Me - John 14:1-14 - Rev. Justin Young
Main Idea: Focus on the Way.
John 14
🌏 Global Spotlight: GLEC - Central Asia Ministry
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(Complete plan here.)
“There’s nothing to eat!”
Have you ever heard this when your hungry family member opened the fridge full of nutritious and satisfying food?
Hungry people sometimes reject food because they are hungry for the wrong type of food.
For the rest of Lent, we’ll look at some of the “I am” statements of Jesus. This week, Jesus declares that He is the bread of life, but the people largely reject him. Why? Are we similar?
READ John 6:1-15.
Jesus asks Philip a question about bread (v. 5). After Philip and Andrew lament the lack of bread, Jesus provides bread — “as much as they wanted” (v. 11). Indeed, “they all had enough to eat” (v. 12). The people are impressed (v. 14) and follow Jesus to the other side of the lake (v. 25).
READ John 6:25-59.
After Jesus reveals that the people are following him because they are full of bread (v. 26), he calls them to “not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (v. 27). The people reference manna, “bread from heaven” (v. 32), and Jesus points to “the true bread from heaven” (v. 32) that “gives life to the world” (v. 33).
When they ask Jesus to give them this bread, Jesus responds, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (v. 35)
Jesus continues and reminds them that they have seen Jesus, but still do not believe (v. 36). This is affirmed by the grumbling of the people (vv. 41-42). Jesus then declares that belief in him leads to life (vv. 47-48, 51) — something manna could not give (v. 58).
Despite the fact that Jesus is the bread of life — better than the manna in the wilderness or the bread they just ate because He ultimately satisfies, the people reject Jesus.
What other “bread” fills you so that you do not hunger for Jesus? Ask that Lord to reveal these and expose them as deficient so that you hunger for the bread of life.
PRAY the following aloud as a group
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations, and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer (2019))
READ the following and MEMORIZE the first two verses:
"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him."
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:14-18)
SING the Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.