Hungry? I AM the Bread of Life – Study Questions –John 6:22-59
. Introduction: The context of Jesus’ statement that He is the bread of life came one day after He performed the miracle with the bread and fish. There Jesus gave thanks to the Father and fed the great crowd on just 5 barley loaves and two small fish. The bread and fish were multiplied so that everyone had enough. There was always going to be more than enough for all. Even this is teaching us about the Lord Jesus who as the bread of life is multiplied to all. The numbers are also instructive – 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. In the Bible the number 2 speaks of unity and 5 is the number of grace. When we come into unity with the Lord and experience His grace we are filled and have more than enough. So it is in this context that Jesus declares that He is the bread of life.
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The Crowd Follows Jesus –John 6:22-25
What happened on the day before that made the crowd want to seek Jesus? –John 6:1-14
v25: Why did the crowd wonder when Jesus got to Capernaum? EnduringWord: The day after the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 and the night crossing of the Sea of Galilee, many of the crowd that was fed by Jesus and the disciples wondered where they went. They saw the disciples (without Jesus) leave in a boat, and now they noted that Jesus was there with them.
*These people were from the same crowd that Jesus fed and the same crowd that wanted to force Jesus to be recognized as an earthly king (John 6:14-15).
. Jesus Responds to the Crowd’s 1st Question –John 6:25-27
When did you get here?: How does Jesus answer this 1st question?
v26: What does this answer reveal about the crowd? About Jesus? These loaves that filled the people were they simply natural bread? EnduringWord: They wanted the bread, but more than just the bread; they also wanted the display of the miraculous and a miracle king to lead them against their Roman oppressors.
*They wanted a miracle to meet their physical needs/wants
v27: Do not labor for the food which perishes:
What food is this? –Isaiah 55:1-7 Note: The challenge is what do you live for? Is it just for that which is temporal? Is it just for that which doesn’t ultimately satisfy? Jesus said there is a food that endures to eternal life. There is a bread that truly satisfies in this life and in the next. Mankind spends so much time and energy trying to obtain temporal things which don’t satisfy.
=>You can buy a bed, but you can’t buy rest. You can buy books, but not wisdom. You can buy entertainment, but not joy. Leisure, but not peace. Insurance, but not security or safety. You can buy your way to the top, but you can’t buy salvation.
. Jesus Responds to the Crowd’s 2nd Question –John 6:28-29
v28-29: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?: What is the crowd really asking here? What does Jesus answer reveal? How does the title “I AM the Bread of Life” fit Jesus answer? EnduringWord: Jesus told them, do not labor for the food which perishes v27. In reply, they used the same word Jesus used and asked, “How shall we labor for this?”
*The sense behind their question seemed to be, “Just tell us what to do so we can get what we want from You. We want Your miracle bread and for You to be our Miracle King; tell us what to do to get it.”
*Those who questioned Jesus seemed sure that if only Jesus told them what to do, they could please God by their works of God. For these people, as with many people today, pleasing God is found in the right formula for performing works that will please God.
*The first work is to believe in Him whom He sent, yet God is also concerned about our obedience. In this sense our faith in Him is not a substitute for works; our faith is the foundation for works that truly please God.
. Jesus Answers the Crowd’s 3rd Question –John 6:30-33
v30: What sign will You perform?: What might the motive behind this question be? EnduringWord: The crowd that heard Jesus at the synagogue in Capernaum followed Him from the feeding of the 5,000. Yet there were also among them Jewish leaders from Jerusalem (Matthew 15:1;John 6:41). These heard the excited talk of the miraculous feeding, but wanted to see it again. As well, those who ate wanted to eat again!
v31: Our fathers ate the manna in the desert: What is the motive behind this statement? EnduringWord: Jesus’ questioners hoped to manipulate Him into providing daily bread for them, just as Israel had from God during the Exodus. They even knew how to quote Scripture in the attempt (“He gave them bread from heaven to eat”, Psalm 105:40).
v32-33: Who is the bread come down from heaven? What is satisfied by this bread? EnduringWord: The bread of God was He who came down from heaven and gave not simply satisfaction from physical hunger, but life. Jesus was claiming that the only real satisfaction was in Him.
