i am the bread of life: john 6:50-51

I Am The Bread of Life

Figurative Language:

• Metaphor – a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (Webster’s seventh New Collegiate Dictionary)

Literal Rug Rat

Metaphor-Rug Rat

Literal-Couch Potato

Metaphor-Couch Potato

Literal Road Hog

Metaphor-road hog

Sports metaphors used in business and politics: play to win, play by the rules, play fair, be a team player, be a good

sport, be a poor loser, the best defense is a good offense, game of chance,

level the playing field.

Simile: Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

As a metaphor:I am a floating butterfly, a stinging bee.

Metaphors for Jesus: I am the light of the World, I am the gate, I am the vine and you are the branches, I am the Way the Truth and the Life, I am the Good Shepherd, The Word, Rose of Sharon, the Alfa and Omega, Lamb of God, Lion of Judah., “I am the bread of life”

Power in Metaphors, but …

Metaphors can convey powerful visual messages, but they can also be misunderstood.

The masses misunderstood Jesus and his metaphor “I am the Bread of Life”. First we will see how they misunderstood Jesus, then how they misunderstood his claim to be “the bread of life”.

I. Mistake of the Masses 6:26-31. They misunderstood Jesus.

A. Physical appetites can blind us to our need for spiritual nourishment. 6:26-27

John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. (27) "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."

I. Mistake of the Masses 6:26-31

A. Physical appetites can blind us to our need for spiritual nourishment. 6:26-27

B. Hang-ups on what we are to do can blind us to what God is doing for us? 6:28-29

John 6:28-29 Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" (29) Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

I. Mistake of the Masses 6:26-31

A. Physical appetites can blind us to our need for spiritual nourishment. 6:26-27

B. Hang-ups on what we are to do can blind us to what God is doing for us? 6:28-29

C. In our desire to see a sign we can be blind to the obvious signs given to us? 6:30

John 6:30 So they said to Him, "What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform?

I. Mistake of the Masses 6:26-31

A. Physical appetites can blind us to our need for spiritual nourishment. 6:26-27

B. Hang-ups on what we are to do can blind us to what God is doing for us? 6:28-29

C. In our desire to see a sign we can be blind to the obvious signs given to us? 6:30

D. When comparing someone to others we often fail to see the gift God gives us in the person before us? 6:31

John 6:31 "Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.'"

II. Nourishment (bread) comes from God (6:32-51)

II. Nourishment (bread) comes from God (6:32-51)

A. Manna (bread) was from God, not Moses. John 6:32 Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.”

II. Nourishment (bread) comes from God (6:32-51)

A. Manna (bread) was from God, not Moses. 6:321. It was sent by the will of the Father.

II. Nourishment (bread) comes from God (6:32-51)

A. Manna (bread) was from God, not Moses. 6:321. It was sent by the will of the Father.2. It was physical nourishment

II. Nourishment (bread) comes from God (6:32-51)

A. Manna (bread) was from God, not Moses. 6:321. It was sent by the will of the Father.2. It was physical nourishment3. It met the temporary needs of the Jews.

II. Nourishment (bread) comes from God (6:32-51)

B. Jesus is Manna sent by the Father1. He came from heaven. (33, 46, 50-51)

John 6:33 "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world."

John 6:46 "Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.

John 6:50 "This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. (51) "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh."

II. Nourishment (bread) comes from God (6:32-51)

B. Jesus is Manna sent by the Father1. He came from heaven. (33, 46, 50-51)2. His nourishment is for the entire world. 6:33

John 6:33 "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world."

II. Nourishment (bread) comes from God (6:32-51)

B. Jesus is Manna sent by the Father1. He came from heaven. (33, 46, 50-51)2. His nourishment is for the entire world. 6:333. His nourishment is satisfies forever. 6:34-35

John 6:34,35 Then they said to Him, "Lord, always give us this bread." (35) Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

II. Nourishment (bread) comes from God (6:32-51)

B. Jesus is Manna sent by the Father1. He came from heaven. (33, 46, 50-51)2. His nourishment is for the entire world. 6:333. His nourishment is satisfies forever. 6:34-35

4. He was sent to do the will of the Father. 6:36-40.

John 6:36-38 "But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. (37) "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. (38) "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

II. Nourishment (bread) comes from God (6:32-51)

B. Jesus is Manna sent by the Father1. He came from heaven. (33, 46, 50-51)2. His nourishment is for the entire world. 6:333. His nourishment is satisfies forever. 6:34-35

4. He was sent to do the will of the Father. 6:36-40. The will of the Father is for Jesus:

II. B. 4. He was sent to do the will of the Father.

The will of the Father is for Jesus: a. To receive everyone whom the Father

draws/gives to Him (37, 44-45).

