”
1. The popular enthusiasm for Jesus as a political Messiah was then over, v. 15, “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.”
2. They saw that He was not going to deliver them from Rome.
C. They were offended at Jesus and His teaching, v. 41, “The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.”
1. Paul wrote that the crucified Messiah was a “stumbling block” (skandalon) to the Jews, 1 Corinthians 1:23, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;” The same Greek word translated “stumblingblock” is the word used for offend in verse 61.
2. Many have been offended over the year and have rejected Christ as the Jews did that day. They died just as the Jews died in unbelief in the wilderness.
D. Jesus questioned the Twelve; “Will ye also go away?”
1. Peter responded for the group, v. 68, “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
2. These twelve knew who He was, Matthew 16:16, “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
3. 6:70-71. Jesus then asked, Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? John’s Gospel does not record Jesus’ choice of the Twelve. He assumed his readers knew the Synoptics or common church tradition (cf. Mark 3:13-19). This choice was not election to salvation, but was Jesus’ call to them to serve Him. Yet, He said, one of you is a devil! In the light of John 13:2, 27, Satan’s working in Judas was tantamount to Judas being the devil. In 6:70 the Greek does not have the indefinite article “a,” so it could be translated “one of you is Satan (devil).” Jesus’ knowledge of Judas (who was called Judas Iscariot because his father was Simon Iscariot) was still another example of His omniscience (cf. 1:47; 2:24-25; 6:15, 61). Later in the Upper Room, Jesus again said one of the Twelve would betray Him (13:21). John called Judas “the traitor” (18:5). The disciples later could reflect on this prophecy of His and be strengthened in their faith. Judas was a tragic figure, influenced by Satan; yet he was responsible for his own evil choices.