John 6:16-40 “Bread of Life Sermon, Part 1”

You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

Our passion is to experience and express grace.

Join us.

When we were last in our study of John's Gospel, back in November, if you can believe it,

following through the life of Jesus that we might believe and find life in Him,

Derek led us through the miracle of Jesus feeding 5,000 plus with five loaves of bread and two fish.

And the people ate their fill and they thought, this guy is great.

Let's make him king.

But Jesus withdrew by Himself.

Much of the rest of John chapter 6, where we pick up this morning, is a sermon, so to speak.

John 6 · chapter mention

Jesus teaching and interacting some with the people there as would have taken place often at the synagogue.

They're talking with Him about what they need, about who He is.

And Jesus says some wonderful, amazing things that if you really stop to listen to Him and contemplate Him are mind-blowing.

They leave some people listening in anger and in disbelief, leaving Jesus, I don't want anything else to do with Him.

And on the other hand, they leave others convinced that He is the one that they must follow.

That happens by the end of this sermon.

We're going to take two weeks to get to the end of it.

But I want us to follow through Jesus' sermon and reading it as we go this morning.

So keep your Bible open.

We're going to keep reading another section and another section.

Before Jesus begins speaking, though, He starts showing Himself to His disciples in a very personal way.

With yet another of John's signs.

Remember, signs that point to who Jesus is.

And so we'll start reading in verse 16.

John 6, verse 16.

John 6:16

When evening came, Jesus' 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.

And 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.

Just one of these times where Jesus will walk on the water.

Amazing.

But here, finding His disciples in the darkness, in a storm full of fear.

And the one who just cared for their bodies, fed them, now cares for their souls, doesn't He?

Do not fear.

I am here.

Remember, just remember for a moment what security there is for us in being with Jesus.

He can reach us no matter where we are, no matter what's going on.

And when He comes into the midst of whatever it is we're facing, we are safe with Him.

And we need not fear.

His presence should calm our fears.

It is I, He says.

Some of you have heard that comfort recently.

In some really tough places.

It's been hard.

And you've heard Jesus said, I'm here with you.

He meets us in our fears.

And the disciples here are starting to learn more about this miracle worker who fed 5,000.

That He rules over nature.

He cares for this world.

And He tends to our souls.

And all in a day's work.

Amazing.

Verse 22.

On the next day, the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there.

And that Jesus had not entered that 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 those boats 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?

And Jesus answered them, truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking Me not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

It's interesting, isn't it?

The crowds are eagerly tracking Jesus down.

They're getting ready to listen to Him teach for a long time.

And He starts the sermon by asking, why are you really here?

And then He answers.

He doesn't even let them say why they're there.

He tells them.

He answers for them.

Because you ate your fill.

Because you like what I do for you.

Jesus begins by identifying a common human struggle, doesn't He?

Demanding God to perform for us.

We are at the center of our lives.

And like the prodigal son, we like more what God does for us than the Father Himself.

Why do you really seek Jesus?

I remember thinking when I was still in school that maybe if I was spiritual enough, if I did enough church things and was up front leading enough, that maybe a girl would like me.

That seemed really appealing to me.

These crowds wanting to make Jesus king.

They like that He can solve those very practical, physical, real daily life kinds of problems for them.

They would like to use this powerful miracle worker against Rome, right?

Yes, we'll go with this guy.

Or at least while we do struggle through this, we would like to be well resourced and full along the way.

They're with Jesus not for the suffering, but for the success.

We want to have a good life, right?

Those are bandwagon fans, y'all.

They're there while we're winning.

They don't realize that multiplying the loaves to fill their bellies was merely a sign of something far more significant.

Some of you hang around Jesus primarily to give your kids some moral direction.

That's important, right?

Others of you are here counting on God to give you community.

Again, not a bad thing.

But Jesus is challenging you here right at the start to consider the priority of something else.

Something even more than those things.

The priority of spiritual food and life.

Listen to what he says next.

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.

Seek lasting satisfaction, Jesus says.

He's talking to agrarian men and women who are used to working for their food, right?

In fact, they connect that to their very existence and survival.

Maybe that's not so much the same for you when you go to work.

You've got food at home in the pantry or the fridge, perhaps.

