John6:25-39 I AM: the Bread of Life

## I AM: the
# Bread of Life
## John 6:25-39

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+ **self-identity**: how do I **intro** self?

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## Jesus is the I AM

+ **Bread** of Life (Jn6)
+ **Light** of the World (Jn8)
+ **Door** for the Sheep (Jn10)
+ Good **Shepherd** (Jn10)
+ Resurrection and the **Life** (Jn11)
+ **Way**, the Truth, and the Life (Jn14)
+ True **Vine** (Jn15)

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+ John unique amongst **gospels**:
  + **monologues** of Jesus (red letter)
  + focus on time w/**disciples**
  + focus on **passion week**
+ **I AM** statements:
  + not intended to be **overview of Jn**
  + **lens** to view incarnation
+ How Jesus **self-identifies**
  + **characteristics** of God
+ Each one also an **invitation**: CTA

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## Seeking (:25-26)

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+ e.g., habitual prayer only at meals: for food
+ about necessities of life
+ "fill": satisfied, met need, crisis averted
+ cf gnosticism
+ Jesus not saying health, school, work not important 
  + need these to live 
+ but we are more than just biological machines
  + so our needs are not only physical but emotional, relational, spiritual
+ "give us this day our daily bread":
  + manna: enough for 1 day
  + what we need to survive
+ not just needs of the flesh!
  + give me enough patience for today
  + enough grace toward the unlovables 
  + enough humility under God's authority

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# Do I seek Jesus only in times of **crisis**?

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## Working (:27-29)

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+ work || bread: earning a living
+ transactional: if I work hard enough to please God,
  + then He will bless me
+ work || faith: trust + obey
  + not vain faith, but with action (Jam)
+ **seal** of Father on Son: baptism, transfiguration

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# Have I been working hard **for** God, not doing the **work of God**?

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+ work hard on my own life/agenda
+ just prefaced w/"dedication" to God
+ "work of God": faith/belief

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## Believing (:30-33)

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+ "what sign will you do?": needs to be big enough
  + benchmark: manna from heaven
+ what convinces me? fake news, AI slop
  + prior **experience**, tradition / culture

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# What **convinces** me? How do I **know** that Jesus is the one I should follow?

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+ faith journey diff for everyone

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## Receiving (:34-39)

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+ "give us this bread": but "you have seen me and yet do not believe"
+ still thinking of a blessing that Jesus gives
  + Jesus only **intermediary** to blessing
+ Father **gives**, we **come** (look, believe), Son **receives**
  + not **cast out**, not **lost**, but **raise**
+ nor **hunger** nor **thirst**
+ look + believe: cf Moses + bronze snake
+ cf 10, no one snatches them out of My hand

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# How does Jesus' **promise** in this passage bring me **comfort**?