Good morning, friends! Back in 1920, there was a nutritionist named Victor Lindlahr who coined the phrase “You are what you eat.” And what he meant by that statement if you eat junk food, your body would be like junk. But if you ate healthy food, your body would be healthier. When I was in high school, I ate frozen chicken nuggets, Capn Crunch, and baked beans for most of my meals. You know how I felt because of that? I felt like junk. So, that phrase can be true of our physical bodies. But, what about the phrase being true in the spiritual realm? For our faith walk with Christ, what are you eating? Because Jesus doesn’t say we need to just eat better, he actually says he is the food or source of life that we need.

Last week, as I was closing our Easter sermon, I posed a question that Jesus asked his disciples: who do you say I am? His disciples answered that some people said, Elijah, a prophet, etc. But, Jesus pressed them again: who do you say I am? Peter boldly declared: You are the Messiah, the Son of God. No matter who you are in this place today, Jesus asks that same question: who do you say I am? As we look to answer that, we can find ourselves in the Gospel According to John. One of the more unique parts is John’s highlight of Jesus’ 7 I AM statements which Jesus intended to display that he is Yahweh but also highlight specific things about who Jesus is. We’re going to focus on the first I AM statement today.

And so today, we’ll be in John 6:25-59 to look at the story of Jesus saying: I am the bread of life. So, some context here: Jesus just did a major miracle, the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus took five loaves and two fish and multiplied them to feed over 5,000 people. After, the giant crowd wanted Jesus as a military king to war against the Romans. If he could do that with the bread and fish, what else could he do? But, Jesus withdraws to a lonely place. His disciples leave too. After walking on the water and rescuing his disciples, Jesus ends up on the other side of the lake. Folks track him down again and start asking him some questions.

So as we open up God’s word today, we’ll see how as the Bread of Life, Jesus saves, secures, and sustains his people. Will you stand with me as we read God’s word together?

Jesus saves us into something better.

In this story, we see that a group of people have been seeking Jesus which we may think is great but they are actually seeking Jesus for some bad reasons. There are 3 bad reasons why this crowd is seeking Jesus and we’ll see how Jesus offers something better instead:

1.      Looking for satisfaction in a change of life circumstances.

In Verse 26, Jesus shares that they aren’t looking for him because he performed a miracle. They’re looking for him because Jesus fed them a good meal. But, here’s the thing: they’re going to become hungry again. In first-century Israel, you couldn’t just go to the convenience store for food or store essentials in a fridge. There wasn’t public assistance or bi-weekly pay periods. To get a daily meal, you had to be in a relative position of wealth which is why Jesus taught us to pray for our daily bread.

So, they are satisfied because they think they found a way to solve a major problem in their life: going hungry. But, Jesus’ rebuke is insightful because he tells them that they are going to be hungry again. They want to use Jesus to fix their problems in their life, solely for their own benefit. But they misdiagnose and think if this one issue is fixed, the rest of their life will be fixed. Jesus knows it won’t be and he has something better for them.

2.     Doing the right things to earn God’s favor.

In Verse 28, the crowd of people ask Jesus what God requires of them? They’re hoping it’s going to be a how-to-guide to ensure that God always gives them what they want. They want a God that they can control and dictate. They are like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son who only sticks around because he wants his dad’s stuff, not a loving relationship with his dad. In other words, they’re looking for a formula to approach God – effectively saying: “God, if I do this then you need to keep your end of the bargain.” But if they go down this route, they’ll also go hungry again because the human story is one of consistent failure to do the things that God asks of us.

They’re hoping for a quick fix but God isn’t interested in quick fixes, he’s interested in changed hearts. How do those hearts get changed? We have one final issue in this crowd and then we’ll see how Jesus changes hearts.

3.    Erasing our doubts or worries about the future.

In Verse 30, they ask Jesus for another sign when he literally fed 5,000 people a day ago.  They saw a miraculous sign from this teacher, greater than what their ancestors saw with Moses. In asking for a sign, they’re asking for further evidence that Jesus can meet their needs. They likely have real worries about their future and they’re wanting certainty that this Jesus guy is going to come through when they need it.

