The Bread of Life

The Great I Am

Our Key Verse for 2025: 

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:3–4, ESV)

What “ALL THINGS” has Jesus provided for us? 

If we gain access to “ALL THINGS” through the knowledge of him, how do we grow in that knowledge? 

How do I “partake” in his divine nature?

John 6:26–35 (ESV)

26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst…

^…60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”

 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life

^…66 After this, many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. ⁶⁷ So Jesus said to the twelve, “Doyou want to go away as well?” ⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, ⁶⁹ and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Three Questions the Multitude Ask

• What work do we have to do?
• What proof do you have of your claims?
• Who can really believe this? 

Question #1: What must we do?

The crowd asked Jesus, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”

Hard work is hardwired into our humanity.

Bread is first mentioned in Genesis 3:19 as part of the curse.

By the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread (Genesis 3:19, ESV).

Mankind does not know how to get bread without sweat equity.

“This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

“Believe” means complete, absolute trust—to entrust, to put something into the care of another.

Belief is a trust, not a task.

Radical Truth: It’s harder for us to trust than it is to do a task.

Question: Where are you trying to “work it out” rather than trusting Christ to simply work?

Question #2: What sign will you do?

“What proof do you offer…BTW…“Our fathers ate the manna Moses gave them in the wilderness” (v. 31).

Jesus corrected them: “It was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father” (v. 32).

Too often, we try to lean on leaders rather than learn from them.

The message of the manna:

1. Manna taught daily dependence on God. 
2. The manna was a foreshadowing of Christ. 
3. I am the bread that came from heaven.

“I AM THE BREAD (artos – nourishment) OF LIFE.

Jesus is the bread we cannot achieve; we simply receive.

Every attempt to find fulfillment outside of Christ is fleeting!

Q: What areas of your life are you seeking fulfillment apart from Christ?

Question #3: How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

God gives us the leader we need, not the one we want!

Moses gave them temporary bread that quenched their complaints; the Messiah gave eternal bread that canceled the curse.

Jesus didn’t come to give us an easy life; he came to give us eternal life. 

This was too much for them… and at this, “many turned away and followed him no more” (John 6:66).

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Question: How do I eat His Flesh?  

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (v. 68).

What work must I do?  SIMPLY TRUST JESUS.

What proof do I need? HIS LIFE IS ENOUGH.

How do I receive this? EAT THIS BOOK.