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I Am The Bread of Life (radio broadcast)

John 6:53-58

Pastor Martin expounds John 6:53-58, focusing on Jesus' declaration, "I am the bread of life," and the command to "eat my flesh and drink my blood." He argues that this seemingly difficult teaching is not about a mystical ritual, but a call to saving faith in Christ crucified. Martin meticulously parallels Jesus' promises to those who 'believe' (John 6:40) and those who 'eat and drink' (John 6:54), demonstrating that these are two expressions of the same act: receiving and continually feeding upon Christ by faith for eternal life. The sermon applies this truth to both the spiritually dead, urging them to believe, and to professing believers, challenging them to continually feed on Christ.

3 illustrations in this sermon

The Positive Promise: Eternal Life Through Continual Feeding
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Ravenous Animals Eating Flesh

Driving home: They have right now eternal life. Eternal life is their present possession. Their inviolable possession. They now possess. And will continue to possess. Into the endless eons of eternity.

The Greek word for 'eat' (trogo) is likened to ravenous animals continually tearing and consuming flesh, illustrating the continuous, intense nature of feeding on Christ by faith.

It means to nibble. It means to crunch. It is a word you would use. To describe ravenous animals.

10:25 - 10:34 Read in full sermon
The Manna Analogy: Receiving God's Gift by Faith
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Israelites and the Manna

In this part of the sermon: Using the analogy of the manna in the wilderness, Martin illustrates that just as the Israelites had to simply gather and eat the manna, so humanity must simply receive and feed…

The story of the Israelites receiving and eating manna in the wilderness is used to illustrate how one 'eats' Christ's flesh and 'drinks' his blood: by simply receiving God's provision by faith, without works or rituals.

To eat his flesh. What is it to drink his blood? It is simply to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is to do what the ancient Israelites did with the manna.

19:16 - 19:30 Read in full sermon
The Present Invitation: Christ Offered in the Word and Spirit
palette metaphor

Junk Food of the World

The point: Do not go on trying to find life on the junk food of this world, in the sand and marbles and gravel of the lust of the flesh, or in pursuits that dishonor God.

The pursuits and pleasures of the world are metaphorically described as 'junk food,' 'sand and marbles, and gravel,' to contrast them with Christ, the true bread of life, and highlight their inability to provide true spiritual life.

On the junk food. Of this world. Will you go on trying to find life. In the sand and marbles.

24:20 - 24:28 Read in full sermon
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