Sunday AM Sunday, July 12, 2020

John 6:15-36

Rev. Gary Sinclair

Service Outline & Sermon Notes

Service outline and sermon notes automatically generated from video content.

Order of Service

Sermon Title: The True Bread That Satisfies

Scripture: John 6:14-35

I. There Are Things That Result in Jesus Withdrawing His Presence

A. The crowd wanted Jesus on their own terms — as prophet and king, but not as priest and suffering servant

  1. After the feeding of the 5,000, the people sought to take Jesus by force and make him king (John 6:14-15)
  2. They wanted a religious and political leader requiring no sacrifice — God's leader on their terms, not God's lamb on God's terms
  3. Jesus would not be king and prophet without the cross; he withdrew rather than accept a kingship stripped of his priestly, sacrificial role

B. Application: The world today still seeks a messiah on its own terms, wanting a king and prophet while rejecting the Lamb and the cost of following him

C. The proof of a life poured out to Christ is daily return to the cross

  1. Through the cross, Jesus rules and reigns as king in the hearts of his followers
  2. Through the cross, we recognize his prophetic voice and follow him in love
  3. On the narrow road we march to a different beat, gazing upon the one who is prophet, priest, and king

II. There Are Things That Cause Jesus to Restore His Presence

A. Jesus sent the disciples into the storm, yet watched them from the mountain (Mark 6)

  1. He never took his eyes off them even as the sea became rough
  2. He came to them in compassion; they were more terrified of his presence than of the storm itself

B. The disciples' greater distress was not the storm but Jesus's absence — a pattern for the believer in every season of difficulty

C. Jesus always speaks peace to those who cry out in fear: "It is I; do not be afraid" (John 6:20)

  1. God ordains all eventualities, including the rough seas of recent months
  2. He has not taken his eye off his children; the call is to pour out every fear before him in intimate communion

D. When Jesus stepped into the boat, they immediately reached the shore (John 6:21)

  1. Illustration of surrendering control to Christ — as soon as he steps in, peace follows and we land safely
  2. Question for the present moment: Is God bringing his people to the end of themselves so they build on the solid rock of Christ alone?

III. Jesus Confronts the Crowds While Revealing Himself as the True Bread

A. The crowds returned seeking more bread, not understanding the sign (John 6:22-26)

  1. Jesus did not answer their question about how he crossed the sea; he aimed immediately at the heart
  2. "You are seeking me not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves" — they missed the point entirely

B. What is the bread that perishes?

  1. It is anything or any time we seek satisfaction without desiring and enjoying intimate communion with Almighty God
  2. It is stopping short to enjoy the crumbs of God's goodness without going on to enjoy God himself
  3. It is also pushing beyond Jesus — assuming it must be "Jesus plus something else"
  4. Examples: the student attending church only before exams; the businessperson present in body but transactional in heart

C. Jesus reveals himself as the true bread — "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35)

  1. The "I am" echoes Exodus 3 — Jesus identifies himself with the covenant God
  2. "Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst"
  3. Augustine: "God created us for himself and we are restless until we find our rest in him"

D. One true sign of being born again is a deep-seated hunger for intimacy with God

  1. The Spirit gives new passions, desires, and affections; without this it is mere religion
  2. A Puritan: when friends, flesh, heart, and life fail — Christ will not fail; he stands by and strengthens in the darkest hours

E. Closing call

  1. To the unconverted: come, repent, believe, and feed on Christ
  2. To believers who have drifted: return, fix your eyes on Christ, and feast on the written Word as the living Word each day
  3. Echoing Peter's confession: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68)
Older Rev. Tommy Carr Newer Rev. Bob Schwanebeck