So, they’re hoping Jesus can fix that so they can coast through life without anxiety or without having doubts that God will come through for them. But, my friends, I’d ask: what is the nature and definition of faith if not believing God will come through, even and especially when you are worried about the future.

And perhaps, some of you are like this crowd. Some of you don’t want Jesus—you want what Jesus can give you. You want his blessings without his cross. You want his love without repentance. My friends, don’t settle for that lesser thing.

So, what is the better thing that Jesus saves you into? He saves you into believing in the one that God the Father has sent: Jesus Christ, the bread from heaven.

Jesus invites you to experience him as the bread of life which can satisfy your deepest desire. Because without Jesus, you’re always going to be hungry. There’s always going to be a circumstance that you wish you could change. Jesus can bring you the contentment and satisfaction your heart is looking for.

If you’re feeling worn out by trying to obey God or practice the way of Jesus, Jesus gives you good news: belief in him that leads to God’s favor not your commitment to do all the right things. Obedience to God flows from his mercy and grace, not the other way around. When you stumble, experience Jesus as the bread of life not as a God who gives up on you.

If you’re feeling worried about the future, Jesus invites you to trust that he will take care of you. In calling himself the bread from heaven, he’s inviting you into a daily exercise of trust that Jesus will carry you through. And in that daily exercise of trust, you’ll find a richer and deeper intimacy with Christ than you would if you didn’t trust him in that way.

C.S. Lewis once said in his collection of essays “The Weight of Glory” - “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” Infinite joy is offered to us in viewing Jesus as the bread of life but we often want Jesus as just a side order or find pleasure in lesser things like our careers, hobbies, etc. My encouragement is to experience Jesus as the bread of life and see how he can fill you.

After Jesus calls them out for seeking him for the wrong reasons, they ask him a critical question that many of us may have asked God ourselves which is: What must we do to do the works that God requires? Frankly, if we ask that question, we get to a crushing place which is why this next point is especially good news:

Jesus secures us to himself by never letting us go.

Moving through the text, we see a glorious truth that Jesus communicates: he tells us in verse 37 “All those that the Father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” Further on in verse 39, Jesus says that he will lose none of those that the Father has given him. A few beautiful observations can be made:

·       “All those” – Christ will not fail in saving and redeeming every single person that God the Father gave him. It’s all, not some or most.

·       “The Father gives me” – the Father isn’t some angry God that Jesus calms down. Rather, he is the loving initiator of salvation. The Father loves to see his Son rescue wayward sinners.

·       “and whoever comes” – the heart of God is open to every single person who wants to come to him, he doesn’t close himself off to anyone. We have a responsibility to respond even though the Father initiates.

·       “never drive away” or “lose none of those” – when Jesus has got you, he’s got you. You don’t have to worry.

In these passages of Scripture, I don’t really want us to focus on the more controversial areas of theology. Instead, I want us to focus in on what Jesus means when he says: “Whoever comes to me, I will never cast out or never drive away.” Do you see the beautiful truth of that today, my brothers and sisters? Do you feel the security and comfort of that today, brothers and sisters?

In Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund, Dane dedicates a whole chapter to this theme. And he plays out a thought that some of you have likely had when you’re in a dark place doubting if God really has got you:

“No, wait” – we say, cautiously approaching Jesus – “you don’t understand. I’ve really messed up, in all kinds of ways.”

I know, he responds.

“You know most of it, sure. Certainly more than what others see. But there’s perversity down inside me that is hidden from everyone.”

I know it all.

“Well – the thing is, it isn’t just my past. It’s my present too.”

I understand.

“But I don’t know if I can break free of this any time soon.”

That’s the only kind of person I’m here to help.

“The burden is heavy – and heavier all the time.”

Then let me carry it.

“It’s too much to bear.”

Not for me.

“You don’t get it. My offenses aren’t directed towards others, they’re against you.”

Then I am the one most suited to forgive them.

“But the more of the ugliness in me you discover, the sooner you’ll get fed up with me.”

Whoever comes to me, I will never cast out.

It’s not the strength of our faith that keeps us secure to Jesus, it’s Christ himself.

