Have you ever wondered who Jesus claimed he was? After all, its been over 2000 years since His birth and the world has changed a lot since then.
Yet when you think about it, no person in history has had more influence on the world. Jesus has over 2 billion followers worldwide, more than any other religion.
Our country has been built on a set of rules and laws which follow a Judeo-Christian ethic, initially given by God to Moses as the Ten Commandments. When Moses asked God what His name was, in order to tell the people, “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:14).
This wasn’t just a name but was a declaration of God’s eternal, self-existent nature.
It also means…. I will be, who I will be. God is never changing, He is in control, all sufficient one.
Jesus simplified the Ten Commandments for us this way… when He was asked which is the greatest command, the answer was a simple one.
Jesus said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ He followed that by saying, “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-38 ESV)
In John’s Gospel, Jesus gave us more information about who He is. I say “who he is” because He is still alive, having risen from the dead.
Whenever Jesus made an “I am” statement in which He claimed attributes of deity, He was identifying Himself as God. Each of these statements addresses a basic human need, a fundament need that we each have.
Here is what He said…..
- ‘I AM the bread of life’ (John 6:35) – Nourishment,
- ‘I AM the light of the world’ (John 8:12) means guidance,
- ‘I AM the gate’/door (John 10:9) means we have access to God,
- ‘I AM the good shepherd’ (John 10:11) indicates we have God’s protection,
- ‘I AM the resurrection and the life’ (John 11:25) tells us we have hope for the future
- ‘I AM the way, the truth, and the life’ (John 14:6) gives us direction and purpose
- ‘I AM the true vine’ (John 15:1) – tells us we are connected to God
Jesus isn’t just saying He can provide these things. He is not a used car dealer offering whitewall tires or air conditioning that works well. Jesus is saying that HE IS THESE THINGS!
Our solutions in life don’t come from programs, or the government, or traditions.
Solutions don’t come from religious practices either. Our solutions in life come from a relationship with God’s son Jesus Christ.
Each of these statements has an understanding of God that makes our relationship with Him more and more important, more valuable, more intense and more intimate.
As we begin to understand who Jesus is, we move from a relationship of knowing ABOUT Him to one of KNOWING HIM. It’s similar to the difference of casual friends, versus your BFF.
When you know Jesus as your Savior and Lord (there is a difference) Jesus is your Best Friend Forever! And its not just you realizing that, it is God saying it also.
In Biblical language, a BFF is So, “friend” is someone who’s not only near you, but for you.
Proverbs 18:24: “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
So here, “friend” is closer than many companions, yet even more committed to you than a brother. Abraham was called a FRIEND OF GOD. James 2:23 says,…. “And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’ He was even called the friend of God.” NLT
Note the difference. It does not say, Abraham believed in God. It says Abraham believed God.
Friends can be described as those who know and understand each other, like each other, have shared interests, want to spend time together, help and protect each other. Friendship is not fickle. Scripture says that “a friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17), bad times included.
Now the first statement we shared is when Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35)
Jesus doesn’t just give bread; He IS the bread of life (John 6:35).
Charles Spurgeon once said, “Christ is the bread of life. The soul that feeds on Him shall never know hunger again. All other food leaves us empty, but Christ fills us forever.”
As Jesus was teaching the crowds near the Sea of Galilee, huge crowds followed Him. They saw him do great miracles and heal the sick.
John wrote in 20: 30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
As Jesus climbed a hill with his disciples, He saw a large crowd of about 15,000 people around him. (men, women and children). It was time for a meal. Without bread we cannot survive very long. We have to eat.
Jesus is showing the crowd and us that He is the true bread of God. The source of life. We need food, not just physical but spiritual also. The spiritual food we consume is the Word of God.
If you are not consuming the Word of God each day you are starving. You are weak, subject to attack, subject to sickness, subject to temptation, subject even to death.
When we are on our phone, or tablet, or the daily minutia of television, we are wasting our time. It’s not a sin, but it can become sinful. Addictive. Stealing our time and energy from God.
Nothing really changes on TV. It’s the same thing over and over again. Wars and rumors of wars. Governments fighting over money and power. News is not new.
We are filling our lives with rotgut. Rotgut is a slang term – it means the cheapest and vilest whiskey you can get. Moonshine made in old radiators is rotgut
It will make you sick, and eventually give you lead poisoning and kill you. So will the garbage we allow into our homes, our tablets and phones, TV and even junk food.
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God – we need to respect the temple. Our temple offerings – the things we allow inside – should be pleasing to God
In our Bible story today, Jesus is filling their bellies with food. Like lots of people, They are interested in Him for what He can do for them.
For many people, Jesus has only become their Emergency Contact – their personal 911. They only call on Him to Fill their belly. Or to make their life easier. Or when they are sick or facing a critical situation. Or when they want money.
In our story, the people did not see Him as their savior, they wanted to make Him their King. Their provider, and protector. Their motive was wrong. Jesus did not come to become king of their tummy.
Jesus corrects them. He says, I am the bread of life. John 6:
49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die.
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever.
The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh (body / life).”
The miracles were done to draw attention to the message of God. What does God need to do to get your attention. It’s not too late today, but it may be too late tomorrow.
If we can be of any help to you, please contact Craig Valley Baptist Church, 540-864-5667. Our food pantry is available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9 AM – 12 Noon. Just stop by. God bless you.
– Pastor Scott Gabrielson, Craig Valley Baptist Church
