Bread of Life

Hope Part 2

What do you expect from God? What do you expect from Jesus?

I’ve often met people who at some or other time in their life were part of a church. And as I’ve got chatting to these people, they’ll often share how they were disappointed in the church / how the church had at some point let them down.

And you’ll often find that they felt let down by the churches, because they had certain expectations.

They had a specific need – financial / health / anxiety etc.

And they thought that maybe by going to church, the problem was going to go away.

And they joined the church / They got involved / every Sunday , sometimes twice / home group. But a couple of months down the line they realized that they were still struggling with the same issues.

They still couldn’t pay their rent / They still struggled with anxiety / They still had the health issues that they had been struggling with.

But the greatest offer was made to them before their eyes And they didn’t even know it.

The very thing that separated them from God had been dealt with. The cure was being offered to them, but they were trying to deal with the symptoms, they weren’t trying to cure the disease.

Let’s look at the passage that was read for us.

Last week I mentioned John’s main purpose behind writing His book:

 John 20 vs 31 where John said, But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

John wants his readers to believe that Jesus is the Christ. The Son of God, and by believing they may have life in Jesus’ name.

He wants them to know Jesus / believe / to believe so that they may have life.

So this passage is in the context of the book of John.

And at the beginning of John chapter 6, there’s a very familiar piece of Scripture / Jesus feeding the 5000.

When multitudes come to listen to Jesus. Jesus saw this big crowd.

He then says to His disciples, “where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” Bearing in mind that Jesus wasn’t asking that question because he didn’t have a plan. John tells us that Jesus asked this to test his disciples.

The only food they could find was a boy, who had some bread and fish.

We’re told that he had 5 small barley loaves. And two small fish. And the disciples were wondering how far that will go. Jesus instructed his disciples to make everybody sit down in the grass.

And Jesus takes the loaves, he gives thanks, and then he distributes to those who were seated. And he did the same with the fish. And we are told that there was quite a bit left over.

And after this miracle, people recognized something about Jesus. He had just performed this great miracle. The people said, “surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Surely this is the one who is going to come and save us. Surely this is our new king.

So they were right to recognize that Jesus had authority. But they were wanting him to take on a role of a political leader. They were wanting Jesus to lead them in some type of revolt. So that he could take the political throne. So that they wouldn’t have to submit to the Roman government anymore.

But Jesus knew that wasn’t his purpose. They had misguided expectations as to who Jesus was.

Straight after that miracle is the miracle of Jesus walking on water.

But then you get to John 6 verse 25.

People had been looking for Jesus and his disciples. And they find him on the other side of the lake. And they say to Him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

It’s interesting to see that Jesus answers them without answering the question that they’re asking.

He just straight out answers them and says:

Vs 26: I tell you the truth, you are looking me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. (27) Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.

Can you see what is happening here? People had certain expectations from Jesus. They had their own needs that they wanted Jesus to fulfil. But they didn’t realize the real reason why Jesus had come.

Take another look at what Jesus says in verse 26.

You are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

In other words, you’re looking for me for the wrong reasons. You want another feast.

When someone offers me a free meal, I’m in. Even if I have to sit through a boring presentation. Eg. When you get free stuff through time share.

It was like that with those people who were looking for Jesus. They didn’t really want what Jesus was really offering. They were wanting the free meal. They were wanting the meal. They were wanting their physical needs to be met. And if it wasn’t their physical needs that they wanted Jesus to meet. They also wanted Jesus to meet their political needs.

So let me ask you that question again. What do you expect from Jesus? What are your expectations of God?

You either fit into one of two categories. Either you’re a Christian, or you’re not. Someone who has accepted Jesus for who He is, or you haven’t.

Maybe you’ve been disappointed by Jesus. If you come to Jesus for the right reasons, you won’t be disappointed.

Maybe you’re on the outside of Christianity looking in, you’ve looked at Christians and that’s put you off. But whatever your assessment may be of others. I want you to look at yourself. Examine your own heart. Examine your own life. And if you’re really honest with yourself. If you examine your heart properly. You’ll see that your heart is corrupt.

Have you ever wondered why, nobody’s perfect. No matter how you try, you still have those feelings that you shouldn’t be having. You can never be the perfect husband or the perfect wife, the perfect father or mother friend / employee / son / daughter etc.

