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35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” 43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:35, 41-51 NIV Bible)
Dear Friend, May I ask you for prayers for my cousin, Tony Woods? He's undergoing eye surgery tomorrow and let's ask God for a complete victory in what Tony needs! May he recover well and blessed! Thank you for your prayers! Prayers for Nellie and I as we will be on the road this week, and may not be able to provide ConCafe; but we will see! I love you all! Pastor Eradio.
This is the first of seven declarations that Jesus makes about Himself in this gospel of John. One year in San Marcos, on the Sunday before Christmas, our choir presented a beautiful cantata based on these statement. Our choir director arranged a time between each statement in which I could share a short sermon thought about the preceding statement, and I was prepared for them all. Or so I thought. When the choir finished, it dawned on me at an Oh-My-God-what-have-I-done? Or better, it was what have I not done. I rose, grabbed the awesome pulpit's sides and prayed fervently and silently, "Lord, give me the words!" And He did. I simply summed up each of what we had affirmed and asked, "Given all Jesus has said about Himself and His love and commitment to us; the only thing I can think we can respond to Him is to say, 'I am Yours!'" And I said it and asked the congregation to repeat it and they did, then I said, "one more time!" and "One more time with feeling!" And the service ended on what I believe was a beautiful note.
Here's a hint for you pastors who are preaching this next Sunday: Get a bread machine or bread scented candles and set the mood for your sermon on this passage. Please provide Kleenex for any drooling this may cause. Or, you can risk throwing flour tortillas into the congregation as I heard a young pastor did at FUMC-San Marcos! He hit a couple of the ahem decision, or is it spelled derision-makers? But it allowed a young couple who were church shopping to decide on our church. Oops, did I just give myself away? I'll never tell!
This is a powerful message ripe for a powerful sermon! It is a sermon about life, make that the fullness of life, as found in Jesus Christ! We should involve all the senses in this sermon to make the point about what God was trying to tell us. And believe me, Sunday mornings, especially eleven o'clock is one of the hungriest hours in America. Many a household leave the comfort of their kitchens for church, having left a perfectly seasoned slab of meat, call it a roast, to simmer in their own juices as the preacher preaches on and on, risking running past the cut-off hour and members are more than ready to leave church without standing in line to shake the pastor's hand. Don't take it personally! They hungry! And they're hungry in the spirit; feed them! The world offers so many different fast foods of faith and none can come close to filling people like Jesus! You may have tried any number of those things and you know you still stay empty and wanting the real thing.
We search for satisfaction in various places—success, relationships, possessions—but often find ourselves coming up empty. Jesus, in this passage, offers a profound truth: He is the Bread of Life. This isn't just a metaphor; it's an invitation to a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with Him.
Jesus declares that He is the source of life itself. Just as bread sustains our physical bodies, Jesus sustains our spiritual lives. He assures us that those who come to Him will never be hungry or thirsty. This means that in Him, we find true and lasting satisfaction. His presence fulfills the deepest needs of our souls.
Yet, the crowd struggled with this claim. They knew Him as Jesus, the son of Joseph, and couldn’t reconcile His divine nature with His earthly background. Their doubt reflects a common struggle: we often find it difficult to understand or accept the fullness of who Jesus is.
Jesus responds with a promise: He is the Bread of Life that came down from heaven. Unlike the manna that sustained the Israelites in the wilderness but couldn’t prevent physical death, Jesus offers something far greater—eternal life. Through His sacrifice, we are invited to partake in a life that transcends death itself.
As you reflect on this passage, consider where you are seeking fulfillment. Are you turning to Jesus as your Bread of Life? Or are you still searching in other places? Jesus invites you to come to Him, to believe in Him, and to experience the eternal life He offers.
PRAYER: we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, who is the Bread of Life. We confess that we often look for satisfaction in things that cannot truly fulfill us. Help us to turn our hearts and minds towards Jesus, recognizing Him as the source of our spiritual nourishment and eternal life. Teach us to trust in His promise that we will never be hungry or thirsty when we come to Him. Strengthen our faith and deepen our relationship with Him. May we live each day with the assurance of His eternal provision and grace. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: If you're still hungry spiritually and have been looking in all the wrong places, look no farther than in Jesus! Invite Him with a simple prayer to be YOUR Bread of Life and live your life accordingly. Then share Him with others!
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