When they go and they work for food, it's not merely their livelihood.

It is their life.

That food that they work for.

That what it produces allows them to live.

And so Jesus takes something that they know quite well.

Something they can still taste from the day before.

And He says, make sure that you're not satisfied with something that will leave you empty again the next morning.

That will eventually spoil.

That you'll need more and more of the next day and the next year.

If you're going to survive, you'll have to keep working.

Jesus says, no, no, that's not what I'm offering.

I've got something better than that.

It's got to last.

Not just fill you temporarily, but really last.

Beyond this day, beyond this life, beyond this world even.

That's what's most valuable, He says.

Don't miss it.

Our relationship with God must be central in our lives.

Not primarily because He gives us so many good things.

Although He does.

Not because there are benefits to being His friend.

Although there are.

But because God Himself is the best thing.

Don't settle for less than truly knowing Him.

Than living with Him.

The one who is the ultimate good.

Don't demand God be a vending machine.

To give you what you pay for.

To perform what you need.

Well, the crowds aren't put off by Jesus' challenge on that point.

I hope you're not.

He's asking you to consider your heart.

Because He wants to invite you into something so much better than what you often live for.

So much better than what you often even hang around church for.

Something that is worth living and even dying for.

The people listening to Him, they hear what He's saying.

They seize on that word work.

And they say, you know, we got a question.

Jesus, okay.

We're tracking.

Tell us what work to do.

Verse 28.

Then they said to Him,

What must we do to be doing the works of God?

They're saying,

We will.

Well, literally it reads,

Work the works of God.

Just tell us what they are.

What must we do?

You tell us, Jesus.

We're in.

How can we help advance the cause?

How can we get in on this new kingdom and be a part of that?

What can we do for God?

Because we certainly want to be on His team.

The question itself implies a natural tendency that we all know very well.

The tendency to think it's all up to us.

Right?

We actually like that.

We love to contribute, don't we?

We like to be having a significant impact.

To feel good about ourselves.

Like we've got something to offer.

And maybe you've already thought,

Come on, you less spiritual people who think that God should perform

for you.

That's not how it works.

God is the king.

We are the servants.

Get it right, people.

Spiritual people know that we perform for God.

That's how it works.

Hmm.

That's not what Jesus says.

Modern day religious people like me would say it this way.

Give me the list, Jesus.

I am good at lists.

Those of you who know me know I can do a list.

I love lists.

We're so good, most of us, at this approach to relationship with God

that many people who aren't in a church think that that's what it means to be in a church.

That's where you go to get the list of do's and don'ts for your life

so that you know what you are supposed to do and what you're not.

What are the things God wants me to do to ensure that I'm on his side?

That's not how Jesus works.

Can you imagine the open door that question gives him?

Don't you love it when someone comes to you and says,

what can I do to help?

What are the things that I can do for you?

It's like every Saturday morning in my house.

Dad, what can I do for you?

Why are you laughing at us?

Imagine a preacher who's seeking to shape a movement to transform a group of people

to really get something done,

and they're asking him to tell them what to do.

Like, lay it on, man.

Tithing.

Teaching.

Ten commandments.

Is that enough?

Like, there's a list, isn't there?

Jesus says, verse 29,

this is the work of God.

Work.

Singular.

The one thing.

We might say the main thing.

God wants us to do.

To believe in Jesus.

Let's please not complicate what Jesus intends to be very simple.

He's calling us to come to him.

He's just said that he is the one who gives the life that we long for,

that God himself attests to that at his baptism, at many other times.

So he says, your work, really not work at all, is trust me.

What must I do to be saved?

The Bible is very clear on this point.

It's not a long list.

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith is trusting Jesus to do the work on our behalf.

To give us the life that he promises to give.

To hold us and to bring us into God's family.

In a relationship of utter dependence on him.

Sometimes people of faith give faith a bad rap, honestly.

Partially it's because we have this nagging tendency to put our faith in ourselves.

In other people.

In what we do.

But really everyone in here.

Everyone in the world.

Is a person of faith.

When you sat down a few minutes ago after singing some of those songs.

Not a single one of you turned around and gingerly reached to the pew to make sure it was going to hold you up.