. Deuteronomy 8:3 … He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
. Jesus Answers the Crowd’s 4th Request –John 6:34-40
v34: Lord, give us this bread always.: Which bread is the crowd asking for? Which bread is Jesus offering?
v36: What are the conditions to receive the “Bread of Life”?
Believe(v36),Come(v37)
v40: What is the benefit of receiving the “Bread of Life”?
Everlasting Life, Being raised up on the last day
. Jesus Explains the Crowd’s Rejection –John 6:41-46
v41: I am the bread which came down from heaven: Why was this claim of Jesus so upsetting?
Notice it is repeated 6 times. –John 6:33,38,41,50,51,58
Notice being “sent” is also repeated 6 times –John 6:29,38,39,40,44,57
How does this link to the “I AM” name? –Exodus 3:14
v44: Unless the Father draws: Why was this statement upsetting? EnduringWord: The Jews thought that they were all chosen by God by virtue of their physical, natural birth. Jesus made it clear that God must draw them before they can come to God. Everyone who responds to the Father will respond to the Son.
v45: And they shall all be taught by God: What is this implying about Jesus? EnduringWord: Jesus quoted from Isaiah 54:13, which may have been part of the synagogue reading for that Sabbath. The idea is that all those who belong to God are taught by God, being drawn to Him (everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me).
*God will teach His people Himself, i.e. He will teach then within their hearts. Only those who are taught in this fashion will come to Jesus.
*To hear and learn from the Son is to hear and learn from the Father.
v46: He has seen the Father: Why is this claim upsetting?
Jesus here again insisted on His unique relationship to God the Father. He claimed a relationship and connection with God the Father that no one else had.
v47: He who believes in Me has everlasting life: What is Jesus claiming here?
*Only He who is ever living can provide everlasting life!
v48: I am the bread of life: Jesus repeats this statement here – what idea is added? How does it compare to manna? EnduringWord: Jesus repeated and continued the use of this metaphor. As bread is necessary for physical life, so Jesus is necessary for spiritual and eternal life.
v51: The bread that I shall give is My flesh: What did Jesus have in mind when He said this? EnduringWord: Jesus plainly explained what He meant by bread in this context. That bread was His flesh, given for the life of the world. It was His soon-coming work on the cross when He gave His life as a sacrifice pleasing to God the Father and as a substitute for guilty sinners.
. Receiving Jesus in the Fullest Sense. –John 6:52-59
He who eats this bread will live forever: How does eating compare with simply seeing or thinking? EnduringWord: Jesus offers us heavenly bread for eternal life, but we must eat it. Faith in Jesus is not compared with tasting or admiring, but with eating. Jesus says that we must have Him within us, and we must partake of Him.
*Seeing a loaf of bread on a plate will not satisfy our hunger.
*Knowing the ingredients in the bread will not satisfy our hunger.
*Taking pictures of the bread will not satisfy our hunger.
*Telling other people about the bread will not satisfy our hunger.
*Selling the bread will not satisfy our hunger.
*Playing catch with the bread will not satisfy our hunger.
*Nothing will satisfy our hunger and bring us life except actually eating the bread.
Psalm 146:3,5-6 AMP … Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation (help). … 5 How blessed and graciously favored is he whose help is the God of Jacob (Israel), Whose hope is in the Lord his God, 6 Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them, Who keeps truth and is faithful forever. . Psalm 20:7 AMP … Some trust in chariots and some in horses, But we will remember and trust in the name of the Lord our God. . =>The Lord maker of heaven and earth keeps truth and is faithful forever = great is His faithfulness! . Lamentations 3:21-25 AMP … But this I call to mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, Because His [tender] compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul; “Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait [confidently] for Him, To those who seek Him [on the authority of God’s word]. .
