Jesus is the Bread of Life - Part 2 - John 6:41-51

Summary

In this video script, the speaker invites viewers to imagine Jesus delivering a speech to an online crowd of graduates, drawing parallels between the ancient crowd's search for physical and spiritual sustenance and the modern audience's quest for meaning and purpose. Jesus' message from John 6 emphasizes faith in him as the 'bread of life' that offers eternal sustenance. The script contrasts this with contemporary advice to young adults to believe in themselves, highlighting the pitfalls of self-reliance and urging a leap of faith in Jesus instead.

Takeaways

• 📖 The script is a continuation of a series exploring the life of Jesus as narrated in the Gospel of John, focusing on a speech given by Jesus in John chapter 6.
• 🎓 The scenario is imagined as Jesus giving a speech to an online crowd of graduates, drawing parallels between the ancient audience and modern graduates searching for meaning and purpose.
• 🤔 The audience is described as people in search of physical and spiritual sustenance, facing a world of difficulty, much like contemporary individuals seeking security and deeper life fulfillment.
• 🗣 Jesus' message is simple and direct: trust in him for eternal life, as opposed to the temporary satisfaction of material needs.
• 🔍 The script examines the skepticism of the religious leaders of the time, questioning Jesus' claim of being sent from heaven, and Jesus' response that faith comes through God's drawing.
• 📜 Jesus references the prophets and asserts that only those taught by God will come to him, emphasizing the divine origin of his mission.
• 🍞 The 'Bread of Life' metaphor is central to Jesus' speech, symbolizing spiritual nourishment that leads to eternal life, contrasting with the physical bread of the manna in the wilderness.
• 💡 The script challenges the audience to consider the source of their faith, questioning whether worldly achievements or self-belief can truly provide life's meaning and security.
• 🌟 The alternative to faith in Jesus is presented as a leap of faith into oneself or other worldly authorities, which the script suggests may lead to despair and fragmentation.
• 🙏 The prayer at the end of the script calls for clarity in recognizing Jesus, repentance from misplaced trust, and a genuine leap of faith into the teachings and promises of Jesus.
• 🎉 The closing message encourages embracing Jesus' vision for a better world, humanity, and personal life, inviting the audience to explore the Gospels and consider the transformative potential of faith in Jesus.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the 'Looking for Light' series?

The central theme of the 'Looking for Light' series is to explore the life of Jesus as narrated in the Gospel of John, with a focus on understanding the spiritual and material aspects of human life as Jesus addressed them.

In the script, how is Jesus' speech in John chapter 6 being reimagined for the audience?

The speech is reimagined as if Jesus is giving it to an online crowd of graduates, allowing the audience to place themselves in the position of the listeners and consider the message in a modern context.

What are the two main types of 'hunger' described for the people in the crowd?

The two main types of 'hunger' are the hunger for physical substance, such as food and security, and the spiritual hunger for good relationships, meaning, and purpose.

What is the message Jesus is delivering in John chapter 6, according to the script?

Jesus is delivering the message that He is the bread of life, come down from heaven, and that those who trust in Him will never go hungry or thirsty in both a physical and spiritual sense.

How does the script suggest the audience should imagine their situation in relation to Jesus' speech?

The audience is encouraged to imagine themselves as part of the crowd in the Zoom meeting, anxious about the future, and to listen to what Jesus has to say as if He were speaking directly to them.

What is the significance of the phrase 'bread of life' in Jesus' speech?

The phrase 'bread of life' signifies that Jesus is the source of spiritual nourishment that sustains life eternally, contrasting with physical bread that only provides temporary sustenance.

How does the script address the skepticism of the crowd regarding Jesus' claim of being sent from heaven?

The script acknowledges the skepticism and presents Jesus' response, which points to the decision and faithfulness of God (the Father) in drawing people to Him and Jesus' own divine origin as proof of His claims.

What is the 'living bread' that Jesus refers to in His speech?

The 'living bread' that Jesus refers to is Himself, indicating that by partaking in Him, believers will have eternal life and will not perish.