Now I saw a couple of you who turned around very carefully.

Not wanting to sit on a two-year-old who might have been crawling behind you.

That was, however, because you didn't have faith in the two-year-old.

Not because you didn't have faith in the pew to hold you up.

Every one of us.

The most cynical.

The most skeptical among us.

We exercise faith all the time.

Day in and day out.

We put our trust in all sorts of things and people.

The problem is.

We're so used to them letting us down.

The question Jesus puts before us is whether or not what we trust will truly.

And always.

And forever.

Hold us.

We're used to be let down by people.

By institutions.

Even by ourselves.

And Jesus says,

God sent me so that you can put your faith in one who will never let you down.

The only thing he asks you to do is to trust me.

And yes, as you enter into that relationship of trust and dependence,

you'll find your life centered on a new king and a new kingdom with all sorts of things to do.

Good works that God has designed just for you.

And you'll delight in doing them in relationship with him.

But nothing you do is the basis of your relationship with the king.

Nothing you do is the essence of the life that he offers to give you out of the abundance of his grace.

Jesus says,

Shorten your list.

One work.

Believe in me.

Come to me.

Trust me.

That is the good news that Jesus declares to you today.

Grace.

Life you don't earn,

but are given freely.

He's that good.

I hope you hear it as clearly as the people here did.

They understood Jesus asking them to do nothing more than trust him,

but also nothing less than trust him.

So they said to him,

Then what sign do you do that we may see and believe you?

What work do you perform?

Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness as it is written.

He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

You hear what they're saying?

Where's the sign?

Many of them, remember,

have just been fed by Jesus with five loaves for 5,000.

The rest have almost certainly been talking about it.

And yet they want something more.

What sign?

What sign?

I don't know.

You've got to be at least as good as Moses.

Manna day after day for 40 years in the wilderness.

Enough for everyone to eat bread from heaven.

Not just one miracle.

Do something more for us, Jesus,

or we won't be satisfied.

Are you kidding me?

What in the world?

Y'all, I so relate to the people here.

Demanding more

and not being satisfied with Jesus himself.

I believe in my head that God loves me fully and completely because of Jesus.

So before I step into this pulpit on a Sunday morning,

I am thinking and reminding myself I am fully loved by the God of the universe.

And that is enough.

Except that there are a whole lot of mornings that I step into this pulpit.

And what is really in my mind is,

God, that is so nice.

I've heard that for a long time.

I know you love me.

What I really need is another several hundred people or so to think that I'm wonderful.

And then I'll be okay.

Okay, that will be enough.

Can we make a deal on that?

I need this to go really well.

I need them to say nice things and then I'll leave feeling okay.

Honest.

Thankfully, today is not one of those so you can be mean.

Do you relate to feeling like that?

Jesus is nice on Sundays.

Maybe you've thought this,

but if I'm not professionally successful Monday through Saturday,

I'm going to spiral into self-loathing.

I need more stuff.

Being in God's family, that's neat and all,

but I don't feel cool or impressive or good enough

when I tell people where I go to church.

I need a new one.

Jesus says very clearly to us,

he's saying, let me tie it together.

I said, seek lasting satisfaction.

Then I told you to come to me.

To be very clear,

come find lasting satisfaction in me.

Verse 32,

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,

the life,

is he who comes down from heaven

and gives life to the world.

And they said to him,

that sounds great.

Sir, give us this bread always.

Maybe they're still confused.

We're not sure.

Is it the physical bread for their life

that they're longing for?

Or is it the something greater?

And so Jesus now speaks

the first of his I am statements

in the gospel of John,

helping us grasp his true and unique identity.

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.

I am the bread of life.

Meaning,

if you come to me,

you'll never hunger again.

And in case you're confused

and think I mean that physically,

no, no, no.

You'll also take bread

and believe in me

and you'll never thirst.

Your soul will be satisfied forever.

It's the invitation of Jesus

we've heard already this morning.

Come to me.

All you who labor

and are heavy laden

and I will give you rest.

It's the invitation of God

through the prophet.

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

and without price.

Why do you spend your money

for that which is not bread,

your labor for that

which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently.

Where?

To me.

And eat what is good

and delight yourselves

in rich food.