. Psalm 54:1, 4 AMP … Save me, O God, by Your name; And vindicate me by Your [wondrous] power. …. 4 Behold, God is my helper and ally; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul [my upholder]. .
. Psalm 138:2-3 NLT … I bow before Your holy Temple as I worship. I will give thanks to Your name for Your unfailing love and faithfulness, because Your promises are backed by all the honor of Your name. 3 As soon as I pray, You answer me; You encourage me by giving me strength. . Hold fast to God’s Promises His unfailing love is as vast as the heavens His faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds –Ps 36:5 He does not lie or change His mind All His promises are true –Num 23:19;Ps 138:2 Let them bring JOY and Strength to your heart! –Ps 19:8; 28:7 . Psalm 28:7 … The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. .
Introduction In the Gospel of John there are seven “I AM” statements. Each of these increase our understanding of Jesus’ ministry and character. They also link Jesus to the Old Testament revelation of God. . In the Old Testament, God revealed His name to Moses: “I AM WHO I AM” … Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.” –Exodus 3:14 . Whenever Jesus made an “I AM” statement claiming attributes of deity, He was identifying Himself as God. This study will look first at the “Impact of I AM from Exodus 3:1-15 ” and then at the following “I AM” statements in John.
Why do you think God picked Moses to reveal Himself to from the burning bush? Enduringword: For 40 years Moses lived as an obscure shepherd in the desert of Midian. At this point his life was so humble that he didn’t even have a flock of sheep to call his own – the sheep belonged to his father-in-law. =>Do you think this foreshadows the shepherd of Psalm 23? Jesus as the good shepherd? –Psalm 23;Jn 10:11,14-15
What do you think the burning bush symbolizes? What was unique about it? Enduringword: It wasn’t just that Moses saw a bush burning; apparently, it is not uncommon for a plant like this to spontaneously ignite out in that desert. Nevertheless, two things were distinctive about that bush: *The Angel of the LORD appeared… from the midst of the bush. *Though the bush burned, the bush was not consumed. =>Some think the burning bush to be a symbol of Israel, or the people of God more generally – afflicted but not destroyed, because God is in the midst of them. =>Others think the burning bush was a picture of the cross. The Hebrew word used to describe this bush comes from the word “to stick or to prick,” this meaning a thorn-bush or bramble. We can think of the cross – where Jesus, crowned with thorns, endured the fires of judgment and yet was not consumed by them – and so be reminded of the cross when we consider the burning bush. =>Look at this Angel of the Lord who has the name Jehovah=the one true God applied to him=who is this messenger in whom was the name of God but Jesus! No doubt, this is another occasion where Jesus appeared before His incarnation in the Old Testament as the Angel of the LORD, as He did many times (Genesis 16:7-13; Judges 2:1-5; Judges 6:11-24; Judges 13:3-22).
v4: God didn’t speak to Moses until He saw that He had is attention. What does this say to you about how God speaks to you? –Jere 29:13;Mt 7:7-8
v5: Did you notice the double call? What might this indicate? How does the Lord get your attention? Implies importance and urgency of the call, as when God called Abraham, Abraham! (Genesis 22:11), Samuel, Samuel! (1Samuel 3:10), Simon, Simon (Luke 22:31), Martha, Martha (Luke 10:41), and Saul, Saul (Acts 9:4).
v5: What is holy ground? What does it mean? Why is it liked with taking off your shoes? Acts 7:33 … The LORD said to him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground”.
A quotation from Exod 3:5. The phrase holy ground points to the fact that God is not limited to a particular locale. The place where he is active in revealing himself is a holy place.
The word קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh, “holy”) indicates “set apart, distinct, unique.” What made a mountain or other place holy was the fact that God chose that place to reveal himself or to reside among his people. Because God was in this place, the ground was different – it was holy.
The removal of sandals was, and still is in the East, a sign of humility and reverence in the presence of the Holy One. It was a way of excluding the dust and dirt of the world.
