BACKGROUND
The purpose of the fourth gospel is revealed in John 20 v30-31
It is to set forth the Messianship and Deity of Jesus. The gospel is about not only the historical Jesus "the Christ". But also Jesus "The Son of God" Saviour of mankind. It is the Gospel of Belief"
The discourses on the "I am’s " authenticate the absolute Deity of the Lord Jesus and has its roots in the O.T.
see Exodus 3:14 and Isa 43:13-15
In the Book of Revelation 1: v8 we read
I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end saith the Lord, who is, who was, and who is to come the Almighty.
v17. I am, the first and the last
v18. I am, he that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore Amen, and have the keys of Hades and of death.
In all these verses there is constant theme of Deity
As second person of the Godhead, all power was His in heaven and on earth, Yet he emptied Himself (see Phil. 1: 13)
He voluntarily took up a life of momentarily dependent on His Father, living in accordance to the Father’s heavenly plan, by His strength, for His glory.
John 6 v57 As the living Father sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, ever shall he live by Me
He who could walk on the sea, who could still the wind, who could heal the lame, was indeed the Bread of God, who came down from heaven and gave life to the world.
Clearly and unequivocally Christ announced Himself as the Divine one.
Our study will takes us through four aspects on the theme of
The New and Living Bread of Life
1. The Father gives you the True Bread v32
John reminds us in 6:32-33 It’s the true and living Bread
In John 6:35 Jesus says I am the Bread of Life
Bread contains life. It is made of fine flour, but it is in the grinding of the flour the life-germs of the wheat are not destroyed, and it’s in their presence, which makes bread, the life of our life.
In the bread there is the presence of life which causes it to sustain physical life. It’s the presence of life in the words of the Bible, which renders it a book for all ages.
It’s the presence of life in Jesus Christ, which makes Him the Food of men
I am the Life John 14: 6
I am the Resurrection and the Life John 11: 25
I am the Living One Revelation 1: 18
The Sustainer and Nourisher of Eternal Life
Bread contains all the elements needed for nutrition. It contains elements, which enables the body to thrive.
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In Jesus Christ there is everything we need
"For Life" and "Godliness
He is the hiding place in the storm
He is rivers of water in a drought
He is the shadow of a great rock in the scorching heat
God who knew the needs of our bodies, stored all the nutritive qualities in the corn for us to draw upon. And knowing our spiritual needs He stored all the elements required for our spiritual nutrition in our Blessed Lord, leaving us to appropriate them, as we will
Bread must be appropriated to enable it to become life –giving. However much bread lies around. It avails not to appease hunger, or to do its work of nutrition, unless it is digested. And what digestion is to food, assimilating it with our bodies, that devout and loving meditation on the words and life and work of the Lord Jesus is to our spirits.
The process by which there is a union between our bodies and the bread. So also by the union between our spirits and the risen Lord. In one the extract the principle of physical life from the bread; in the other the principle of spiritual life from the Lord of life.
The Life giving Bread
For the bread of God is he who cometh down from heaven, and gives life unto the world. The heroism, or intellect, or example of some chosen leader may feed a generation. And yet these at best can never come up to the true measure of Jesus Christ, who while on earth lived a truly remarkable life.
The Jewish leaders; nor Pontus Pilot could find no fault with him. The modern world are ever searching to find some way discredit His uniqueness as a man. And yet all fail.
And so in the higher sphere, we may feed our spirits on Him who offers Himself as the "True Bread of man" Its when we set our lives on His life that we truly live victorious lives
Its Life Giving through Death 6: 51
I am the living bread that came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give for the life of the world.
The prospect of death proved a great stumbling block to the disciples. To hear their Master speak of his inevitable death was contrary to their hopes and desires. And yet the crown of life and that inner communion with God is only reached through the grave
Rom. 6: 4 Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Feeding on the Bread of Life not only gives us spiritual sustenance but much more We have been.
1, Identified with Christ in nature. 2 Peter.1:4
2. In Life Colossians .3:1 & 1 John .5:12
3. In relationship John .20:17 & Hebrews .2: 11
4. In Service Matthew 28:20 & John 17:18
5. In suffering Philippians 1:29-30
Home>>Living >>The true and Living Bread
Studies on the Gospel of John John 6: 30-59
Key verses v35. " I am the Bread of Life" v51 "I am the Living Bread"
"If any man eat of this Bread shall live forever"
The Bread of Life - “I am the Bread of Life”