April 23, 2024 • 9 mins
Have you ever chased success, only to find yourself hungering for something far deeper? Join us as we discuss the transformative message of Jesus Christ as the bread of life, a theme that resonates through John 6:35-59. It's easy to get caught up in the miracles and the material, yet miss the profound relationship and eternal sustenance offered by Christ. We share insights on the human tendency to focus on the tangible and temporary, and invite you to contemplate the true source of fulfillment in your life.
In this episode, we explore the contrast between earthly satisfaction and spiritual nourishment, drawing from teachings in Isaiah and the life experiences of King Solomon. We examine the deep spiritual hunger that material success cannot satiate, and discuss how Jesus shifts our attention from the pursuit of perishable "loaves" to the imperishable bread of life. This candid conversation aims to reorient your heart towards lasting contentment and encourages a deeper dive into what it means to be truly fulfilled through a relationship with Jesus.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning podcasters.
Today we're exploring Johnchapter 6, 35 through 59, a
pivotal passage where Jesusreveals himself as the bread of
life.
Now, this claim holds profoundimplications for our spiritual
nourishment and our relationshipwith God.
So let's start with a story.
Picture a person who seeminglyhas it all wealth, success,
(00:22):
recognition.
Yet, despite the externaltrappings of happiness, there's
a persistent void in their life.
There's an emptiness that theycan't quite fill.
They have achieved their goals,but still yearn for something
more meaningful.
This story is familiar to manyof us because we've seen it
played out, whether in our ownlives or lives of people around
(00:45):
us, and it honestly reflects thedeeper spiritual hunger that
Jesus addresses in this passage.
As we journey into John, chapter6, jesus has just performed the
miracle of the feeding of the5,000, walking on water, healing
a Canaanite woman's daughter.
The feeding of 4,000.
(01:05):
Now the crowd, astonished byall these signs, are seeking him
out, expecting more miraclesand perhaps another free meal.
But Jesus shifts theconversation from physical bread
to spiritual sustenance,pointing them towards a greater
truth that he himself is thebread of life.
(01:26):
In John 6, 35, jesus declares Iam the bread of life.
Remember that I am is athrowback to the Old Testament
where God was speaking to Mosesand says Moses says who do I say
sent me?
And God simply replies I am.
And so Jesus, in this statement, is claiming to be God.
He says I am the bread of life.
(01:47):
Whoever comes to me shall nothunger.
Whoever believes in me shallnever thirst.
And this claim is revolutionarybecause it addresses our
spiritual hunger, not just ourphysical needs.
And I think that's part of thepoint is, when you and I come to
Jesus, we're always focused onour physical needs.
What physically can Jesus dofor us?
What prayers can we haveanswered?
(02:09):
What things can we have him fix?
What situations can we have himsolve?
And not that any of thosethings are bad, but we miss the
relationship with Jesus becausewe're so focused on what we
could get out of Jesus.
I want you to think for a momentabout a serious relationship
you have in your life right now,whether it's your spouse, your
(02:29):
parents, your siblings, yourbest friend.
What if you treated them likethat all the time?
What if the only reason youever talked to them was because
you needed something?
How healthy do you think thatrelationship would be?
One of the things I talkedabout this weekend is.
Oftentimes we're looking for themiracle, but the truth is we
(02:50):
need the maker of the miracle.
Our spirit is hungry for Godhimself, not the things God can
do for us.
So let me ask you this what arethe aspects of your life where
you feel unfulfilled?
Despite your best efforts tofind satisfaction, you still
feel unfulfilled in that area.
(03:11):
Maybe this could be aninvitation to seek a deeper
relationship with Jesus, who isthe one who actually offers true
fulfillment.
In the book of Isaiah, theprophet asked why do you spend
money for what is not bread andyour wages for what does not
satisfy?
That's Isaiah 55 too, and Ithink this question prompts you
(03:33):
and I to consider whether we areinvesting our time and
resources in things that trulymatter or in pursuits that
ultimately leave us wanting.
Another thing I see in John,chapter 6 is we are seeking the
wrong sources of thosefulfillments.
Jesus tells the crowd that theyare seeking him for the wrong
reasons.
They were impressed by themiracle, not the message, and I
(03:57):
think this reflects a commontendency to focus on the
temporary benefits rather thanthe eternal truths.
So, along those lines, let meask you this what loaves are you
pursuing?
Are they the source of lastingfulfillment, or do they offer
only fleeting satisfaction?