What was God’s commission to Moses? What did this reveal about God? Enduringword: God did not just then decide to give Israel the land of Canaan. It was the same land that He promised to the patriarchs some 400 years previous to this. God wanted Moses and Israel to know His compassionate care for them. . In Exodus 3:8 God said, I have come down to deliver them. Then at Exodus 3:10 God said, come now, therefore, and I will send you. =>If God said He would deliver them, why did He use or need Moses at all? This shows that God often uses and chooses to rely on human instruments. *God could do it all by Himself, but it is most often God’s plan to work with and through people, as we are workers together with Him (2 Corinthians 6:1).
v12: What is the sign to confirm that God has sent Moses? From NetBible Exodus 3:12 note 3: One expects a direct connection between the sign and the message. In this passage the sign is a confirming one, i.e., when Israel worships at the mountain that will be the proof that God delivered them from Egypt. Thus, the purpose of the exodus that makes possible the worship will be to prove that it was God who brought it about. In the meantime, Moses will have to trust in God.
v14: How is “I AM” related to Yahweh? From NetBible Exodus 3:14 note 1: The verb form used here is אֶהְיֶה (’ehyeh), the Qal imperfect, first person common singular, of the verb הָיָה (haya, “to be”). It forms an excellent paronomasia with the name. So when God used the verb to express his name, he used this form saying, “I am.” When his people refer to him as Yahweh, which is the third person masculine singular form of the same verb, they say “he is.” =>God simply is; there was never a time when He did not exist, or a time when He will cease to exist.
How is “I AM” related to Jesus? –Gen 1:1;Jn 1:1-4;Eph 3:9 I AM: This is a divine title that Jesus took upon Himself often, clearly identifying Himself with the voice from the burning bush. =>*Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I AM [He], you will die in your sins. –Jn 8:24 =>*Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM [He], and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.” –Jn 8:28 =>*Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” –Jn 8:58 =>*Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I AM. –Jn 13:19 =>*Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I AM [He].” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, “I am [He],” they drew back and fell to the ground. –Jn 18:4-6
. Psalm 133 AMP … Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil [of consecration] poured on the head, coming down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron, coming down upon the edge of his [priestly] robes [consecrating the whole body]. 3 It is like the dew of Mount Hermon coming down on the hills of Zion; For there the Lord has commanded the blessing: life forevermore. . Acts 2:1-2 NKJV … When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. . Ephesians 4:3 AMP … Make every effort to keep the oneness{unity} of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful]. => Amazing things happen when Christians meet in one accord=making every effort to dwell in unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace! . Romans 15:5-6 AMP … Now may the God who gives endurance and who supplies encouragement grant that you be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. .
. Isaiah 66 – Bible Study Questions. . Biblehub Introduction: Isaiah 66 reaffirms God’s majestic sovereignty and the importance of sincere worship. It brings hope for divine restoration, peace, and a new creation, reminding us of God’s ultimate promise and plan for humanity. However, it also serves as a stark warning against hypocrisy and unrighteousness. It exhorts us to live in reverence and humility before God, finding comfort and hope in His divine promises. . The Lord Looks at the Heart. –Isaiah 66:1-6
v1: What does “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool” show? EnduringWord: Here, the LORD puts things back into proper perspective. We can never understand much of anything until we understand that the Lord GOD is enthroned in heaven, and that the earth is under His command – indeed, the earth is His footstool. *Stephen quoted Isaiah 66:1-2 in Acts 7:49-50, agreeing with Solomon and Isaiah about the greatness of God the Creator.
v4: I choose their delusions: How can we avoid being sent delusions by the Lord? 2Thessalonians 2:9-12 … The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
v3-6: What is the problem with the sacrifices in these verses? How is it contrasted with the upright heart? Proverbs 15:8 … The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight. Proverbs 21:27 … The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with evil intent!
