Related Message
This spring, we’re entering into a new season of Sundays in our new series, Asked, seven weeks of opportunities to invite our friends who don’t yet know Jesus. So, how do we—the church community—reflect on this season? By rediscovering who Jesus is… to us. For the next eight weeks, in this space we will intentionally reflect on the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John, discovering Jesus as the Bread of Life; the Light of the World; the Gate; the Good Shepherd; the Resurrection; the Way, Truth, and Life; and the True Vine. As we do, we will discover who we are when we are in him. That’s how we’ll use this season to… Reflect.
Bread of Life…
Read John 6:25-58. Take a moment to reflect on Jesus’ words in the context of John 6 (especially vv. 1-15). What do you think Jesus means when he says…
- “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life.” (v. 27)
- “For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world… I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (vv. 32-35)
- "Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 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.” (vv. 49-51)
- Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (v. 53)
- “For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink… Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” (vv. 55-57)
What do these words communicate about what it means to experience Jesus as the “Bread of Life”?
What is “bread”…
Consider our varied experiences with bread in our culture:
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Bread as a staple
Bread has been the staple food for many cultures in many different centuries, the sustenance of life. Consider the pioneers of our country who made it a priority to build a grist/flour mill as one of the first buildings within a settlement. Consider also the urban poor, who survive on bread and peanut butter.
How is Jesus the sustenance of life?
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Bread as a communal food
Many cultures eat their meals using bread as the utensil sharing from the same source of bread, around a common dish. When we share bread or a meal we are connecting with the people we share with.
How does Jesus connect us with others?
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Bread as an experience
What are your memories of the smell of bread baking? Plan an outing this week to a bakery, or plan to bake a loaf yourself. If you want you could try watching someone like Connie bake bread.
What does the process of baking bread teach us about this image?
Give Us This Day…
In John 6:35 Jesus declares that he is the bread of life. Take some time to think of yourself in relationship to the bread, to Jesus.
If Jesus is the bread, then I am the _______________________.
How would you describe it?
- Are you a consumer of the bread? If so, how does Jesus provide nourishment or sustenance for you?
- Do you ever experience a spiritual or mental hunger that is fulfilled through your relationship with Jesus?
- Finally, bread is often considered a “comfort food”. In what ways does Jesus, the Bread of Life, provide comfort to you?
For this week's reading recommendations, check out READ.
