We are spending the next several weeks looking at the " I Am" statements which Jesus made, as recorded in the gospel of John. These statements are what Jesus said about Himself. The apostle John, who recorded these, was the disciple who quite possibly knew Jesus best. He was one of the inner circle of 3, and the disciple whom Jesus loved. The transformation in John was incredible, and is just a great example of the transforming power of the gospel. Even on down through today. John went from being this gruff fisherman to becoming the apostle of love. He was probably the only one of the apostles who died of natural causes. I love telling this story on him. He was known as one of the sons of thunder when he was younger. I’ll bet he was a bear; he wanted to destroy a town that refused to welcome them. Tradition tells us however when he was so old he could no longer walk and they would carry him into the meeting, and he would teach his church on is favorite topic, love. John is the one that wrote the love chapter 1^st Cor. 13, that is often read at wedding, Love is patient, love is kind etc. They would prop his mat up and he would teach from there, "Love one another." And they would wait. And wait. And wait. Teacher teach us more. "This is enough", He would say. When you think about it, love really is enough. Last week I started our study by looking at what John taught about Jesus, namely that Jesus was God in the flesh. John wrote this gospel to reveal Jesus to us. Whereas the other gospels sought to tell what Jesus did, John wanted to teach us who Jesus was, what HE was like, and that He was God.

Last week we also looked at a very significant "I Am" statement which Jesus made, as recorded by John. To start with, when Jesus said "I Am," He was identifying Himself as the Jehovah God of the Old Testament. The very same one who spoke to Moses out of the burning bush. When Moses asked God, "If the people ask who sent me, what should I tell them?" God replied, "I AM who I AM." So from that point on "I Am" became the name of God. So when Jesus says, "I am" he was saying I’m God. Then He went on to say, "He was the light of the world." Jesus liked to teach in relation to what was happening at the time, and this "I Am" statement came on the last and greatest day of the feast of Tabernacles, quite possible after they had lit the 4 huge lamps outside the temple. These lights were so big they lit up the streets in the whole area. This was done to commemorate God’s leading of the children out of Egypt with the pillar of fire, or light. That pillar of light represented God physical presence among them, and how God led them and protected them on their way to the promised land. Jesus stood there with these blazing candelabras behind Him, and declared He was the light of the world. When He proclaimed this He was telling them, "I am God, and I will lead you and protect you and bring you to the Promised Land." And He sure did lead the way, even though it cost Him His life. Now all we have to do is follow. Jesus declaring Himself the, "I Am" was enough to cause Him to nearly get stoned latter that day. So in this first statement we looked at last week we learned that, Jesus is declaring Himself God who leads us and protects us, and will lead us to the Promised Land, if we will only follow.

This week we are going to look at the I Am statement found in Chapter 6 of John’s gospel and verse 35 pg._755_ in your pew bibles. This is when Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." Now I mentioned that Jesus likes to use what was happening at that moment as a topic for teaching. If you look back to the beginning of chapter 6 you’ll notice that this is where Jesus feeds the huge crowd from the boy’s small lunch. This is the only miracle that is recorded in all Four of the gospels, it made that big of an impression on the disciples. In V.15 we read that Jesus knew they were going to try and force Him to be their king, it was such a welcome miracle. Here in the United States we have no concept of what it feels like to be hungry every day, for weeks at a time. These people were so relieved to not only be able to eat but to have their fill, they wanted to take Jesus and make Him be their king. 5000 men were fed that day, not counting women, children, and any gentiles that may have been there. All from just 5 small loves, and two small fish. Jesus just kept passing out the food, until everyone had enough. Then when He was done he told the disciples to gather up the leftovers, and they ended up with 12 baskets full from just the pieces that were left, some think this was for the gentiles who were present, because they would not be allowed to eat with the Jews. This shows us that none of God’s gifts are to be wasted. After lunch Jesus sent the twelve disciples down to the lake go on ahead of Him while He went up on the mountain to pray. Now the Sea of Galilee is a big body of water almost the size of Tahoe and the sea is getting rough, the wind is blowing these guys who had been rowing this big old heavy wooden boat that was maybe 24’ long for 3 ½ mile, and they are straining at the ores, not making much progress, and here comes Jesus walking on the water. Even after all they had already seen this still would be kind of freaky. They take Him in the boat and the boat is immediately on the other shore. In the morning the people, who ate their fill the day before, realize their sugar daddy is no longer with them, and not knowing where else to go they follow the disciples across the lake. When they found Jesus on the other side they asked Him how he got here. They saw the disciples leave without Him and there were no little jet boats for rent that day. Jesus replies with a little zinger. V.26 "I tell you the truth you are looking for me not because you saw the miraculous signs but because you ate the loves and had your fill." The people had seen the signs but were not willing to accept Him as the Messiah; they were only interested in getting their bellies full. It is neat that they were intent on finding Jesus. It’s the same for us today, if we want to find God we must be diligent in searching also. But we have to search with right motives. Jesus says these guys were just looking for Him because they were just after some free grub not because they believed, they wanted more signs. This is always true of unbelief, they want to see more, one more miracle, they want more evidence. But some will never got enough because their hearts were hardened. It’s the same today, people demand a sign but there will never be enough, if their hearts are hard. The people wanted Manna from heaven, or even something better. After all the manna Moses gave them , the Messiah should send down Swingle's Kona Tri-tip. I don’t know what they were expecting. But unbelief sets false standards, and rejects obvious facts.