v7-10: Before she goes into labor: What does this promise look forward to? Who is the mother? Who is the man-child? Why is this a reason to rejoice? Biblehub: The mother, as the next verse shows, is Zion; the man-child, born at last without the travail-pangs of sorrow, is the new Israel, the true Israel of God. The same figure has met us in Isaiah 49:17-21; 54:1, and is implied in Matthew 24:8. Its antithesis is found in Isaiah 37:3. John 16:21 … Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. Galatians 4:26 … But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
v11: Who is the mother providing milk? Who is drinking and satisfied? Biblehub: Restored Jerusalem will be as a mother to all who love her, to all who have mourned for her when she lay as it were dead (1Samuel 15:35; 2Samuel 14:2). She will have “milk” to give to all – “the sincere milk of the Word” (1Peter 2:2) – and from her both Jew and Gentile will “suck out no small advantage” (Psalm 73:10). She will also impart to them from the abundance of her glory.
v12: Who will experience this peace like a river? God would have given his people “peace, as a river,” long previously, had they permitted him (Isaiah 48:18). And the glory of the Gentiles (comp. Isaiah 60:5, 11; 61:6 etc.). like a flowing stream.
v14-v17: God’s servants are vindicated and comforted – what happens to God’s enemies?
Why does the Lord gather all nations? Isaiah 52:10 … The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
v19: What is the sign? Matthew 24:30 … Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
v22: What is promised here? Who is the promise for? Biblehub: The “new heavens and the new earth,” once created, continue for ever and so will those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life(comp. Revelation 21:1-4,27; 22:1-5).
v24: Their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched: What does this look forward to? Matthew 25:41, 46 … Then He will say to those on his left{goats}, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!’…46 And these{goats} will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous{sheep} into eternal life.
. Psalm 130:3-5 … If you, O Lord, were to keep track of sins, O Lord, who could stand before you? 4 But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits and in His word I do hope. =>Biblehub: And certainly the true fear of God, which Scripture requires in us – a reverential, loving fear – could not exist, unless we had a confident hope in God’s mercy and willingness to forgive us our trespasses, if we turn to him. . 1John 1:9 … If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. . Matthew 6:12 AMP … ‘And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment]. . Psalm 86:5 … For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. .
. Psalm 129:2 … Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; Yet they have not prevailed against me. . Proverbs 19:21 … Many are the plans in one’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails{that will be established}. . Psalm 34:19 … Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD rescues them from them all. . . Proverbs 16:3 AMPC … Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed. . Prayer:
Lord, No matter what it looks like in the moment – help us to always remember that You have a plan that will prevail for each of us! We need only to trust You and surrender all. Help us follow Your lead. In Jesus name.
Psalm 128:1-2 NET … How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways. 2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; You will be happy and it will be well with you.{You will be blessed and secure}. . Blessed are all who fear the Lord and walk in His ways They will eat the fruit of their labor They will dwell in safety, secure at peace Without fear/dread of evil –Psalm 112:1,7 The fear of the Lord is key to this {Zion’s}treasure In Christ are hidden all the treasures of … wisdom and knowledge! . Colossians 2:2-3 NET … My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. . Proverbs 1:33NET … But whoever listens to me{wisdom} will dwell safely, and will be secure{at peace}, without fear of evil. . Isaiah 33:5-6 NET … The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high{in the heavens}; He fills Zion with justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation{stability} for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this {Zion’s}treasure. .
Psalm 126:3 … The Lord has done great/amazing things for us! We are glad{filled with joy}! . Rejoice and be glad The Lord has done great things –Psalm 126:3 There is none like Him nor are there any works like His None can compare! =>He is great and doing great things NOW He alone is God! –Psalm 86:8,10 . Jesus the same Yesterday, today, forever the same! –Hebrews 13:8 . Psalm 86:8,10-11 … Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; no deeds can compare with Yours. … 10 For you are great and do amazing things. You alone are God. 11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart{grant me purity of heart}, that I may fear/revere Your name. .
Touching the King! 