02-15-09 Sermon Review

Bread of Life
John 6:28-59

Difficult teachings are not usually hard to understand; they are hard to accept. That is what we find in this next episode in the Gospel of John. We come across another "I am" statement that reveals Christ's claim to deity portraying Christ as the author of life. Many will depart from Christ because this teaching is hard to accept. Yet, Christ does not bend on this issue, teaching doctrines that will tickle the ears of His hearers. He speaks even clearer and without compromise.

The Comparison - When Jesus was demanded by the crowd to give them manna as Moses did, Jesus boldly claims that He is the bread of life. This is no insignificant statement. In those days (and even today), bread meant daily sustenance. You could not live without bread; it was the major staple food. He was comparing Himself to the food which the people had as their only means of sustenance. With such a comparison, He was stating that He was the One who sustains life. Jesus makes that very clear to them. He did not speak it in riddles. He is the Author and Sustainer of life, and apart from Him one cannot live. Not only that, but Jesus was also drawing a comparison between the manna that God provided with Himself. He was essentially pointing to His divine origin.

The Conflict - Jesus' message had not changed from the time he had met with Nicodemus or the Samaritan women, but unlike them, the crowd in this instance started grumbling amongst each other. The real issue is not the message. The issue is the unbelieving heart. Normally, one would think that clarity will distill conflict, but that is not what happens here. Jesus clarifies His statements by making yet another grand statement, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day" (v. 44). Jesus goes even farther by saying, "the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh" (v. 51). This causes the people to start arguing once again. Jesus giving His flesh was a clear illustration of His sacrifice for the atonement of His people. This would have now been the second year of Jesus' teaching ministry and the allusions to the cross must have been many let alone all the prophecies of the the Jews' holy book. Yet, those who were there could not connect the dots. In the conflict between what you understand and your unbelieving heart, your unbelieving heart will always win unless you overcome by faith.

The Conclusion - Twice already did the crowd start to grumble; yet, a third time Jesus patiently teaches them. The teaching becomes now even clearer as Jesus with lucidity says, "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him" (v. 56). So the message is clear: the imagery of the flesh and blood are highlighting the importance of abiding in Christ. Once again this shows that Christ is the only source of eternal life and there is no other source of life to be found. The Father has sent Jesus for this very purpose, to be the life of all those who come to Jesus and appropriate Him by faith. All the teaching so far has been to answer the very question that the Jews asked in the first place, "What shall we do that, so that we may do the works of God?" (v. 28) Jesus' reply was, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (v. 29). Even amidst the confusion among the people, Jesus never changed His message. Jesus sat patiently with them answering their unbelieving hearts over and over again. Yet, once again we do not see in the words of John any hint that the crowd of Jews got the point, repented, and believed in Jesus. Here is what is amazing to me, even the teaching of Christ, even the message spoken by Christ Himself did not cause everyone to believe in Him. No methods nor schemes can guarantee "results." It is only as when the Father draws men to Jesus that hearts will believe in Him. The power of the unbelieving heart only God can overcome. Our job is to faithfully preach the Gospel message as Jesus did.

Jesus' teaching that He is the bread of life is not hard to understand; it is hard to swallow. Just as Jesus was met with stiff resistance from the unbelieving, we also will have to deal with such people. Remember then that just as Jesus was patient with them, unwavering in His commitment to the Father, so also must we hold steadfast to the One who calls us by grace. We need to stand upon the Word of God and pray that God draws men to Himself. Jesus is the bread of life. Let's preach that. Stay strong in the Lord and God bless!