Our kids love to swim at my in-laws pool. They are confident these days in their little arm floaties and enjoy swimming without help from Katlyn or I. But in their early days, they’d be playing on the first step. Soon, they wanted to go deeper but they needed help so they would hold our hands. They’d take another step and hold onto our hands even tighter but at this point, they’re not holding themselves up – it’s me or Katlyn who is holding them up. A 2 year old’s grip is not very strong and if it wasn’t for myself or Katlyn holding them up, they’d fall deep under the water. But, as a loving parent, we won’t let that happen.

And in the same way, Christ strongly holds us even when we weakly hold on to him. Psalm 63:8 tells us: I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. That word cling is critical because it means that we’re often holding with everything we’ve got but it’s the strong arm of God that ensures we won’t fall. We have a responsibility to hold out our hands like my kids would and admit we can’t do this on our own. Thankfully, Jesus loves to pick us up and hold us so that we do not fall away.

Since we are secure in the arms of Christ, we are also reminded that it’s not a temporary thing. His security is with us throughout our life which leads us to our last point from today’s text.

Jesus sustains us by being united with us.

Although this passage is a glorious depiction of the faithful love of God and how he offers us something better, it doesn’t mean that we won’t have trials or difficulties. So when we go through those hard times, what does Jesus have to offer us? He offers us himself as the bread of life. As he calls himself the bread of life, this is an incredible title for Jesus. And it’s incredible because we are united with Christ – in verse 56, Jesus tells us that when we eat his flesh and drink his blood (more to be said here but can’t for this message), we become one with him just as he is one with the Father. Why is that good news? Is it possible for God the Son and God the Father to separate from one another? No, they’re each a person of the Trinity that have been in an eternal relationship before the creation of the world. In the same way, when you’re united with Christ, he’s not going to separate from you. Take hope, Christian!

When you’ve made another mistake or have stumbled again, how does God view you? Does he view you with disdain or hatred? No, he views you as righteous on account of what Jesus has done for you. Jesus has transferred his righteousness into you when you first believed in him.

When you’re going through hard things, where is Jesus? He’s with you, united with you and in you. He knows what it’s like to suffer betrayal, rejection, pain, sickness, and more. But, he’s with you. Suffering feels a little easier when you know you’re not alone and because of Christ living in you, you’re never alone.

When you’re tempted to sin and live an unholy lifestyle, you can fight against that temptation because Christ is with you. The Spirit’s power is with you but also the accountability that he’s with you is there. That will help you fight sin.

Being united with Christ is like receiving a heart transplant. The new heart isn’t taped on from the outside. It’s not something you visit once a week or consult in an emergency. The new heart is placed inside you. It becomes the source of your life, strength, and survival. From that moment on, your life depends entirely on that heart continuing to beat. If it fails, you fail. But as long as it lives, you live.

In the same way, when Scripture says we are united with Christ, it doesn’t mean Jesus is merely someone we admire, follow, or try to imitate from a distance. It means Christ lives in us. His life becomes our life. His righteousness becomes our righteousness. His strength becomes our strength. We don’t keep ourselves alive spiritually—we live because Christ lives in us and we can experience that every single day since he is the bread of life.

Worship team, come on up.

At the beginning of today, I shared that phrase of: You are what you eat. So, I’ll ask: what is it that you’re eating? Ingesting daily? What’s shaping you? James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, said: Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. So, who are you becoming? If you’re a follower of Jesus, are you becoming more like Christ or more like the world?

In Verse 27, Jesus tells us to not work for food that spoils but instead work for the food that endures to eternal life which the son gives. This isn’t earning God’s love but returning to your daily source of life. If you are what you eat, are you eating the flesh of Christ? Drinking his blood? Those are strange words but they are the words of eternal life.

To help all of us work for the food that endures to eternal life, I have a 5-day devotional plan printed out in the back. It’s a plan that will take you through the Gospel of John 2 times in the next 6 weeks. If you don’t have a bible, there are tons of them in the cabinet in the back. So, Jesus sustains us as we return to him daily—especially through his Word. The Bread of Life isn’t just something to study—it’s someone to receive.

So, if you are what you eat, what is it that you’re eating? Over the next 6 weeks, I invite you to join me in reading the Gospel of John two times. You can use those for family devotionals or on your own. While reading, you will see that it is Jesus who saves, secures, and sustains his people because he is the bread of life. Amen?