What is the alternative message being presented to young people by societal leaders, as mentioned in the script?

The alternative message is that societal leaders are advising young people not to trust in them but to believe in themselves and pursue what makes them happy, essentially advocating for self-reliance.

How does the script contrast the advice given by societal leaders with Jesus' message?

The script contrasts the self-centered advice of societal leaders with Jesus' message of faith in Him and God, highlighting the potential pitfalls of self-belief and the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus.

What is the final call to action presented in the script for the audience?

The final call to action is to take a leap of faith in Jesus, to trust in His message of eternal life, and to seek a deeper understanding of His teachings as presented in the Gospels.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Jesus' Speech to the Online Graduation Crowd

In this paragraph, the speaker sets the scene for Jesus' speech by imagining it as an online graduation address to a crowd of graduates. The audience is described as searching for both physical and spiritual fulfillment in a difficult world. The speaker encourages the audience to imagine themselves as part of this crowd, listening to Jesus' message about being the 'bread of life' that comes from heaven. The speech is rooted in the Gospel of John, chapter 6, where Jesus asserts that those who trust in him will never go hungry or thirsty, and that God's work for humanity is to believe in him. The audience is challenged to consider their own search for meaning and purpose, and to listen to Jesus' words with an open heart.

05:03

🤔 The Challenge of Believing in Jesus' Authority

This paragraph delves into the skepticism faced by Jesus as he claims to be the bread of life sent from heaven. The speaker reflects on the natural human desire for proof and validation, especially when faced with such grand claims. Jesus' response to the challenge is to emphasize the role of the Father in drawing people to him and the necessity of faith. He asserts that he has seen the Father and knows him, which is the basis of his authority. The speaker also contrasts the message of self-belief promoted by modern leaders and media with Jesus' call to faith in him as the source of eternal life. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the difficulty of faith and the alternatives to believing in Jesus, questioning the ability of worldly achievements to provide true security, meaning, and life.

10:05

🛑 The Pitfalls of Self-Belief and the Call to Faith in Jesus

In the final paragraph, the speaker critiques the prevalent advice given to young people to believe in themselves and pursue their own visions of what is right. The speaker points out the inherent problems with this advice, noting that it leads to a fragmented society with conflicting ideas of truth and morality. The speaker contrasts this with Jesus' message of faith, which offers a unified vision and a source of life that transcends individual desires and ego. The paragraph concludes with a call to take a leap of faith in Jesus, who promises to satisfy the deepest hungers and thirsts of humanity. The speaker also includes a prayer for clarity and guidance, asking for the revelation of Jesus' true identity and the recognition of the futility of placing trust in worldly things.

Keywords

💡Prophet Isaiah

Prophet Isaiah is a biblical figure known for his prophecies in the Hebrew Bible. In the video, he is referenced as the source of a quote that sets the stage for the theme of the video, which is about sending a messenger ahead to prepare the way. This relates to the Christian belief that Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

💡Gospel of John

The Gospel of John is one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament, which narrates the life of Jesus Christ. The video discusses Jesus' teachings as depicted in this gospel, specifically focusing on his discourse in John chapter 6, which is central to the video's exploration of faith and spiritual nourishment.

💡Bread of Life

In the context of the video, 'Bread of Life' is a metaphor used by Jesus to describe himself in the Gospel of John, indicating that those who believe in him will never hunger or thirst spiritually. The video uses this metaphor to discuss the spiritual sustenance that Jesus offers in contrast to the physical needs of the crowd.

💡Spiritual Food

Spiritual food in the video refers to the non-material nourishment that people seek, such as meaning, purpose, and good relationships. It is juxtaposed with physical sustenance like food and financial stability, highlighting the human quest for both physical and spiritual fulfillment.

💡Faith

Faith is a central theme in the video, emphasizing the belief in Jesus as the source of eternal life. It is the act of trusting in Jesus and God, as illustrated by Jesus' call for the crowd to believe in him as the bread that came down from heaven.