John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.

John 6:44, 45 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. (45) "It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

II. B. 4. He was sent to do the will of the Father.

The will of the Father is for Jesus: a. To receive everyone whom the Father

draws/gives to Him (37, 44-45).b. To sustain everyone whom the Father has

given to Him (37)

John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.

II. B. 4. He was sent to do the will of the Father.

The will of the Father is for Jesus: a. To receive everyone whom the Father

draws/gives to Him (37, 44-45).b. To sustain everyone whom the Father has

given to Him (37)c. To give eternal life to everyone whom the

Father has given to believe in Him (40, 47, 50-51, 58).

John 6:40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

John 6:47 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.”

John 6:50-51 "This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. (51) "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh."

John 6:58 "This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever."

II. B. 4. He was sent to do the will of the Father.The will of the Father is for Jesus:

a. To receive everyone whom the Father draws/gives to Him (37, 44-45).

b. To sustain everyone whom the Father has given to Him (37)

c. To give eternal life to everyone whom the Father has given to believe in Him (40, 47, 50-51, 58).

d. To resurrect everyone whom the Father has given to Him.

John 6:40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

John 6:54 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

C. Jesus’ Word is our spiritual nourishment (52-56).

1. When Jesus says “eat my flesh and drink my blood” he is using Figurative language such as: “I am the door”, “I am the Light”, life, Lion of Judah, etc.

C. Jesus’ Word is our spiritual nourishment (52-56).

1. When Jesus says “eat my flesh and drink my blood” he is using Figurative language such as: “I am the door”, “I am the Light”, life, Lion of Judah, etc.

2. Eating actual human flesh or drinking any kind of blood is contrary to Jewish Law. Jesus came to fulfill the Law, not cause the breaking of the Law.

C. Jesus’ Word is our spiritual nourishment (52-56).

1. When Jesus says “eat my flesh and drink my blood” he is using Figurative language such as: “I am the door”, “I am the Light”, life, Lion of Judah, etc.

2. Eating actual human flesh or drinking any kind of blood is contrary to Jewish Law. Jesus came to fulfill the Law, not cause the breaking of the Law.

3. Jesus is the Word. To consume the Word is to consume his flesh.

3. Jesus is the Word. To consume the Word is to consume his flesh.a. The Word became flesh. John 1:14

John 1:14 For the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

3. Jesus is the Word. To consume the Word is to consume his flesh.

a. The Word became flesh. John 1:14b. Eating his flesh is equal to believing, receiving, etc.

John 6:59-68

John 6:59-68 NASB These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. (60) Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?" (61) But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble? (62) "What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? (63) "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. (64) "But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. (65) And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." (66) As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. (67) So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" (68) Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life

3. Jesus is the Word. To consume the Word is to consume his flesh.

a. The Word became flesh. John 1:14b. Eating his flesh is equal to believing, receiving, etc.

John 6:59-68c. Prophets consumed the God’s Word. Ezek 3:1-3;

Jer 15:16; Rev 10:9

Ezekiel 3:1-3 Then He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." (2) So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. (3) He said to me, "Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you." Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.

Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.

Revelation 10:9 So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he said to me, "Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey."

3. Jesus is the Word. To consume the Word is to consume his flesh.

a. The Word became flesh. John 1:14b. Eating his flesh is equal to believing, receiving, etc.

John 6:59-68c. Prophets consumed the God’s Word. Ezek 3:1-3;

Jer 15:16; Rev 10:9d. Our nourishment comes from the Word. Matt 4:4

Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"

3. Jesus is the Word. To consume the Word is to consume his flesh.

a. The Word became flesh. John 1:14b. Eating his flesh is equal to believing, receiving, etc.

John 6:59-68c. Prophets consumed the God’s Word. Ezek 3:1-3;

Jer 15:16; Rev 10:9d. Our nourishment comes from the Word. Matt 4:4e. God’s Word is sweet food. 119:103

Psalms 119:103 How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth

Jesus as the Bread of Life was a prophetic preview of the crucifixion.

His body (flesh) would be broken.His blood would be spilled.

His death would give life to those who receive it. If we only receive His Word.