(04:17):
Think for a moment of KingSolomon, who had everything
wealth, wisdom and power.
But he concluded inEcclesiastes 1-2, vanities.
Of vanities, all is vanity.
His realization echoes Jesus'call to seek eternal sustenance
rather than temporary gains.
Now Jesus begins to shift thefocus from physical bread to the
(04:42):
promise of eternal life, sayingtruly, truly I say to you,
whoever believes has eternallife that I am the bread of life
John 6, 47 and 48.
And this underscores Jesus'unique role in granting eternal
life.
It's not just about satisfyingour immediate needs.
It's about entering into atransformative relationship with
(05:04):
Jesus, leading to everlastinglife.
This point is reinforced in oneof my favorite verses in
scripture, john 10.10, whereJesus says I came that you may
have life and have it abundantly, or other translations say, to
the fullest.
This abundant life is more thanmaterial prosperity.
(05:24):
It's a deeper sense of purposeand fulfillment that can only be
found in following Jesus.
In John 6, verse 53, jesus saysUnless you eat the flesh of the
Son of man and drink His blood,you have no life in you.
This bold statement causes manyto stumble.
(05:46):
They get lost in the metaphor,wondering if it's a metaphor or
not.
And as you see Jesus speak tothe disciples over and over
again, he gives metaphor aftermetaphor.
He says I am the door, he saysI am the vine.
And so when we get to a passagelike this, I'm not really sure
why it trips so many people, butit does.
(06:06):
So are we willing to embracethe full truth of the gospel,
even when it confronts ourcomfort zones or our religious
traditions?
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1,verse 23, that we preach Christ
crucified a stumbling block toJews and foolishness to Gentiles
(06:28):
.
This reminds us that thegospel's message can be
challenging, but its power totransform is undeniable.
Power to transform isundeniable.
So as we reflect on thispassage, let's consider the
implications of Jesus' words.
Are we seeking Jesus for whathe can provide materially, or do
(06:53):
we recognize him as the sourceof eternal life?
The true bread of life invitesyou and I into a relationship
that goes beyond temporarysatisfactions, offering eternal
significance.
Consider Jesus' words in Matthew5, 6,.
Blessed are those who hungerand thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be filled.
This promise is an invitationto find our deepest fulfillment
(07:17):
in Him.
My hope for you is that we seekJesus not just as a provider of
miracles, but as the source ofeternal sustenance, the bread of
life that nourishes our souls.
May His words guide our choicesand shape our priorities,
leading you and I to a life oflasting fulfillment.
(07:40):
Thank you so much for joiningme today.
Until next time, may you findin Jesus the bread of life that
satisfies every longing.
Good morning podcasters.
Today we're exploring Johnchapter 6, 35 through 59, a
pivotal passage where Jesusreveals himself as the bread of
life.
Now, this claim holds profoundimplications for our spiritual
nourishment and our relationshipwith God.
So let's start with a story.
Picture a person who seeminglyhas it all wealth, success,
(00:22):
recognition.
Yet, despite the externaltrappings of happiness, there's
a persistent void in their life.
There's an emptiness that theycan't quite fill.
They have achieved their goals,but still yearn for something
more meaningful.
This story is familiar to manyof us because we've seen it
played out, whether in our ownlives or lives of people around
(00:45):
us, and it honestly reflects thedeeper spiritual hunger that
Jesus addresses in this passage.
As we journey into John, chapter6, jesus has just performed the
miracle of the feeding of the5,000, walking on water, healing
a Canaanite woman's daughter.
The feeding of 4,000.
(01:05):
Now the crowd, astonished byall these signs, are seeking him
out, expecting more miraclesand perhaps another free meal.
But Jesus shifts theconversation from physical bread
to spiritual sustenance,pointing them towards a greater
truth that he himself is thebread of life.
(01:26):
In John 6, 35, jesus declares Iam the bread of life.
Remember that I am is athrowback to the Old Testament
where God was speaking to Mosesand says Moses says who do I say
sent me?
And God simply replies I am.
And so Jesus, in this statement, is claiming to be God.
He says I am the bread of life.
(01:47):
Whoever comes to me shall nothunger.
Whoever believes in me shallnever thirst.
And this claim is revolutionarybecause it addresses our
spiritual hunger, not just ourphysical needs.
And I think that's part of thepoint is, when you and I come to
Jesus, we're always focused onour physical needs.
What physically can Jesus dofor us?