So now here it is the day after the feeding of this huge crowd of people, maybe 20,000 total, and Jesus is addressing these who have followed Him looking for another lunch. Let’s go back up to V.27 Jesus tells us not to work for food that spoils but for food which endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give you. On Him, God the Father has placed His seal of approval. V.28 The people asked, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus turns it around and it’s not about doing but believing. "The work of God is this, to believe in the one He has sent." Then the people ask for a miraculous sign that they might believe. Jesus is so patient. Remember what I just said about unbelief? It always wants more, and places these unrealistic demands. If I would have been Jesus right then, I’m afraid fire and brimstone would have been happening about now. He had just fed maybe as many as 15 or 20,000 people with 5 loves and a couple little fish. And they wanted more of a sign. They were still following Jesus for what they could get. Back to the statement in V.28 the work of God is this, to believe in the one He sent. Salvation is found in no other. Not in any creed, or church, or ritual. Not in a certain pastor or preacher, or priest, but it is found in believing in the one God sent. Believing in Jesus.

Then Jesus gives us this powerful "I AM" statement. V.35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never go thirsty.

It is so easy to fall into this trap. We follow Jesus for what we can get out of it. What’s in it for me? The crowd that followed Jesus across the lake were just in it for the free lunch. But people are people, and to often this can be the same with us today. Many are only concerned about what I will get if I come to Christ. This is one area where we must all guard our hearts. We are in this relationship with Christ not for the loves, but for the love. It’s not about what we can get, but what we can give in Jesus’ name, it’s about doing God will not our own. It’s not about me, it’s not about I. It’s all about Him. We seek not to glorify ourselves, but to glorify the one who made us. We were made for this, to sing His praises to Him, and to glorify Him forever. People follow Christ for all kinds of reasons. Worst case scenario would be when people claim to follow Christ and enter the ministry because it appears to be a cushy job where you get to work with nice people and make lots of money. Those are the people who make the headlines. The ones that end up running off with the building fund and the secretary. Some come to Christ because they are seeking a reward in this life. If I come to Christ He will give me a wife, or a child, or save me from cancer. He may pour out His blessings on us but this is not the reason we follow Christ. We follow Him so that we that we can glorify Him. Other things will be added onto this. Hopefully we will have a pleasant social experience, we will fellowship with nice people, that our lives will be spared the problems that are associated with those who don’t know the truth, that we will inherit eternal life, we’ll establish a social network that will help us when we go through hard times. These are just things that are added on. We need to keep the main thing the main thing; loving the Lord, and committing our lives to Him, glorifying Him in all that we say and do, in the good times and the bad.

V. 35 Then Jesus declared," I AM" the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." Jesus starts off telling them He is Jehovah God, the same God who fed their ancestors the manna while they were wandering in the wilderness for 40 years on their way to the promised land. There might have been as many as 6 million people, plus their livestock. During all that time He fed them with a flake like substance called manna that fell from heaven. It was a perfect food everyone could eat and have their fill. The people wanted Jesus to give them this manna again, so they would never be hungry.

But Jesus offers them more. Deep down in our innermost being we all have this desire, this need to know God. Every tribe or culture that has ever been has this yearning to know what’s next and to know God. We’re made with this inner awareness that here is a God. That’s why there were so many gods in ancient civilizations. If you are a nonbeliever here today, and yes there are non believers in church, and I hope you’re here because you’re seeking God, we love you and we are glad you are here. We need you. All of us have this in common; we all really want to know God, as we were all seekers at one time. Do you ever want something that you can’t have? Whenever we go backpacking for some reason I crave ice cream. It’s crazy. I can go 2 months at home without craving ice cream, but as soon as we get 10 miles off the road, oh ice cream. Like a guy is going to be peddling his bike ringing his little bell around Ramon Lake. Our craving for God is like this. We start thinking, I want to know God, I want to know if there is a heaven, and I want to know if I can go there, and if I can spend eternity there. But how? I challenge any unbeliever here today start thinking that thought. I guarantee that guy on the bicycle with his little bell, and his ice cream sandwiches, and his It’s it bars are not going to satisfy. Jesus is the only way this hunger to know God is ever going to be satisfied, and we can have this assurance. God came to earth and took a body and lived among us so we could know God. He is telling us in this "I am" statement that we studied today that He is God and He will satisfy our desire to know Him. If we come to Him He will fill us up and we will never have that longing again. C.S. Lewis was one of the great thinkers of our time, he died in 64 but his writings will live on. In "Mere Christianity" he wrote that creatures are not born with a desire unless satisfaction for that desire exists. A baby feels hunger: well there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well there is such a thing as water. If we find ourselves which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world. Earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy our desire to know God, but to arouse it, to suggest the real thing.

