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Jesus is the Bread of Life. This week as we dig into Advent, we recognize our longing for all to be made right in this world and we celebrate that God is not just our provider; IN CHRIST, HE IS OUR PROVISION.

Read John 6:22-65! 

• God wants us to work, but to seek Him, not “stuff,” even good stuff from Him. See also Isaiah 55:1-3.

• Our “work” is to believe in Jesus (v. 29).

• God’s earthly provisions are short-term and He often uses them as examples of eternal truth (look at the comparison of Moses v. Jesus, v. 32-33).

• The life God offers us in Christ is eternal - we can’t lose it once we have it (v. 39-40, 58). God created us and gave us life, but through sin we became spiritually dead. In Christ, we have LIFE, and that life cannot be taken from us!  

• Our salvation, our life, comes from God; it is nothing we choose or work to earn (v. 44).

• Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises of God (v. 45, 65).

• Jesus does not mince words - He is the ONLY way to receive life and to be in relationship with God (v. 54-57). In a world that says, “all roads lead to God,” we can be sure that only the road of Christ leads to salvation and eternal life from God! (See this sermon from Pastor Josh Tompkins for more on this!)

 

Let’s look at some places in scripture where we can gain more context of Jesus as the Bread of Life. Jesus is the Bread of Life | The Passover (Exodus 12)

• God always has a bigger plan than what we can see.  

• Blood = life. So eventually when Jesus sheds His blood for the forgiveness of sin, we see this concept realized fully!

• We are all dead without Christ.

• Jesus is the ONLY WAY to life.  Only those who have been made righteous (by His sacrifice, not anything we do to try to earn it!) can partake of life in God/eternal life.

• God’s holiness and our obedience are fiercely protected. God gave chance after chance for Pharaoh. But in the end, He deserves and rightfully demands our response to His sovereignty and command.

• God wants us to REMEMBER, and TELL OF His works. No matter what season we are in, we are CALLED TO TEACH others of His works. We’re called to remember who He is and what He’s done.

• God gives way more than He expects.  He takes the firstborn from Egypt only after giving chances over and over and over to obey. And ultimately, He GIVES HIS FIRSTBORN for the sin of the whole world and the provision of Life.

 

Jesus is Ultimately our Manna (Exodus 16)

• Manna showed in a fresh, tangible way, God’s provision.  The word man-hu means “what is it?!”  This food itself was foreign to God’s people, and God’s way of providing it to them is foreign.  This is significant:

• In Exodus 16 the Israelites complain they have no food, and God literally rains it down, but they still need to work to gather it.  The Israelites had to participate in getting their “daily bread.”  EXCEPT the 6th day, when He referenced the need to rest and wait for Him.

• God’s provision is so that we can obey Him, and it is linked with His discipline when we do not. 

• Manna gave nourishment, daily provision, despite their sin - so they could keep moving forward toward the freedom, the Land, He had for them. Read Psalm 78:9-25. What do you see here about God’s provision and our obedience?

• Manna was a physical provision representing a spiritual truth.  Read Deuteronomy 8:1-3.  Jesus quotes this same passage in Matthew 4, when He is being tempted in the wilderness by Satan. What connections do you see? 

 

Christ is Master Over Creation and He Does Care for Our Physical Needs: (Feeding the 5,000 John 6 & the Disciples)

Read John 6:1-59, especially 22-59. This is one of many examples of How Jesus - God in the flesh - provides for our physical needs, and shows us His mastery over creation.  Did you know this is the only miracle besides the resurrection in all four gospels!

• God provides ABUNDANTLY. God feeds us so we can feed others. When we are in Christ, He expects us to tell others about Him. 

• We want God to meet our earthly needs; God promises to BE WITH US through them.  In John 16:25-33 Jesus told followers to expect trouble - but He has overcome the world. 

 

Look For Jesus in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Matthew 26:27-29)

Read Matthew 26:27-29. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of every longing we ever have, and we will feast with Him in eternity!

 

This Advent season, let’s look at Jesus - our Bread of Life - our provider and our PROVISION. Let’s feast on His word, celebrate the life we have in  Him, share with others, and keep remembering the work He has done, is doing, and will do. (Find even more resources and notes at the complete show blog post.)

 

RESOURCES:

Do you want to grow in JOY and your relationship with Jesus this holiday season? Join the Advent study, Longing and Light, and receive weekly updates on this series for free!

Hospitality Beyond the Holidays

My Everyday Welcome Cozy Holidays E-Book

 

RELATED EPISODES:

The Power of Pause (episode 17)

Reconciliation and Hope (episode 24)

Be Kingdom Minded (episode 9)

 

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