This is what God has been saying.

He graciously invites you

into full fellowship with him.

Free forgiveness.

Forgiveness.

Feasting forever

in a relationship with him

that begins right now.

Anyone who comes to Jesus,

no matter how empty,

how hungry,

how undeserving,

will never hunger again.

I'm not talking about

some great thing you have to do.

Coming to Jesus, remember,

even for the very first time

in case you're wondering,

is not some Herculean task

where you have to climb a ladder,

reach the top of a mountain

to find him.

It can be the simplest

whispered prayer.

Jesus, help me.

Have mercy on me, a sinner.

I need you every hour.

It's a continual coming

to the truth of his word.

Coming to his grace

in the sacraments.

Coming to his people

in your grace group.

To Jesus himself

as you love and serve

the least of these.

He says you have loved

and served him.

Right now,

come trust Jesus

and find lasting satisfaction

in him.

I suspect many of you

are like me

and that you've done that.

You've come

and believed in Jesus

and Alan prayed about this

as we were confessing

our sin this morning.

Maybe you're wondering

what I wrestled with

here all week

in this passage.

How come,

why God,

do I still have moments,

days,

seasons,

where I don't feel

satisfied?

I thought Jesus promises

never hunger or thirst.

Two possibilities, I think.

the first you should consider

is that maybe your heart

is wandering.

We are prone

to wander.

I am

very familiar with this.

I've been there.

Maybe you're looking

for satisfaction

somewhere besides Jesus

right now.

Pleasure,

money,

success,

comfort,

all sorts of places.

and what you need

to hear is Jesus

calling you to come

back to him

and to find,

actually experience

true fulfillment

and satisfaction

that you'll never

find anywhere else

and that's why you

feel hungry.

or maybe

what you're feeling

is not actually

the experience

that Jesus

is talking about

here at all.

Maybe it's not

what Jesus

is promising

that you won't

experience.

Maybe you're experiencing

the reality

of the storms,

the pain

and difficulty

of this broken world,

the longing

to be home

forever

and Jesus

is actually

reassuring you.

He wants you to hear

his comfort

this morning

that he really is

the place

to find rest

for your soul.

He doesn't want you

to be confused

and start running

to look elsewhere.

True satisfaction,

he says,

doesn't come from

a fuller belly,

a bigger bank account,

a better relationship.

No,

he wants you

to know

right there

where you've come

to him

the comfort

that you're not alone.

He has come

to be with you.

He has come

to you

in his incarnation

entering into this world,

his life,

his death,

his resurrection.

He comes

into the storms

of life

to be present,

to give peace

that passes understanding

when the circumstances

don't change,

to give hope,

pointing us

to true life,

true hope

beyond what we know here.

He has come

to set this table

this morning

to meet with you.

And he's coming again

to take you

to be with him

forever.

Friends,

coming to Jesus

is really nothing more

than embracing

the one

who has already

run across

heaven and earth

to embrace you.

Look at the assurance

that this gives us.

If I am the bread

of life

is the climax

of Jesus' sermon

part one.

This is the conclusion.

Verse 36,

after this offer

of himself,

he says,

but I said to you

that you have seen me

and yet do not believe.

Yes,

there are some

who despite Jesus' promise

will not embrace him,

will refuse his offer,

but all that the Father

gives me

will come to me

and whoever comes to me

I will never cast out

for I have come down

from heaven

not to do my own will

but the will of him

who sent me

and this is the will

of him who sent me

that I should lose

nothing of all

that he has given me

but raise it up

on the last day

for this is the will

of my Father

that everyone

who looks on the Son

and believes in him

should have eternal life

and I will raise him up

on the last day.

Just like the disciples

in the boat

no matter what happens

your safety

and security today

and forever

is inextricably linked

to Jesus' presence

with you

and he is here.

Jesus has come down

from heaven

so that every single person

who trusts him

will be held

and given life

and fully satisfied

forever

that every one of us

would be actually a gift

from the eternal Father

to the divine Son.

You are safe.

Listen,

if you have even

whispered this morning

Jesus help.

if you have even

even weakly

and feebly

opened your arms

to embrace the one

who came

to reach you

you know what your life

depends on today?

It's not hanging

by a thread.

