M Thursday

M Thursday

13 April 2017

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” – John 6:35

Jesus speaks. Jesus the bread of life speaks to us this night. What would He say? Let’s listen to His voice.

I.        I am from heaven - John 6:41 “At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." (NIV)

A.     Jesus makes a bold claim – “I am the bread that came down from heaven” Jesus makes Himself equal to the Father…He does not merely claim to know God. Or to represent God. His claim is unique. He is God. It is God alone who would rain down bread from heaven in the form of manna. It is only God Himself. Who can feed a starving prophet. By sending ravens. Holed up in a cave. In fear of his life.

B.   Jesus makes Himself equal with God. He caused many to grumble at Jesus. Many eventually grew dishearten. They walked away. Are you to grumble too? We claim that God will guide and lead us. Do we have the right to grumble and complain when His blessings are present in our midst? It takes faith to submit to His will. It takes a daring faith to trust in Him. Come what may.

Transition: Jesus claims to have come from heaven. He also claims to have direct access to God.

II.     I alone see God - John 6:46 “No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.” (NIV)

A.     No one has seen the Father. Except the one who is from God.  Jesus will not lay claim to anything else. He is the only begotten Son of the Father. Not one, who knows God. Not one who understands God. He is the only one who has seen the Father.

B.     Only He has seen the Father - To have seen God. Meant sure death. Moses had to shield his face. Jesus makes the claim as to have seen the Father.

Transition: Jesus claims to come from heaven. He claims to have seen the Father. His claim is simple. He alone is the bread of life.

III.   I am the bread of life - John 6:48 (NIV)

A.     He creates life. In ten simple phrases. The entire created order was made. There is nothing that exists. Either on earth. Or in heaven. Which did not come by the created mouth of Jesus.

B.     He sustains life. As He brought this world into existence. By His mighty Word. He will continue to sustain and keep it. “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will never cease” (Genesis 8:22) Times and seasons. Created by  the Word of the Lord. Will never cease. Until the end of human history. This is His promise to you.

Transition: Jesus comes from heaven. He alone sees God. He creates and sustains the earth. He alone gives eternal life.

IV. I give eternal life - John 6:50 “But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.” (NIV)

A.     Here is the bread that comes down from heaven. Jesus is looking intently into the face of the crowd. How would He fare today? Do we believe that He is God in the flesh? Do we believe that He gives His life for this world? Do we believe that His death. Upon that bloody cross. And the eyewitness testimony of the open tomb can give and sustain life? These are the claims of Jesus. He asks you this night. To believe and trust in Him.

B.     Which a man may eat and not die.  The Scriptures remind. In the midst of life. We are in death. Death seems to surround us. Will we have the prospect of life eternal? Jesus Christ guarantees that we will have life in His name. By faith, we believe and live. Every time you feast. On Christ. The bread from heaven. Eternity is granted. This is His guarantee to you this night.

Jesus says – “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” By faith. We trust Him. By faith. We receive Him. He gives us His life. In exchange for the life of this world. Remember His words this night. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread. He will live forever. This bread is My flesh. Which I will give. For the life of this world.”

Words - 780

Passive Sentences  5%

Readability – 95.2

Reading Level -2.1

Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS for private and congregational use.