Jesus Is The Bread of Life

Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.

John 6:11‭-‬15 NLT

Bread in Jesus' Time

• bread was an essential part of the meal
  • sometimes it was the meal
• bread was a means for fellowship
• it was a spiritual symbol of God himself

Jesus walking on Water

• the disciples are terrified
• Jesus proclaims it is him, and as they take him into the boat, they make it to shore
• once they get out, the crowds are on them again

So many religions diminish Jesus, just calling him a great man or a prophet. But what does Jesus say about himself?

The Crowd Comes Back

• the crowd seeks Jesus, because they want more bread

• the crowd ask what they must do earn it
• Jesus answers that the work of God is to: "believe in the one who he has sent"

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

John 6:32‭-‬33 NLT

Greek Words for Life

Bios = physic life, material life
Zoe = the quality of life, an eternal life

• Jesus is telling the crowd that they have a Zoe need that they are trying to fix with a Bios solution.
• Jesus calls himself the bread of Zoe.
• The giver of the bread is himself the bread.

Jesus is more than enough.

Disciples Turn Away

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.

John 6:66 NLT

• Jesus offered what they needed, but not what they thought they wanted.

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

John 6:68‭-‬69 NLT

Questions

What would cause us to respond like the people who left? Hopefully our response is like Peter's.

1. What one thing do you most hope is in your future?
   • What are you chasing today, hoping it would give you purpose tomorrow?
2. What one thing would you change about yourself?
3. Who is in your life that you feel like you can't forgive?
4. What thing have you sacrificed the most for?
5. When do you feel most significant?
   • what do you hope people find out about you?
6. Where do you turn when things aren't going well?