Table of Contents
Date: SUN 7:00pm 2nd November 2025
Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin
Bible Reference: John 6:51
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
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Sermon Summary
Introductory Paragraph
In the Gospel of John, chapter 6, Jesus performs the miracle of feeding the five thousand and then reveals Himself as the true sustenance for the soul. This message explores Christ’s majestic declaration as the Bread of Life, the miraculous demonstration of His power, the merciful discovery of His heavenly origin, and the mighty doctrine of appropriation by faith. May these truths draw listeners and readers to feast upon the living Bread who alone satisfies eternal hunger.
Scripture Reading: John 6:35–51 (Authorised Version)
Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Sermon Text: John 6:48–51
I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Central Question: Are you living on or by the Bread of Life?
These words follow the feeding of the five thousand—one of the mightiest miracles in the New Testament, recorded four times. With five barley loaves and two small fishes, Christ fed five thousand men, besides women and children, and twelve baskets of fragments remained.
Four Key Truths
1. A Majestic Declaration (v. 48)
“I am that bread of life.”
This echoes John 6:35 and marks the first of seven “I AM” statements in John’s Gospel:
- I am the bread of life (6:35)
- I am the light of the world (8:12)
- I am the door (10:7)
- I am the good shepherd (10:11–14)
- I am the resurrection and the life (11:25)
- I am the way, the truth, and the life (14:6)
- I am the true vine (15:1)
“I AM” recalls Exodus 3:14—God’s revelation to Moses: “I AM THAT I AM.” Jesus claims the divine name, asserting eternal existence, deity, and exclusivity. He is not literal bread but the spiritual sustenance that meets every need—physical, mental, emotional, and above all, spiritual.
“He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
2. A Miraculous Demonstration (vv. 49–50)
“Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.”
The feeding of the five thousand reveals Christ’s sufficiency. The multitude was hungry and weary; Jesus provided abundantly. Twelve baskets remained—nothing was lost.
Application: Whatever your burden—guilt, fear, unsaved loved ones, illness—Christ is able to meet it. He calmed the storm on Galilee when received into the boat (John 6:21). Bring Him into your circumstances, and experience His peace and provision.
“With Christ in the vessel, you can smile at the storm.”
3. A Merciful Discovery (v. 50)
“This is the bread which cometh down from heaven…”
Five times in John 6, Jesus declares He “came down from heaven” (vv. 32, 33, 41, 50, 58)—the number five symbolising grace. This speaks of:
- Incarnation and virgin birth – God’s visitation in mercy.
- Connection to Ruth 1:6 – “The Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.” Naomi returned to Bethlehem (“house of bread”) at the barley harvest.
- Christ born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) – the Bread of Life from the house of bread, made from barley loaves.
He was born, grew, bruised, broken, and baked in suffering—culminating in the cross: “My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Yet He is the true Bread, not counterfeit, satisfying the God-shaped vacuum in every soul.
4. A Mighty Doctrine: Appropriation by Faith (v. 51)
“I am the living bread… if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Manna sustained physical life; those who ate it still died. But eating the living Bread grants eternal life.
Eating = Faith:
- Coming to Christ
- Resting in Him
- Receiving Him as Lord and Saviour
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters… eat ye that which is good” (Isaiah 55:1–2).
“O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8).
The feast is spread, but you must partake. Christ’s flesh given on the cross is the bread broken for the world. To appropriate it is to trust Him fully: “He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:47).
Closing Appeal
Are you living on the Bread of Life? Have you come to Christ in faith, resting solely in Him for salvation? No other name saves (Acts 4:12). He will not cast out any who come (John 6:37).
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
May the Lord bless these truths to your soul. Amen.