Have you ever wondered why life can never go perfectly for you? Have you ever wondered why you get some people who have everything they need? Money / houses / cars / stuff / But they’re miserable inside. Haven’t we seen in the past few weeks that those things can be taken away in an instant. But many who have all of that stuff are still miserable. Why?

Because we have a deeper need that needs to be fulfilled / that goes beyond our physical well being / beyond our political liberation /a need that is deep in our hearts. We have a problem called sin.

And it’s a problem that separates us from God.

Look at what Jesus says next in verse 27:

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.

If you want fresh bread you’ve either got to out and get it, or make some fresh bread yourself. Because it spoils. It goes stale after a couple of days. Yes, you can freeze it and put it in the toaster.But it’s really not the same.

We’re looking for temporary help / amongst things that will go stale / in things that don’t last.

Jesus is saying to them, don’t try and find satisfaction in the temporary bread / But rather food that endures to eternal life / and this is food that the Son of Man will give you.

In other words, Jesus is saying. Yes I fed you all with physical bread. You were hungry so I fed you. Jesus isn’t disconnected from our physical needs. But the Son of Man (a reference to himself) will give you food that endures to Eternal life.

verse 28:

Then they asked him, “what must we do to do the works God requires?” If working for food that spoils isn’t the way to Go / If finding satisfaction in what achieve in the temporary isn’t the way to go / Then what should be working for? What efforts does God require of us?

Jesus gives an answer. and not the answer that they were expecting. They were waiting to hear, what must we do in order to receive this bread that gives us eternal life.

Vs 28: What must we do to do the works God requires?

vs 19: Jesus answered: “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.

But don’t I need live a good life?

The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.

Haven’t you got a list of things that I can do to earn this eternal food?

The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.

But it seems to good to be true, you’re offering me eternal food, surely there’s something I can do?

Surely there’s something I can give?

The work of God is this: To believe in the one He has sent.

Look at what they say in the verses that follow from verse 30:

So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?

Ok, so it’s not about the food, it’s about believing. Give us another miracle, so that we can believe? Show us your credentials.

Look at verse 31: Our forefathers ate the manna  in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from Heaven to eat.’

They are wanting Jesus to show them that He is greater than Moses, whom God used to give manna to the Israelites when they were in the wilderness.

And then look at what Jesus says in verse 32, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my father who gives you the true bread from heaven.

Vs 33: for the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Vs 34 “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.”

Vs 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Do you want this bread? It is right before your very eyes. Come to me, you will never go hungry. Believe in me, you will never be thirsty.

It’s been encouraging to see Christians rallying together in prayer. We need to keep praying for this situation. But let’s also remember that’s God’s ways are higher than our ways. We don’t always understand the reason behind what God is doing.We don’t always understand what is happening in the world. Often things happen that make us want to question God.

I heard someone quote John Piper this past week. God is always doing 10 000 things in your life, and you may be aware of 3 of them.

The point that I’m trying to make is that here we are in the midst of a crisis. We would like to know that it’s going to end soon. But we also need to recognize that God is doing something through this.

But in terms of God’s purposes. In terms of God’s plan for the world. In terms of what Jesus came to do. It’s our eternal well being that we should be even more concerned about. It’s the eternal well being of those around us that we need to be concerned about.

And Jesus took care of that on the cross 2000 years ago. He paid a price that took care of your sin and my sin. So that we can stand before the almighty God. So that we can have life. So that we can never hunger or thirst.

In other words so that we can find the ultimate satisfaction. And what must you do in order to receive that?

Believe in the one he sent.

Accept Jesus. Ask God to forgive you for your sin? Rely on the price that Jesus paid to get you into a relationship with God / to save you from the wrath of God. / so that you can have the bread of life.

Home Group Questions:

Read John 6 vs 25-40.

• What were people’s expectations of Jesus?
• What are some false expectations people have of Jesus today?
• What is the requirement to have this bread of life? (vs 29)
• Why did they ask for a miraculous sign? (vs 30)
• What does Jesus mean when he says we will never go hungry, or thirst? (also see verse 40)
• What are your expectations of Jesus?