What prayers can we haveanswered?
(02:09):
What things can we have him fix?
What situations can we have himsolve?
And not that any of thosethings are bad, but we miss the
relationship with Jesus becausewe're so focused on what we
could get out of Jesus.
I want you to think for a momentabout a serious relationship
you have in your life right now,whether it's your spouse, your
(02:29):
parents, your siblings, yourbest friend.
What if you treated them likethat all the time?
What if the only reason youever talked to them was because
you needed something?
How healthy do you think thatrelationship would be?
One of the things I talkedabout this weekend is.
Oftentimes we're looking for themiracle, but the truth is we
(02:50):
need the maker of the miracle.
Our spirit is hungry for Godhimself, not the things God can
do for us.
So let me ask you this what arethe aspects of your life where
you feel unfulfilled?
Despite your best efforts tofind satisfaction, you still
feel unfulfilled in that area.
(03:11):
Maybe this could be aninvitation to seek a deeper
relationship with Jesus, who isthe one who actually offers true
fulfillment.
In the book of Isaiah, theprophet asked why do you spend
money for what is not bread andyour wages for what does not
satisfy?
That's Isaiah 55 too, and Ithink this question prompts you
(03:33):
and I to consider whether we areinvesting our time and
resources in things that trulymatter or in pursuits that
ultimately leave us wanting.
Another thing I see in John,chapter 6 is we are seeking the
wrong sources of thosefulfillments.
Jesus tells the crowd that theyare seeking him for the wrong
reasons.
They were impressed by themiracle, not the message, and I
(03:57):
think this reflects a commontendency to focus on the
temporary benefits rather thanthe eternal truths.
So, along those lines, let meask you this what loaves are you
pursuing?
Are they the source of lastingfulfillment, or do they offer
only fleeting satisfaction?
(04:17):
Think for a moment of KingSolomon, who had everything
wealth, wisdom and power.
But he concluded inEcclesiastes 1-2, vanities.
Of vanities, all is vanity.
His realization echoes Jesus'call to seek eternal sustenance
rather than temporary gains.
Now Jesus begins to shift thefocus from physical bread to the
(04:42):
promise of eternal life, sayingtruly, truly I say to you,
whoever believes has eternallife that I am the bread of life
John 6, 47 and 48.
And this underscores Jesus'unique role in granting eternal
life.
It's not just about satisfyingour immediate needs.
It's about entering into atransformative relationship with
(05:04):
Jesus, leading to everlastinglife.
This point is reinforced in oneof my favorite verses in
scripture, john 10.10, whereJesus says I came that you may
have life and have it abundantly, or other translations say, to
the fullest.
This abundant life is more thanmaterial prosperity.
(05:24):
It's a deeper sense of purposeand fulfillment that can only be
found in following Jesus.
In John 6, verse 53, jesus saysUnless you eat the flesh of the
Son of man and drink His blood,you have no life in you.
This bold statement causes manyto stumble.
(05:46):
They get lost in the metaphor,wondering if it's a metaphor or
not.
And as you see Jesus speak tothe disciples over and over
again, he gives metaphor aftermetaphor.
He says I am the door, he saysI am the vine.
And so when we get to a passagelike this, I'm not really sure
why it trips so many people, butit does.
(06:06):
So are we willing to embracethe full truth of the gospel,
even when it confronts ourcomfort zones or our religious
traditions?
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1,verse 23, that we preach Christ
crucified a stumbling block toJews and foolishness to Gentiles
(06:28):
.
This reminds us that thegospel's message can be
challenging, but its power totransform is undeniable.
Power to transform isundeniable.
So as we reflect on thispassage, let's consider the
implications of Jesus' words.
Are we seeking Jesus for whathe can provide materially, or do
(06:53):
we recognize him as the sourceof eternal life?
The true bread of life invitesyou and I into a relationship
that goes beyond temporarysatisfactions, offering eternal
significance.
Consider Jesus' words in Matthew5, 6,.
Blessed are those who hungerand thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be filled.
This promise is an invitationto find our deepest fulfillment
(07:17):
in Him.
My hope for you is that we seekJesus not just as a provider of
miracles, but as the source ofeternal sustenance, the bread of
life that nourishes our souls.
May His words guide our choicesand shape our priorities,
leading you and I to a life oflasting fulfillment.
(07:40):
Thank you so much for joiningme today.
Until next time, may you findin Jesus the bread of life that
satisfies every longing.
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