THE MEANING OF JESUS FOR THESE TIMES:
AN EXAMINATION OF THE I AM STATEMENTS
The Bread of Life
(From Surface to Substance)
John 6: 35-70
William D. Watley, New Seasons Press, All Rights Reserved.
Background of I Am Statement
John 6: 1-14, Feeding of Five Thousand
Physical Hunger Satisfied
How much of our faith quest is based upon the physical?
Definition of Prosperity
Noise rather than nearness in worship
Emotion rather than excellence in character
Routine habits rather than righteous holiness
Physical healing rather than inner healing (Luke 13: 10-13)
Surface Religion
A fix rather than being fixed
A shot rather than surgery
A bandage for bleeding
Delight when we need deliverance
Celebration when we need conversion and consecration
What motivates our desire to seek out Jesus? John 6: 25-34
Many of us want a repeat performance of the meal that we received the last time.
So many times we simply want more of the same when the Lord is calling us to
something more. We are being challenged to dig deeper and look farther.
Jesus is more than a short order cook in the wilderness; he is master chef who
introduces us to a total dining experience.
Jesus is even more than a master chef; he is the meal itself.
I am the Bread of Life, John 6: 35-40
The call from Surface to Substance and from the Physical to the Profound
Kinds of Bread
Pastry, Good to taste, full of sugar, empty calories
Cornbread, Simply Prepared
White, Processed and refined to make attractive to the eye
Wheat, Rye and Multi-grain, Refined and enriched
What is Life to us?
Life is what we cannot or would not want to live without.
Life is what we cannot conceive ourselves being without.
Life is what would make suicide an option if we did not have it.
Money and Possessions
2
A Good Time
Youth
Reputation
Certain key relationships
Physical looks
Health
Jesus as Bread of Life
Life is relationship with God.
Bread sustains life. Jesus as bread of life sustains our relationship with God.
Bread must be consumed to receive what it offers.
Food in the cabinet provides no nourishment.
Fish in the water provide no food.
Books on the shelf offer no knowledge.
Money in somebody else’s pocket or account does us no good.
What is our Response to Jesus as Bread?
Unless we move beyond the Surface we will not be able to understand or
experience the fullness of who Christ is? John 6: 52-59
Surface followers soon fade away. John 6: 60-66
Surface followers even betray the Lord. John 6: 70-71
Followers of Substance Stay with the Lord, John 6: 67-69
“Simon Peter answered…”
Their walk is not perfect but they stay with the Lord
They make mistakes and they fail sometimes but they stay with the Lord.
They have a heart for the Lord. They seek God’s face and not simply
God’s hand.
They continue to grow in faith, knowledge and understanding through study and
experience…” we have come to believe…”
Their growing and journey takes them to another level and brings them into
another dimension.
Are we continuing to move from surface to substance?