💡Father (God)

The term 'Father' in the video refers to God, who is portrayed as the one who draws people to Jesus. It signifies the divine initiative in salvation and the relationship between God and Jesus, as well as between God and believers.

💡Eternal Life

Eternal life in the video is the promise of everlasting existence offered by Jesus to those who believe in him. It is contrasted with the temporal nature of physical life and the search for meaning and purpose beyond the physical realm.

💡Manna

Manna is a biblical reference to the food that God provided for the Israelites during their 40 years in the wilderness, as mentioned in the video. It serves as a historical example to compare the physical sustenance of manna with the spiritual sustenance offered by Jesus, the Bread of Life.

💡Commencement Speech

A commencement speech is a traditional address given at graduation ceremonies. The video contrasts such speeches, often filled with advice and encouragement, with Jesus' message, critiquing the self-reliance promoted by modern leaders and urging faith in Jesus instead.

💡Leap of Faith

A leap of faith in the video is the act of believing in something without concrete evidence, particularly faith in Jesus as the source of life. It is presented as a choice between trusting in oneself or in the world's leaders versus trusting in Jesus and the eternal life he offers.

💡Self-Belief

Self-belief, as discussed in the video, is the encouragement to trust in one's own abilities and judgment. The video critiques this notion, suggesting that it can lead to despair and confusion, and instead points to faith in Jesus as a more reliable source of guidance and purpose.

Highlights

The series explores the life of Jesus as told in the Gospel of John, focusing on a speech given in John chapter 6.

The audience is encouraged to imagine being in the crowd hearing Jesus' speech for the first time, in a modern online graduation setting.

Jesus' speech addresses people searching for both physical and spiritual sustenance in a difficult world.

The speech emphasizes that Jesus is the bread of life, and those who trust in him will never go hungry or thirsty.

The audience is challenged to consider their own search for safety, meaning, and freedom in the context of Jesus' message.

Jesus responds to skepticism by pointing to the decision and faithfulness of God, the Father, in drawing people to him.

Jesus asserts that no one has seen the Father except him, as he comes from the Father and knows him.

The speech calls for faith in Jesus as the source of eternal life, contrasting with the temporary sustenance of physical bread.

Jesus' claim of being the living bread that came down from heaven is presented as a radical and challenging statement.

The speech discusses the reaction of the religious leaders to Jesus' claims and the ensuing debate about his authority.

Jesus' message is contrasted with contemporary graduation speeches that advise young people to believe in themselves.

The transcript critiques the advice given by leaders to the younger generation, suggesting it leads to a pit of despair.

The speech calls for a leap of faith, challenging the audience to consider who or what they truly trust for life's sustenance.

Jesus is presented as offering a better vision for humanity and for each individual, compared to the world's offerings.

The closing prayer asks for clarity in recognizing Jesus and the need to shift trust from worldly things to him.

The speech concludes with an invitation to take a leap of faith in Jesus, who offers a better kingdom and way of life.

The transcript ends with a reminder to cast one's cares upon Jesus, as he cares for the audience.

Transcripts

[Music]

as it is written in isaiah the prophet

look i am sending my messenger ahead of

you who will prepare your way

welcome to bt and our looking for light

series where we learn about the life of

jesus as told in the gospel of john

we are continuing a speech that jesus

gives in john chapter 6.

