57:05
Jesus is The Bread of Life || Victory Church
Victory Midtown
Overview
This sermon explores the concept of Jesus as the "Bread of Life," drawing from the Gospel of John, chapter 6. It emphasizes that while Jesus provides for our physical needs, his ultimate purpose is to be our spiritual sustenance and greatest treasure. The message challenges listeners to examine their motivations for following Jesus, urging them to seek Him for who He is, rather than solely for what He can do for them. It highlights the importance of surrender, trust, and prioritizing Jesus above all else, including material blessings and earthly comforts, ultimately leading to eternal life.
How was this?
Save this permanently with flashcards, quizzes, and AI chat
Chapters
- The series aims to deepen love for Jesus, 'rob hell' by bringing people to faith, and build faith through understanding God's work.
- A new goal has emerged: to treasure Jesus, following Him even if He is all one has.
- Many Christians follow Jesus for what they can gain, a subtle trap that can lead to prioritizing gifts over the Giver.
- The central question for this message is: Will you treasure Jesus, even if He is all you get?
Understanding the series' goals and the core question helps frame the subsequent teachings, encouraging a deeper, more genuine relationship with Jesus beyond transactional benefits.
The speaker poses the question: 'Will you follow him even if he is all you get? Even if he doesn't bless you in another way, if he's all you get, will you see him as the treasure?'
- The feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle, besides the resurrection, recorded in all four Gospels, signifying its importance.
- John's Gospel highlights miracles not for their own sake, but to reveal Jesus and point to something greater.
- This event marks the first of Jesus' 'I Am' declarations: 'I am the bread of life.'
- The crowd followed Jesus because of the signs (healings) they saw, not necessarily for who He was.
Recognizing that miracles are signposts, not destinations, helps shift focus from the spectacular events to the person of Jesus, who is the true source of life and provision.
The speaker quotes D.A. Carson: 'The miracle is never the destination. It is the signpost.' This illustrates that the feeding of the 5,000 points to Jesus, not just the act of feeding.
- The core issue is that it's possible to want what Jesus gives without actually wanting Jesus Himself.
- Churches can be filled with people seeking blessings rather than the source of those blessings.
- The crucial question is: If following Jesus stopped improving your circumstances, would He still be enough?
- Jesus himself must become our greatest treasure, not just the benefits He provides.
This diagnostic thesis challenges listeners to self-examine their faith, ensuring their pursuit of Jesus is rooted in genuine desire for Him, not just material or circumstantial improvements.
The rhetorical question is posed: 'If following Jesus stopped helping and improving your circumstances, would he still be enough?'
- When you follow Jesus, He will always provide for you because He loves you.
- Provision is proof of His compassion, but it was never the ultimate purpose of His coming.
- Jesus already had the solution before asking Philip where to buy bread, demonstrating His foreknowledge and provision.
- The crowd wanted bread; Jesus wanted their hearts, inviting them into Himself.
This principle clarifies that while God's provision is a sign of His love, it should not be mistaken for the ultimate goal of faith; the goal is a relationship with Him.
Jesus, knowing what He was going to do, asked Philip, 'Where shall we buy bread for all these people to eat?' This was a test, not because Jesus didn't know the answer.
- When you sacrifice what you have, God will multiply it.
- God multiplies surrendered lives, not those that are protected or hoarded.
- A young boy surrendered his five barley loaves and two fish, which Jesus blessed and multiplied.
- God loves to partner with surrendered people; He doesn't need our help but invites our participation.
This principle reveals that God's power is unleashed through our willingness to give up what we have, demonstrating trust and opening the door for His supernatural work in our lives.
The story of the boy with five barley loaves and two small fish, who gave all he had, which Jesus then multiplied to feed thousands.
- Tithing is not about God needing money, but about demonstrating trust in His provision.
- The earth is the Lord's, and we are called to be stewards of His resources.
- When we return tithes and offerings, we are acknowledging God's ownership and trusting Him to provide.
- God promises to rebuke the devourer and open the floodgates of heaven when we obey this principle.
Understanding tithing as an act of trust, rather than an obligation, helps reframe our perspective on finances and God's faithfulness in providing for those who honor Him.
Malachi 3:10 is cited: 'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... and test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out such a blessing...'
- When you surrender to Jesus, He will give you eternity with Him.
- Jesus came not just to provide temporary sustenance but to become the eternal Bread of Life.
- The crowd initially followed Jesus for physical bread, but He called them to believe in Him for eternal life.
- The ultimate question is whether Jesus is enough for us, or if we only want Him as an additive to our lives.
This principle emphasizes that the greatest gift Jesus offers is not earthly provision but eternal life, which is received through faith and surrender to Him.
Jesus declares, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'
- Communion is a reminder that Jesus became the bread, His body broken and blood shed for us.
- Taking communion is an act of accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord, and remembering His sacrifice.
- It signifies His body broken for our healing and His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins.
- The invitation is to accept Jesus not just for what He does, but for who He is, leading to wholeness and freedom.
Communion serves as a tangible, regular reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and His identity as the Bread of Life, reinforcing the core message of faith and surrender.
The act of taking and eating the bread and drinking the cup during communion, symbolizing Jesus' broken body and shed blood.
Key takeaways
- True faith prioritizes Jesus Himself over the blessings He provides.
- Miracles are signposts pointing to Jesus, not the ultimate destination.
- God multiplies what we surrender to Him, not what we protect.
- Tithing and offerings are acts of trust in God's provision, not just financial transactions.
- Jesus offers eternal life as the ultimate provision, satisfying the deepest needs of the soul.
- Our willingness to surrender our time, talents, and resources is key to experiencing God's multiplication.
- Jesus is sufficient for us, even if He doesn't bless us with anything else.
- Communion is a sacred act of remembrance and acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice and sufficiency.
Key terms
Bread of LifeI Am DeclarationsFeeding of the 5,000Giver vs. GiftSurrenderTrustProvisionStewardship MindsetScarcity MindsetTitheEternal LifeCommunion
Test your understanding
- What is the difference between wanting what Jesus gives and wanting Jesus Himself?
- How does the miracle of feeding the 5,000 illustrate the concept of Jesus as the Bread of Life?
- Why is surrender essential for experiencing God's multiplication in our lives?
- What does it mean to trust Jesus with our finances, and how is tithing related to this trust?
- In what ways does Jesus offer eternal life, and how is this different from temporary provision?