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The Teachings of Jesus Let's start with the great "I Am" statements in the book of John. Jesus used these "I Am" statements in the last year of His ministry - proving His deity. Here are the 7 statements in order of appearance in John:
Jesus Said: "I am The Bread of Life." John 6:35 The rest of the verse says: "He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." The statement Jesus made in verse 35 comes during a lengthy teaching session at Capernaum shortly after Jesus had fed the 5,000. In verse 28, they ask him "What must we do to do the works God requires?" and he responds, "The work of God is this: to believe on the one he has sent." His answer was a flat contradiction of their thinking. You can't please God by doing good works. There is only one work of God or, said another way, one thing God requires; the need to put our trust in the One the Father has sent. Because of their sin people can not please God by doing good works for salvation. Titus 3:4-7 "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." Back to John 6 -- When Jesus emphatically states, "I am the Bread of Life", He is correcting two more errors in their thinking: The food he spoke of referred to a person, not a commodity. Once someone is in a right relationship with Jesus he finds a satisfaction that is everlasting not temporary. When Jesus said, "I am the bread of life," He meant:
Eternal life - (6:37) In our culture bread is often optional but it was an essential staple then. Jesus promised: "He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35 Jesus as bread overcomes the curse on Adam. "In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you shall return." Genesis 3:19 Amplified The Cure: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:51 Jesus as bread brings worship to God, a type of Old Testament bread offering to the Lord. "He (the priest) took one unleavened cake . . . and left them on the altar of burnt-offering: they were consecrated for a sweet savour . . . unto the Lord" (Leviticus 8:26, 28). Jesus as bread satisfies the deepest hunger of people for God. "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6). One more thought; Most of the time we teach that there are 7 great "I Ams" of Christ but actually there is another equally great statement made by Jesus. It's found in John 8:58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am." The title "I Am" was first spoken to Moses. "God said unto Moses, 'I Am that I Am'" (Exodus 3:19) The response to Jesus statement that He is "I am"? At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." John 6:41 What is your response to the one who says, "I am the bread of life"? |
