The Bread of Life: God’s Rich Provision John 6. 1. Feeding by God (6:1-15) The Test question to...

The Bread of The Bread of Life:Life:

God’s Rich God’s Rich ProvisionProvision

John 6John 6

1. Feeding by God (6:1-1. Feeding by God (6:1-15)15)

The Test question to PhilipThe Test question to Philip: “Where are : “Where are we going to buy food to feed these we going to buy food to feed these people?”people?”

Jesus already knew what he was going Jesus already knew what he was going to do; he just wanted to see what Philip to do; he just wanted to see what Philip would do with a difficult situation. would do with a difficult situation.

Philip focused on a human solution and Philip focused on a human solution and concluded that it was impossible. concluded that it was impossible.

Man is dependent on God for his needs. Man is dependent on God for his needs.


Andrew is a model of faith; he brought a Andrew is a model of faith; he brought a boy and his “sack lunch” to Jesus.boy and his “sack lunch” to Jesus. 2 fish and 5 “barley” loaves—the bread of 2 fish and 5 “barley” loaves—the bread of

the poor.the poor. It’s an inadequate solution—the lunch It’s an inadequate solution—the lunch

was never meant to feed a large crowd. was never meant to feed a large crowd. The important thing wasn’t The important thing wasn’t whatwhat

Andrew had brought, but rather to Andrew had brought, but rather to whomwhom he had brought it. he had brought it.

Andrew is saying, “I don’t know how, Andrew is saying, “I don’t know how, Lord, but I know you’ll do something. Lord, but I know you’ll do something.


Andrew’s faith brought the problem to Andrew’s faith brought the problem to Jesus, even in the face of hopelessness. Jesus, even in the face of hopelessness.

We’re not called to figure everything We’re not called to figure everything out for ourselves; we’re called to trust out for ourselves; we’re called to trust God. God.

NoteNote: Jesus is the only one who acts in : Jesus is the only one who acts in John’s account; everyone else, John’s account; everyone else, including the apostles, are passive (this including the apostles, are passive (this is different from the Synoptics). is different from the Synoptics).

LessonLesson: God provides for us; : God provides for us; humanity’s passivity (Gen. 22).humanity’s passivity (Gen. 22).

2. God’s Bread (6:22-59)2. God’s Bread (6:22-59)

““I tell you the truth,” he said, “you are looking I tell you the truth,” he said, “you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Work not for the food that spoils, but for fill. Work not for the food that spoils, but for the food that endures to eternal life” the food that endures to eternal life” (v. 27).(v. 27).

The people asked Jesus for a sign to The people asked Jesus for a sign to prove that He is the One sent by God.prove that He is the One sent by God.

Even though He had just performed Even though He had just performed one, it wasn’t good enough for the one, it wasn’t good enough for the people.people.

Instead of a “sign”, Jesus gave them a Instead of a “sign”, Jesus gave them a teaching.teaching.

2. God’s Bread (6:22-59)2. God’s Bread (6:22-59) Jesus corrects two statements related to Jesus corrects two statements related to

the giving of Bread by Moses in the desert:the giving of Bread by Moses in the desert: 1. Moses was not the giver; God was.1. Moses was not the giver; God was. 2. Manna in the desert was not the “true” 2. Manna in the desert was not the “true”

food. food. Real bread is not a “what” but a “who.”Real bread is not a “what” but a “who.” Jesus claims to be the bread of God, the Jesus claims to be the bread of God, the

One who feeds our spiritual need for One who feeds our spiritual need for sustenance. sustenance.

The people think Jesus is offering physical The people think Jesus is offering physical food: (v. 34)— “Give us this bread!”food: (v. 34)— “Give us this bread!”

2. God’s Bread (6:22-59)2. God’s Bread (6:22-59)

““I AM the Bread of Life” (v. 35).I AM the Bread of Life” (v. 35). Note the other “I AM” statements of Jesus:Note the other “I AM” statements of Jesus: I am the Light of the World (John 8:12)I am the Light of the World (John 8:12) I am the Door of the sheep (John 10:7, 9)I am the Door of the sheep (John 10:7, 9) I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) I am the Resurrection and the Life (John I am the Resurrection and the Life (John

11:25)11:25) The Way, the Truth, and the Life (John The Way, the Truth, and the Life (John

14:6)14:6) I am the True Vine (John 15:1)I am the True Vine (John 15:1)

2. God’s Bread (6:22-59)2. God’s Bread (6:22-59) Jesus claimed to be the God himself who Jesus claimed to be the God himself who

satisfies the hunger of the soul and focused satisfies the hunger of the soul and focused on the permanency of his provision: “they on the permanency of his provision: “they shall shall nevernever be hungry or thirsty.” be hungry or thirsty.”

