09-13-2026 - I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE - John 6:2-15, 26-58.

  MESSAGE BY PASTOR ROB INRIG 

      FROM BETHANY BAPTIST IN RICHMOND, BC.

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I invite you to pray and make this prayer personal. Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, Almighty God,

We come before You as a community, lifting up our hearts in unity for our brothers and sisters who are walking through seasons of deep need.  You are the God who sees us. Lord, You are Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals. We ask that You lay Your restorative hand upon everyone in this group

(Vicky O, Nancy R, Tere G, Stevie A, Sócrates D, mamá de Sara H, Margarita G, Rosy Ch, Patricia L, Lina J, Manuel D, Silvia H, Magda-, Miguel H.L,  Manuel D.H, Alicia G. Margarita G, Brianda M, Alejandro M, Natalia M, María Elena C, Óscar N.D, Luis Carlos V. Laci N, Alicia R. Jesse R.)

Lord, trials and exhaustion can heavy the spirit. For those experiencing doubt, spiritual dryness, or weariness, we ask for a powerful outpouring of Your Holy Spirit. Remind them of Your unchanging promises. 

Lord, You have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. We lift up those who are paralyzed by anxiety, dreading the future, or overwhelmed by their circumstances. 

We lay all these requests at Your feet, completely trusting in Your perfect timing and Your sovereign will. Bring wholeness to this group—body, mind, and spirit—so that we may stand together and testify to Your goodness.

In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, we pray.

Amen.

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For the next several weeks we are spending time in the gospel of John, looking at Christ as He unveils Himself to the world.  This look taking us past the teaching given and the miracles done, to consider what those miracles and teaching are intended to convey - namely who Jesus is.  In our look, not for us to learn more about Jesus but to move closer to Him.  This look far beyond the familiarity we so easily fall into which can result in a tendency to skim the Gospels rather than immersing ourselves in them.

Specifically I want to look at Jesus through John’s eyes as He presents Himself to the religious and the ‘churched’ who felt themselves ’knowledgeable’ about how God worked and how God should make Himself known.  Some of what Jesus did fit well with that, like evidence of the miraculous that had been witnessed.  

But some of the things didn’t fit at all.  To Jewish ears His words were blasphemous.  Not only did he present Himself as equal with God, He called God His Father, and then used His, I AM name for Himself – a name the Jews did not even dare to speak.  And as they saw it, those He associated with could not possibly be the type to whom God would come.  It is those I AM names and those I AM encounters we will be looking at.

So this morning we begin in John 6 with a familiar event - the feeding of the 5000.  When the disciples had taken first steps to follow Jesus, they hardly imagined they’d see anything like this.  They just a handful now watching a multitude of the curious, the hopeful, the needy, the sick.  No doubt among them were the cynics and event seekers.   But the majority - searchers coming with questions.  

Though referenced as the 5000, the number likely much larger because 5000 only represents men so with women and children among them, the crowd perhaps closer to 15,000 or 20,000.  

As noted, many who are there come with desperation. Needing healing of things that have disabled and destroyed.  Healing of lives that have no reason for hope. Jesus describes similar scenes of the multitude like this as ‘sheep who have no shepherd’, the immediate need described here not urgent but practical - these sheep hungry and in need of some food.

This miracle done for the 5000 is the only miracle that appears in every gospel.  In part, due to the obvious impact it has on the disciples.  But more importantly, it sets the stage for the first of 7 I AM declarations Jesus will make of Himself - not  that He has come from God rather that He IS God.  That He is the Great I AM - all life comes from Him, our purpose for life is found in Him and our only hope for everlasting life is given by Him.  Let’s look into the scene:

Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do  Jn 6:4-6

Our introduction into what is about to happen begins with Philip – the pragmatist.  Jesus, buy bread?  Take a look?  There are too many. The needs too great, our resources too few.  For him, the columns don’t add up.  Jesus, what you propose just doesn’t make sense, his assessment, 200 denarii (2/3 of a year’s salary) won’t even begin to provide anything more than morsels. Jesus LOOK around you – this isn’t a matter of faith, it’s a matter of practicality.  The appetite of need can’t be satisfied with a bread crumb here and a bread crumb there.

Despite miracles just seen, Philip is still bound by what his mind can understand.  

How often do I do that?  Where I look at what is before me, calculating what’s possible coming to the same conclusion, the need is greater than resource.  The bank account too empty.  The  strength needed too weak.  The diagnosis too hopeless. 

Then there was Andrew - who, remembering the sick healed and the lame restored, flirted with faith, There’s a lad here!   Looking at Jesus, was it possible, Jesus might do something? But then a look at the crowd and a glance at a small hand clutching some fish and loaves and reality returned.  And probably feeling like a fool in front of the other disciples, he retreated back into rationality, “But what are these among so many?”  