Back in V. 28 the people ask Jesus, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" They were still thinking that to know God you had to do some stellar works, you had to be this really great, and worthy person.

Jesus answers them, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent." Period! End of sentence. All we need to do to have this hunger for God satisfied is to believe in Jesus. Jesus is giving us more than a bagel here, He’s giving us the bread of life. He tells the crowd that their ancestors ate the manna from heaven and they all died, but if we eat the bread He is offering we will never die. Believe in Jesus and live, eternally. You can’t work for it, you can’t buy it, all we can do is believe in the one God sent.

Jesus said this bread is His flesh and He tells us to eat Him. When we eat something it becomes a part of us, this is what Jesus is telling us to do, take him in, eat Him up. Let Him become part of you.

The former president of World Relief, Dr Calver tells in his book of a chance encounter his wife had with a woman named Ronda in Africa. This woman was blind and her husband was mentally ill and couldn’t work. She sat in the dust with one hand holding her tin cup begging for food or money, and the other hand holding a small baby, her granddaughter, whose mother had just died of aids. That day her only possession had been stolen from her side, a small water jar. Ruth leaned over to talk to her, and asked if there was any message that she would like her to take back to her brothers and sisters in the west. She said, "Yes there is something I would like you to tell them. I want you to pass along the message that Ronda is doing well and that all is fine for me here. Please say to my brothers and sisters that I have everything I could need because, because I have Jesus." Our dear sister Ronda had feasted on the bread of life, and was satisfied. I can’t wait to meet her.

We who have so much can hardly fathom making a confession like that. What faith , what contentment. We think we need so many things, houses, cars, dinner out, flat screen TVs. But at the end of it all there is only one thing that’s essential. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord, who is the bread of life. When we have Jesus we have all we need, he is the true Wonder Bread.

It’s communion Sunday today, perfect because we’re talking about the bread of life. Jesus gave us this wonderful way of remembering what He did for us and how He alone can satisfy the hunger we all have to know God. We’re going to celebrate communion today, and we have an open communion. That means all believers are welcome to participate. I want to go right into the communion service now and let’s start with the apostle creed found inside the front cover of your hymnals

I believe in God the father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, who was conceived by the Holy spirit, born of the virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified dead and buried; He descended into Hades; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven; and sitteth  on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the Holy Christ church; the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Could the deacons come forward to distribute the elements. I would like to do something different today and have you pass out the crackers and the juice at the same time and I would ask everyone to hold the elements until all are served. If Apostle’s creed is in fact your confession we welcome you to partake in communion today. There is a stern warning in 1^st  Cor. About partaking communion in an unworthy manner. I have known people, who because of some past sin in their life feel so unworthy they don’t want to take communion. We’re all unworthy, in and of ourselves. None of us are good enough. In fact if you think you are good enough, you have a problem. Taking communion in an unworthy manner refers to not giving serious thought about what is taking place. If you have unconfessed sin in your life ask for forgiveness right now, and give thanks for all that Jesus has done and does for us. He not only came to reveal God to us but He came to redeem us as well. To suffer the punishment we all deserve. Communion is not just about looking back on what Jesus did for us but also looking ahead to what He is planning for us in the future, and giving thanks again.

The bread Jesus used when He shared this first communion with His disciples was made without yeast, this symbolizes His holiness, when we eat Jesus, when we make Him part of us, we share in that holiness. He is food for our souls, a food that never spoils that will last. It will sustain us all the way on our journey to the promised land. Without His holiness we could never hope to see God, He alone satisfies this hunger for God because He is holy, and He is in us. He paved the way, spilling His blood so we could have a relationship with God. His blood was shed for you and me. We hunger for hope as well, and as we partake we not only partake in His death but we partake in the fact that He rose again and that he will come back. With His blood he purchased people from every tribe and nation. Communion is about grace, getting all the riches of heaven which we could never hope to deserve apart from what Jesus did. Communion is about forgiveness of sins, which is only a prayer away. Lord forgive me. Communion is about strength for the journey through a relationship with Christ and He will guide us and direct us. Communion is about a hope for tomorrow. Because He lives I can face tomorrow. Jesus rose from the dead to prove everything He said was true, He said he is going to prepare a place for us. We cannot even imagine how wonderful heaven will be. We look at the wonder of nature all around us and can only imagine. Communion in some mysterious way, beyond any of our understanding brings health to the soul. Jesus is the true Wonder Bread. He is, like our sister Ronda said, "All we need".

Let’s pray: Our most gracious Lord we come to you today with heart of thanksgiving. Thanking you for revealing yourself to us in the person of Jesus, our bread of life, food for our souls. Thank you for that marvelous act of redemptive work which you performed on the cross for us. In that one day you made a way possible for us to have a relationship with you. May we never take this lightly. Thank you dear Jesus for your body which was given for us and for the new covenant poured out in your blood. As we partake may we remember you. In your precious name we pray, Amen

Let’s partake together first the wafer then the juice. Let’s sing, Thank you lord for saving my soul.