in the previous episode i asked us to

imagine that we

are in the crowd hearing this speech for

the first time

let's keep on that theme but i'm gonna

switch the scenario up a bit

i just listened to some of those online

graduation speeches by

politicians and celebrities and

presidents so let's pretend that jesus

is giving this speech to an online crowd

of graduates so we're part of that crowd

and we're watching on a screen

last episode uh we were part of the

crowd back then

in this episode imagine that he shows up

that jesus shows up in our world

and he's giving that speech to us as

we're searching for what comes

next got it

try it okay we'll see what happens

earlier in chapter six we get a

description of the people in the crowd

they are searching people they are

hungry people

they are people searching for physical

substance for things like

food security stability in a difficult

world

they're also human so i imagine they are

searching for

spiritual food too for good

relationships for meaning for purpose

it isn't all that hard for us to imagine

their situation it's it's the human

situation

we're searching for a lot of material

stuff for food for security for health

for financial stability

and we are longing for the spiritual

stuff of life for lack of a better term

spiritual stuff right for human

connection for meaning for purpose

he's speaking to people like us

people living in difficult circumstances

in a difficult world

he's speaking to humans with desires

with hopes

humans are searching for safety for

meaning for freedom

so imagine he's speaking to you imagine

you're in the crowd you're on this

zoom meeting anxious about the future

and let's listen to what he has to say

i'll give you just some quick background

before we hop into the actual verses

uh he's been saying and this was in last

episode that he is the bread of life

come down from heaven

all who trust in him will never go

hungry or thirsty and the work that god

has for humanity for each and every

person

is to trust him is to believe in him is

to believe him

and come to him and come to jesus and

trust him

it's it's that's been his simple message

so far

and we'll pick up in verse 41 and you'll

see that the kind of the grumbling

starts so this is verse 41

then the jews began to complain about

him because he said

i am the bread that came down from

heaven

they were saying is not this jesus the

son of joseph whose father and mother we

know

how can he now say i have come down from

heaven

okay quick quick twist some of the

people on zoom get unmute and they start

heckling jesus during his speech

so let's see what he says jesus answered

them

do not complain among yourselves no one

can come to me unless drawn by the

father who sent me

and i will raise that person up on the

last day

it is written in the prophets and they

shall all be taught by god

everyone who has heard and learned from

the father comes to me

not that anyone has seen the father

except the one who is from god

he has seen the father very truly i tell

you

whoever believes has eternal life i

am the bread of life your ancestors ate

the manna in the wilderness and they

died

this is the bread that comes down from

heaven so that one may eat of it and not

die

i am the living bread that came down

from heaven

whoever eats of this bread will live

forever and the bread that i will give

for the life of the world

is my flesh

okay

in this section of the speech the jews

and that term really means the religious

leaders the jewish religious leaders

religious leaders of the time they have

a decent question

that i think many of us would have

how can the human jesus be one

sent from heaven

you might be hearing this speech in your

zoom room and think what qualifies jesus

to give the commencement speech

he isn't a celebrity or president he's

the son of a carpenter

where's his authority why this guy

i i wrestle with the answer jesus gives

and i want some more proof but

all right my initial thought is i want

more proof but listen here's his answer

his response is to point to the decision

and faithfulness of the father and then

he just reproclaims the call to faith

so they ask how is this possible you're

a regular guy

jesus says don't complain no one

comes unless drawn by the father no

one's going to believe in me unless the

father draws them

the same god that sends jesus to people

is the one who draws people to jesus

and this father god will be faithful to

all the people he draws to jesus

so his simple answer is god causes

everyone who believes

to believe then he keeps going he says

no one has seen the father except the

one who comes from him

so he's saying he has seen the father

because he comes from the father now

this

this is critical and this is really the

proof that jesus gives

his argument essentially i've been sent

from the father

so i am the one who has seen the father

and knows him

so i am the one who knows what he's

talking about

and then he just calls them again to

believe

he hammers at home believe in me i'm the

bread of real lasting

life yes your ancestors had physical

bread to help you for 40 years

but i am the true living bread that

comes down from heaven

eat of me the living bread and you'll

live

the real forever life the bread that i'm

giving for the life of the whole world

is

my flesh

and boy the saying i'm giving my flesh

to eat

gonna oh it's gonna open up a whole new

can of confusing worms

and we'll get into that in the next

episode

the speech his message it all comes back

to who will you believe in and who will

you go to

daily for life it all comes down to

faith

in someone these are wild

bold claims jesus says trust me i'm the

real bread

and you should trust me because i'm from

the father and that's

hard to believe sometimes it might be

hard to believe as you listen

but what is the alternative what are you

already believing in

yourself to believe that another human

can give you real life

to believe that a job or a nation or

money or achievement can give you life

can any of those give us security

meaning purpose

can any of those give life eternal

so i said i listened and read some of

the speeches last week given online by

famous leaders and celebrities to the

class of 2020.