It is not

dangling

precariously

by your

faltering faith

or your

inconsistent obedience.

It's not being weighed

in the balance

of good

versus bad

this week.

Your eternal comfort

and confidence

you know what it all

comes down to?

It all comes down to this.

You want to know

what you're going to make it

or break it on?

Will Jesus

the Son

be obedient

to his Father?

Remember when we looked

at this at Christmas

and Jesus says

I came for this

express purpose

to do

my Father's

will?

Of course

he will

even if it

cost him

his life

he will do

the Father's will.

You know what your life

comes down to?

Will the Father's

eternal

will

come to pass?

Oh

most certainly

it will.

The sovereign

King

and creator

of it all

he made it

he sustains it

his will

will

happen.

It all comes down

to this

will Jesus

have power

to raise you

to life

even if you die.

Friends

he is the one

who rose himself

and conquered

the grave.

This

is the one

in whose hands

is your life.

He never runs

for re-election.

He doesn't have to.

His power is not

dependent

on public opinion

and it being given

to him.

He never

retires.

He's not merely

the greatest

of all time.

He is

the author

of time

itself

and guess what?

He will

never die.

He defeated

death

and lives

never more

to die.

This

is the King

and the Savior

whose power

and love

hold your life.

Your life

depends on

is he strong

enough

and is he loving

enough.

And Jesus

says

do

not

fear.

It is

I.

I am

here

with you.

I've set

this table

before you

so that you

won't forget

that.

I've come

so that we

can have

relationship

forever

and you know

what the terms

of our

relationship

are

Jesus

says.

Here's the deal

I make a deal

with you.

I will

lay aside

the glory

of heaven.

I'll be

born on

this earth.

I will

live a

perfect life.

I will

die a

painful death

on the

cross.

I will

rise and

defeat

sin and

Satan

and death

and you

will

believe in

me.

Come to

me.

Rest in

me.

me.

That's

how our

relationship

works.

It's what

Jesus told

his disciples

on the

night one

of them

betrayed

him.

When he

took bread

and he

broke it

and he

gave it

to them

as I

ministering

in his

name give

this bread

to you.

He said

take and

eat.

This is

my body

given for

you.

Do this

in remembrance

of me.

In the same

way after

supper he

took the

cup and

said this

cup is

the new

covenant

in my

blood.

Shed for

many for

the forgiveness

of their

sins.

He didn't

have any

but he

gave his

blood for

yours.

Take and

drink it

all of you

for as

often as

you eat

this bread

and you

drink this

cup you

proclaim the

Lord's

death until

he comes.

You proclaim

it's all up

to him and

he's done

it and you

trust him.

Come to

Jesus.

He's

already

come to

you.

If you

embrace him

however

desperately

if you

rest in

him

however

weakly

come and

eat with

him and

with us.

If that's

not where

you are in

your heart

this morning

if that's

not what

you see

before you

the only

hope that

you have

if you

would actually

prefer that

the stuff

that God

does for

you rather

than him

or perhaps

even more

likely if

you think

your relationship

with God

is based on

what you

can offer

to him

and do

for him

and you've

got more

to do

before you

come

don't come

to this

table.

This table

is one

that declares

our hopelessness

apart from

Jesus and

at the same

time our

absolute hope

that we find

life in him

and satisfaction

in him

forever that

he's the one

who fills us

so if that's

not your

testimony

don't come

to this

table

we invite

you to

come up

and we'd

love to

pray with

you

if you'd

prefer you

can stay

where you

are

if that's

more comfortable

for you

we're thrilled

you're here

wherever you

are consider

the offer

of Jesus

to you

I am

the bread

of life

he who

comes to

me will

never

hunger

he who

believes

in me

will never

thirst

let's pray

and then we'll

come together

Jesus

what a

what an

amazingly

gracious

offer

what a

gift

might we

come

crawling

stumbling

struggling

to you

and find

ourselves

held

and fulfilled

and preserved

in such a way

that we could

never imagine

meet us

thank you for

coming first

thank you for

setting the

table

by your spirit

meet with us

now in Jesus

name

amen

for more

information

visit us

online at

southwood.org

visit us

vitamin

societies

like

infinity

forward

to us

on