Andrew had witnessed the miraculous, things that a prophet might do but as his gaze returned to the multitude, he couldn’t escape  that this need he saw required something from nothing.  This was far different than some one on one encounter, this was meeting the needs of the many and doing that when they had nothing.

Qualified faith – if the resources are at hand; if the caterers are within hailing distance, if a city were nearby.  If the surgeons are gowned up; if the bonus comes through; if the investments give return as hoped.

Faith sure - but with a ‘resources are nearby’ fall back plan – just to hedge my bets.  

Then you have a young boy.  He with the crowd not about to miss where everyone else was going.  That he had food probably meant he was in the vicinity of home.  He joining in to the ‘event’ - stopping long enough to grab some food in case this adventure took him to a place far different than he imagined.

And did it ever.  That lunch got him in front of Jesus.  And when the opportunity came to give the little he had, he gave it all away.  It wasn’t much – just a few bites to sustain him.  Of what possible use it could be?  

Three snapshots – one who looked at the immensity of what surrounded and became overwhelmed – no miraculous here.  Another who flirted with faith but who succumbed to practicality because faith in face of such enormous need seems foolish when others are looking on. And one with little but who was given a story that would last a lifetime.  

Jesus working in all 3 to bring them to a place where they would see Jesus in a far greater way than they had.  Jesus taking them beyond what God wanted to do for the 1 and 2 but what He was offering to all who, in faith, would come to Him.  That nothing was beyond His power or the reach of His love.  No one unimportant.  Jesus not needing these three to accomplish what He had in mind.  Verse 5 tells us, He already knew what He was going to do, but He made sure He included them.  

Jesus, not caught off guard by the many and their needs; not surprised by the appearance of a boy’s fish and bread lunch.  Jesus had already packed the food before the boy picked it up from home.  Jesus not alarmed that a food plan wasn’t already in place.  Jesus had already arranged the catering plan.  His purpose not to give people bread for the moment, not even to give people bread for a lifetime but to give those who would come to Him bread for eternity.  Because it is this miracle that will set the stage for Him to declare that He is the Bread of Life - that, Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever :58.  But with that Jesus, essential for the things we face today.  The giver of the joys we know and the provider of the things we need.  He wanting to guide us, equip us, protect us, support us in the things we will face.  That when we are hungry and we feel empty, He is there to provide what we need.  As we are told, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God  Mtth 4:4, Deut 8:3. And as Jeremiah tells us, Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart Jer 15:16.

It’s noteworthy that when the multitude witnessed the miracle of everyone being fed and 12 baskets left over, the people’s response was, When they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world  :14

As noted, in verse 2, we’re told, Jesus tested Philip but He already knew what He was going to do.  Which was?

To make some bread and reproduce some fish?  Yes but no.  

In this Jesus was connecting His actions to Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 18, The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear :15.  Understand, the Israelites spoke of Moses as, THE prophet. Though there were times when he was rejected and scorned, Moses would in time be revered as God’s chosen one.     

So what had Moses done?  He was Israel’s mighty deliverer.  Through miracles and the sacrifice and protection of blood, the people were set free from Egypt’s slavery.  

Later with no food and water in sight, a desert wandering people complained Moses had brought them into the desert to die.  And in response, the heavens were opened and every day, bread was provided in the wilderness.  Bread for their need.  Bread to give life.  

Okay, so with that, Moses’ words, God will raise up a Prophet like me.  The Jews understood this not as just a reference to some prophet who’d come but THE prophet, God’s Messiah who would make all things right.  As Moses delivered from the Egyptians, surely this One would deliver from the Romans.  And the proof? - miraculous provision of bread.  And there was one more thing that couldn’t be overlooked what we read in 6:2, Now it was Passover.

And what did Passover celebrate? - deliverance from captivity in Egypt.  One miraculous act after another that culminated in a lamb being slain and blood being applied that bought deliverance.  Though some of this alignment was still to come, there was enough to give rise to the people concluding, This is truly THE Prophet who is to come, their actions that followed were to force Jesus to become their king.

All because the miraculous had been done and stomachs were full.  

Jesus the healer.  Jesus the bread supplier.  Jesus the need provider.  Surely Jesus the fixer of all things.  Jesus, keep doing what you are doing.  Keep stepping in to meet the needs that we have.  Keep showing the signs that we ask for.  Do that and we will award you the position we think you should have.

Our following You contingent on one thing, keep proving Yourself in the way we think that You should.  It’s why we see in :30, Show us another sign.    

The truth is what the Israelites wanted was a need provider, a hero to whom they could go.  They wanted someone who could make life better, better defined as, What are you doing for me now?   What you did was then but I’m asking about the now and the tomorrow. 

