6 years ago

I AM – The Bread of Life

Pastor Nathan Deisem’s Sermon - Salisbury MD – Sunday 11-3-19

• In Caesarea Philippi Jesus asks “Who do people say that I am?”
o Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27
o Matthew 16:16 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” - (THE GREAT CONFESSION)

• Who does Jesus Claim to be???
o 7 (Actually 8) I AM statements of Jesus only in The Gospel of John! (They are ODD!)
* “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)
* “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)
* “I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7,9)
* “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14)
* “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)
* “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
* “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1,5)
* “Before Abraham Was, I Am” (John 8:48-59 – Exodus )

Background:
• Jesus has Just Feed the 5000 men (plus women and children)
o John 6:1-15 [ also: Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17]
o Jesus was trying to get away to spend some time alone (John The Baptist had just died)
• He has just walked on water to catch up with His Disciples!
o John 6:16-21

John 6:22-48 ESV --- “I am the bread of life”
... ”35 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.

The original hearers of this, “I am,” statement of Jesus would have had three things in mind:
1. They had just seen Jesus miraculously feed a massive, teeming, ravenous crowd using nothing but a few loaves and fishes.
2. God had miraculously provided bread in the desert for the people of Israel. (Ex. 16)
3. The VERY strange way that he said “I AM” ( Exodus 3:14 “I am that I am” )
• Ego eimi (Ancient Greek: ἐγώ εἰμι Greek pronunciation: [eɡɔ̌ː eːmí]) "I am", "I exist", is the first person singular present active indicative of the verb "to be" in ancient Greek.

THE CRAZY THING:
• Both the feeding of the crowd and the manna in the wilderness were intended to point to a greater reality. JESUS!
• Jesus tells them not to long for physical bread, even if that bread is provided by God himself. Rather, they are to long for and live for the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. JESUS
• What is this bread of life? It’s JESUS himself.

Big Idea:
Jesus is the great I AM!
When he describes Himself as bread,
Jesus is saying he is essential for life.
Not merely physical life, but for eternal life.

Charles Spurgeon said:
“I have heard of some good old woman in a cottage, who had nothing but a piece of bread and a little water. Lifting up her hands, she said as a blessing, “What! All this, and Christ too?”

The old woman in the cottage truly understood what it meant that Christ is the bread of life. He satisfied her even though she had nothing but a piece of bread and a little water.

Let’s Pray!

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