The life Jesus brings constantly and The life Jesus brings constantly and completely provides the nourishment our completely provides the nourishment our souls need.souls need.

““Why spend money on what is not bread, Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of and your soul will delight in the richest of fare fare (Isaiah 55:1-2). (Isaiah 55:1-2).

3. Too Hard to Handle 3. Too Hard to Handle (6:60-71)(6:60-71)

““From this time many of his disciples From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed turned back and no longer followed

him.”him.”

John 6:66John 6:66


BackgroundBackground: Jesus has been teaching in : Jesus has been teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum on being the synagogue in Capernaum on being the “bread of God.”the “bread of God.”

ProblemProblem: He told them that they had to : He told them that they had to “eat his flesh and drink his blood.”“eat his flesh and drink his blood.”

Jesus wasn’t speaking literally; he meant Jesus wasn’t speaking literally; he meant their their fellowshipfellowship with him in the Lord’s with him in the Lord’s Supper.Supper.

It was a “hard teaching,” meaning it was It was a “hard teaching,” meaning it was difficult to accept (harsh, unpleasant).difficult to accept (harsh, unpleasant).


Some truths in the Bible are easy to Some truths in the Bible are easy to accept; others are more difficult. accept; others are more difficult.

Some things are true even though they Some things are true even though they are hard to accept (for example: God’s are hard to accept (for example: God’s judgment). judgment).

Jesus’ questionJesus’ question: “Does this : “Does this offendoffend you?” you?” ““Offend” comes from the Greek word, Offend” comes from the Greek word,

skandalizoskandalizo. We get our word “scandal” . We get our word “scandal” from it. from it.

A “A “skandalonskandalon” was a trap-stick used to ” was a trap-stick used to set a trap and snare an animal. set a trap and snare an animal.


A A skandalonskandalon also meant, “to throw also meant, “to throw someone into ruin,”; it causes you to someone into ruin,”; it causes you to abandon Christ.abandon Christ.

You have to trust God more than you You have to trust God more than you listen to the potential skandalons out listen to the potential skandalons out there. there.

Some unanswerable questions may Some unanswerable questions may cause us to lose our faith. cause us to lose our faith.

We are called to trust God even when We are called to trust God even when we don’t understand everything. we don’t understand everything.


QuestionQuestion: “Do you also want to leave?”: “Do you also want to leave?” Peter’s replyPeter’s reply: “To whom shall we go? We : “To whom shall we go? We

believebelieve and and knowknow that you are the holy that you are the holy one of God.”one of God.”

LessonLesson: Obedience does not wait to have : Obedience does not wait to have all the questions answered before it acts; all the questions answered before it acts; it simply recognizes that Jesus is Lord.it simply recognizes that Jesus is Lord.

We follow Jesus because we trust he We follow Jesus because we trust he knows the way. knows the way.

His Calming Presence His Calming Presence (6:16-25)(6:16-25)

SettingSetting: The Sea of Galilee: The Sea of Galilee OccasionOccasion: the disciples cross the lake as : the disciples cross the lake as

Jesus prays on a mountain. Jesus prays on a mountain. ProblemProblem: The disciples are caught in a : The disciples are caught in a

storm.storm. The miracleThe miracle: Jesus comes to them, walking : Jesus comes to them, walking

on the water.on the water. Matthew tells us it was the 4Matthew tells us it was the 4thth watch= 3-6 am. watch= 3-6 am.

The reason for their fearThe reason for their fear: Jesus walking on : Jesus walking on the water. They were afraid because they the water. They were afraid because they couldn’t explain what they were seeing.couldn’t explain what they were seeing.

His Calming Presence His Calming Presence (6:16-25)(6:16-25)

Jesus reassured them: “I Am” (Jesus reassured them: “I Am” (Ego eimiEgo eimi); ); this is the same way God identifies himself this is the same way God identifies himself to Moses in the burning bush (Ex. 3:14). to Moses in the burning bush (Ex. 3:14).

The disciples were to take courage The disciples were to take courage because they were in the company of the because they were in the company of the Almighty God. Almighty God.

Jesus is God, unconquered by the Jesus is God, unconquered by the turbulent waves and strong wind. turbulent waves and strong wind.

LessonLesson: God accompanies and reassures : God accompanies and reassures us in our moments of fear and takes us us in our moments of fear and takes us through them.through them.

Psalms 107:28-30. Psalms 107:28-30.

The Bread of Life: God’s Rich Provision John 6. 1. Feeding by God (6:1-15) The Test question to...

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