What they and we get wrong is that they were so locked in to their felt needs, they paid little attention to their real need.  As is often the case, our felt needs shout loud.  The pain that is great. The disease that is strong.  The future that’s uncertain.  Give us answers to our up front, shouting needs and all is well.

Our felt need says - Give Me!  Add to the things that I have.  Fix what needs to be fixed.  Do what needs to be done.  Change the situation I need to be changed. 

But our real need? - Coming to You because, You are Saviour.  Coming to You because You are Lord!   Forgive me for the sinner I am.  Thank you the forgiveness You give.  Forgive me for the demands that I make.  Change me into the person you want.  Thank You for Your Grace that cleanses me from all my sin.

Our real need isn’t to resume life, nor is it to have a better life, it’s to have life that is far beyond what is needed in the moment.  That need greater than the things we enjoy, greater than the things we achieve, greater than the relationships we make, greater than the comfort we want.  It’s having life that will never end.  Life everlasting offered us by the Creator of life.  This life far exceeding anything we know now.  But to only think of this for some life to come is missing what Jesus said, I come that you might have life and have it more abundantly  Jn 10:10.

It’s why when people find Jesus after searching for Him, Jesus says to 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 :26.  ‘You want the things I give but you don’t want Me.  You honor the gifts but dishonour the Giver.’ 

Sadly many of the multitude couldn’t get beyond a, I’m hungry, feed me; I’m needy, give me; I’m sick, heal me understanding of Jesus.  When our understanding of Jesus is consciously or sub consciously as our need supplier, we miss who Jesus is and who He wants to be in our lives.  Because God doesn’t promise comfort and a trouble free life.  He doesn’t promise a lifetime delivery of bread.  He promises us Himself. 

Make no mistake, we are to come to Jesus with our needs.  Matthew tells us, Be anxious in nothing but in everything …  Consider the lilies, they neither toil or spin.  My God shall supplies all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus BUT Jesus didn’t come to be useful in our lives, He came to transform them, His transformation coming  to those who bow before who He IS. 

If He doesn’t come through as you and I expect / demand, is He any less God?  Is He less worthy if His answer is different than what I wanted it to be; if He were more committed to meet our real need rather than the needs we asked Him to meet?  Have we allowed our belief in Jesus to be determined by whether He answers in the way we demand that He do? 

The truth is Jesus did not come to give bread, He came as Bread declaring, I AM the Bread of Life whoever comes to Me shall not hunger and he who believe in Me shall never thirst.  He stating that even in the daily, the necessities of life are found in Him.  Without what He provides, there is no life, not in the immediate but more importantly, not in what is to come. He, Jesus, is the creator of life, the sustainer of life and the enricher of life.  The issue isn’t the practical bread you hunger for - of food, of comfort, of the job or the relationship.  What you truly hunger for is spiritual.  God did not come to be present with us in a time to come, He came so we can know His present now.  He in our mess, He in our need.  He in our joys and challenges now.  He wanting us know His love, His power and His presence now.    

Admittedly, often it’s our felt need that brings us to Jesus, like the multitude hoping Jesus would do what they needed.  Perhaps that’s you this morning - you needing to know that Jesus sees you and that there is no limit to His reach or His resource.  He looks right into your need this morning, seeing what no others can see, knowing what no others can know - wanting you to know Him as the Bread of Life who gives the nourishment you are hungry for.  

He sees you among the many chasing after their dreams - the promotions that promise significance, the relationships that promise happiness, the experiences that promise adventure.  He knowing that as good as these may be, they will never be Bread that feeds.

Sure it may be argued that without God, life can be full of accomplishments and joy. There can  be activity filled with meaning and good.  But even if we are able to live pain free, disease free, trouble free, the 70, 80 or 90 years we’re given are incredibly brief.  And so what?  We eat better than others?  We have better vacations?  We caught a bigger fish?  We live in better homes and visit more places?  Nice but again, so what?  As Jesus made clear, Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Mtth 6:25    

The truth is we were made for far more than this but what we choose now, determines what follows the years on earth we’ve been given.  Those years far more important that what we know now.  So enjoy life now?  Absolutely, to the full but not without dealing with our real need of having a relationship with the Bread of Life.  He isn’t someone like God, He is God.

The necessity to see who He IS.  Almighty God come in flesh before Whom we bow and truly worship Him as Saviour of the helpless, Rescuer of the lost, Forgiver of the unworthy.

The word believe is used in the New Testament 241 times.  John in his gospel uses it almost 100 times - he telling us, our relationship with Jesus is ALL about belief.  Real belief.  John closes his gospel telling us that there is so much more he could have written because so much more  could be said but, These things have been written so that you may believe  Jn 20:31.

In verse 32 Jesus puts the truth clearly, 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.  For the bread of God is HE who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.   I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger and he who believe in Me shall never thirst ... :35,36  

Truly, truly I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life,

 I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE :47,48