Bread of Life (John 6)

Joshua Davis

05.17.20

I have the privilege of coordinating some of our outreaches here at Victory Church, and during this season we’ve had the honor of serving two apartment communities near us by distributing food. It’s been really eye-opening to see how open people are in this season to receiving prayer and to hearing the gospel. Just last week, we hosted a blood drive, and while I’m donating I’m preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the employees! While giving blood and passing out food, I have become aware that many people who attend church, who grew up in church, etc. have never heard the gospel. Pastor Rocky and I even spoke with a man who once attended church, but had never heard of Jesus!

I am going to preach Jesus to you today! Every believer should have a growing relationship with Jesus and should know how to share who He is. Always be ready to give a reason for this hope that we have!

Paul says in Romans 1:16–

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;

He says in 1 Corinthians 1:24 that Christ is the power of God!

So you see, Jesus Himself is the power of God. Jesus Himself is the gospel!

We must remember that a Christ-less gospel is no gospel at all! When you tell people the gospel, make sure you tell them about Jesus and the finished work of the cross!

Feeding the 5,000 (John 6:1-14 AMPC)

The Bible from cover to cover reveals Jesus, who is God’s son and plan of redemption. Verse 4 says that the Passover feast was drawing near. The apostle Paul says that Christ is our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus Himself is Truth and there are many truths that were presented in the feeding of this multitude. I cannot help but to think that Jesus feeding the 5,000 is more about revealing who He is. We must learn that when other factual truths are evident, they still pale in comparison to the Truth. All lesser truths still have to bow at the name of Jesus. So it may be true that you are sick in your body, but the bigger and only relevant Truth is that Jesus is the Healer, and it is His will for you to be well. So while God is a God of increase and multiplication, the work of His hand does not exceed who He is! So as we read about this miracle of multiplying the fish and loaves; the miracle isn’t the point.. HE is.

Jesus makes the multitude sit down- This posture represents rest, receiving, it points to the posture we must take if He is to be Lord of our lives. He reveals Himself as Shepherd (Psalm 23:2- He makes me to lie” down in green pastures)

Gave thanks– He was thankful for the opportunity to reveal Himself and the One who sent Him.

He distributed to the disciples and the disciples to the people– Who fed the people? The disciples did. If you want to be effective in what He has called you to do, you must learn to receive from Him. Do not get ahead of what the Lord is doing. Just partner with Him in what He has already ordained. When we partner with the Lord, His anointing and blessing is already at work. Jesus put the disciples in a position to be used by Him and to grow in their faith.

… as much as they wanted – There is always more of Jesus to be had. You will only pursue what you are hungry for. Taste and see that the Lord is good, and you’ll be hooked! But you have to eat all of it! The evidence that it tastes good, and that you want more, is that you clean your plate, and not waste what’s already been given to you.

Ex: Mother’s Day barbecue chicken- It was evident that my boys thought that the chicken was good because they ate all the meat on their plates and asked for more! When you get together for family dinners and someone is super proud of the dish they made, they have a tendency to keep assessing how everyone liked it. You can say that it was “good” but the proof of it is that you cleaned your plate!!

Gather the fragments that nothing may be lost and wasted– Do not waste Him. Don’t pick and choose what you want from Him. Honor Him. Love Him. Cherish Him. Paul says that Jesus is our Passover Lamb. When you read about the first Passover in Exodus 12 you read that the meal was to be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs and let none of it remain until the morning. If something is bitter, it’s nasty. It doesn’t agree with your taste buds. But if you want to benefit from the promises that are found in this book, you need to align your life with it and stop trying to leave out what seems bitter to you! Consume His Word and use every bit of it!

*There is always more of Jesus!

Seeking Him vs. His hand (John 6:14-15; 22-30)

The multitude went to extreme measures to get around Jesus. In one way I can appreciate the multitude’s pursuit of Jesus. You might read that and say that the multitude had zeal, passion, hunger for the things of God. But that’s the problem, isn’t it? We’re more hungry for the things of God than God Himself. We want the healing, the provision, the promises, the anointing, but we don’t want Him. We want Jesus as long as He’s useful to us. He has to be more than useful, He has to be your treasure! He wants to be your exceeding great reward! If you’re going to look at His hands, at least notice the holes in them and let them remind you of His love for you!

Jesus is real. He’s not a concept or a theory. Nor is He an ATM in the sky. He wants to have a real relationship with you that goes beyond what you can get from Him.

In verse 26, Jesus assures them that they sought Him out for the miracles and the signs. Verse 14-15 says that once they realized that He was the Prophet that should come into the world, they wanted to take Him and make Him king. But Jesus departed. He isn’t that type of king. They thought: If we were to make Him king, He would keep us fed and would defeat the Romans! He was just useful.

Here’s the thing about being useful. Once you’re finished using it for your purposes, you just throw it away. That is, until you are restless and unsatisfied again. Then you began looking and striving and working all over again for something or someone to be useful! This is why when He fed them, He made them to sit down. Then He fed them until they were satisfied, while still setting the tone that there is always more!

But when Jesus is your treasure, you are at rest. And He is enough. When He’s enough, you don’t need another miracle or prophetic word. All you need is to be alone with Jesus. All you desire is to walk with Him and fellowship with Him. You just want to hear His voice.

Verse 28-29-

Believing is all that is required. Believing is the required work of the Kingdom of God. Stop toiling. Just believe! This is the beauty and simplicity of the gospel. Stop working and come! Salvation is a free gift from God.

Matthew 11:28 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will [a]ease and relieve and [b]refresh [c]your souls.]

The Bread of Life (John 6:30-40)

The multitude asks Jesus for another sign. They began to compare his miracle of multiplication to what Moses had done for their forefathers by feeding them with manna. Manna literally means “What is it?” So it’s interesting that they can conclude that it was bread from heaven. Jesus reveals that He is the bread from heaven.

V. 33- For the Bread of God is He Who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.

2222 zōḗ – life (physical and spiritual). All life (2222 /zōḗ), throughout the universe, is derived – i.e. it always (only) comes from and is sustained by God’s self-existent life. The Lord intimately shares His gift of life with people, creating each in His image which gives all the capacity to know His eternal life.

V. 35- This is the gospel… Come to me! He who comes to Jesus will never be hungry! Jesus will sustain your life! He came that you might have life until it overflows!! With Jesus, you live in the overflow. The 5 baskets full were not leftovers; it was the overflow!

The promises, the healings, the freedom, the deliverance is a byproduct of having Him. It is overflow!

V.36-40- How many of you have experienced the goodness of the Lord and yet still have not chosen to partake of the Bread of Life? You’ve seen signs, wonders, miracles, and yet you still do not believe. The signs are intended to point you to a specific destination, Jesus! And Jesus is THE Way to the Father! The signs are intended for you to SEE the Son, Jesus. If you can see Him (His face) and believe in Him you can have eternal life!

Salvation:

If you are hearing me right now, I believe that the Father is drawing you! He is drawing you to His Son Jesus. And Jesus is so faithful and so yielded to the Father’s purpose that He will in no way cast you out! What am I saying? I’m saying: Come as you are. You don’t have to behave to belong to Him. Just come. If you are tired and need rest. Come. If you need to be set free. Come!

Action Points:

1. Get in a Bible-believing, teaching church.
2. Read your Bible every day.
3. Pray every day.