these were you know these zoom

graduations and it's for 18 to 22 year

olds

these were words from the respected and

listened to leaders of our time these

are the sages the prophets

the respected voices of authority

and as they spoke two things struck me

one was that the students were told that

many leaders right now are failing them

they mentioned political leadership and

even parents

they said essentially these folks who

came before you are bungling it up and

so

don't put your faith in them they're not

doing the right things

they're even asking the wrong questions

they're too concerned about themselves

and their own

power and their own ego

that's the first thing they were saying

i think i generally agree with that

but then their second main point that i

heard a few different times

was this it's up to you go for what you

want believe in your

self at the same time i was hearing

these speeches i heard an npr interview

with

the creators of a popular children's

show and the creators were saying

the whole purpose of the show they made

is to help kids learn to look inside and

find their true selves and believe in

themselves

this is what is being told consistently

from leadership in this world

to our kids and young adults the leaders

have failed you

believe in yourself to get it right

okay stay with me on this to believe

that jesus

is the life and comes from the father

and therefore can make these claims

that's difficult to believe

that believing in him can give eternal

life and freedom and meeting that's

difficult to believe

it is a total act of faith

but here's what western society has to

offer to young people at their

graduation

and these are thought out speeches about

the best advice that can be given to

young people by the leaders in our

society this isn't off the cuff stuff

the advice they're giving is your

parents and your leaders are failing do

not believe in them believe in

yourselves

do what you think is right do what makes

you happy

there's two huge problems

the leaders are doing exactly that too

they're believing in themselves too

they're chasing power and fame for

themselves and that's part of why there

is such a problem

they got it wrong they are sinners

so that might not be the word that would

be used they are partisan and only care

about themselves

part of this problem is that all of our

best leaders in government

are playing politics and only want to do

what's best for them

that's because they're chasing their

dreams and they're believing in

themselves

they are looking inside and going after

what they want

the second huge problem is we tell the

next generation you go and look within

and believe in yourself and you go get

it right

that's said to a million different young

people from the leaders in our society

the voices that are authorities if each

of those young people went out and did

that there would be a million different

visions for what is right

what if i believe in myself and then see

how things ought to be done

and you believe in yourself and think a

totally different thing should be done

there'll be a million different ideas

young people

society is failing you and their advice

is to keep

doing what they are doing and it'll get

magically be different

they're calling you to a leap of faith

into yourself

it's the same call no matter what it's a

call to a leap of faith it's just

who are you putting your faith in and if

you take the leap of faith into yourself

you'll end up in a pit of despair

life is all a leap of faith jesus knows

that and he's extremely transparent

about it

he cries out come to me believe in me

trust me i'll satisfy your hunger and

thirst

if not jesus then you're going to have

to believe in you

or someone else in this world

we make these videos to help people in

dark places see the light of jesus

jesus has i believe a better vision of

the world

a better vision of humanity and a better

vision

for you than you even have for yourself

his life goal was not to be served and

get power but was to serve and give

himself

his flesh which is the next episode for

the world

to give the world real life

we're all going to have to take a leap

of faith in something

take a leap of faith to trust him take a

leap of faith away from the things

you're trusting now and trust him

look to him read these gospels give him

a chance he has something better

he has a better kingdom a better way to

live than is being offered by others

in this world so take the leap of faith

in him the end of rant

i'll pray for us

lord help us see clearly

who you are and what's wrong with the

world we're in

lord i pray that you would show yourself

reveal yourself

and call people to you help us see where

we put our trust and hope in things that

won't give

life i pray for this world

it's hurt it's pain its struggles

all the fears we're going through the

the brokenness and leadership structures

and systems

i pray that we might have fresh eyes to

look to you

to look uh to your kingdom to look to

your mercy your justice your love and

your truth

lord show yourself to us

call us to faith help us take a leap of

faith in you

in your name we pray amen

cast your cares upon him because he

cares for you

[Music]

so

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

you