WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:22.079 Hey, if you're new, my name's Ryan. 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:25.519 We're absolutely thrilled to have you join us today. 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:28.320 And so last week I was thinking about this. 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:39.679 And I first met her at a college hang, not too dissimilar to what we're having tonight at our house. 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:46.079 So, college students, you never know. 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:50.560 I remember it like it was yesterday. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:56.000 It was a Hawaiian luau theme, and it was a potluck style at our church. 00:00:56.240 --> 00:01:04.239 And she showed up with pineapple fried rice that was actually she had it in the bowl used as the pineapple. 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:06.000 The pineapple was the bowl hauled out. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:07.439 I mean creative, right? 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:15.040 And I remember seeing this beautiful blonde by the food table dropping off this pineapple fried rice. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:16.640 I'm like, I gotta talk to her. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:20.319 You know, I made a beeline of two things I love, her and food. 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:22.799 And so this right next to each other. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:27.439 We stayed by that food table the entire time and talked. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:33.840 I don't remember anything else about the Lubau except for talking to her and pineapple fried rice. 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:34.560 That's it. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:42.159 And now here's the problem is when we were dating, or at least met, uh, this was in the season where you didn't have really cell phones. 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:48.000 There was no social media, Instagram, Facebook, MySpace, Napster wasn't even around yet, you know. 00:01:48.159 --> 00:01:50.560 Um, and and I made a critical error. 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:52.480 I didn't get her phone number. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:54.400 Yeah, yeah. 00:01:54.879 --> 00:01:59.840 Um, and I really wanted to know who this girl is. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:02.560 You know, I met her, Jenny Eckergren was her last name. 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:08.639 And so I began to ask all these friends, and I'm like, dude, this girl, she's amazing, she's beautiful. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:10.639 Like, do you know anything about her? 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:18.080 And um I asked guys, which was probably the wrong way to do it, because all of the other guys had crushes on her as well. 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:19.439 They're like, Yeah, she's amazing. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:22.800 Um, and I had someone else go, like, yeah, she's off limits, she's mine. 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:24.319 I'm like, whoa, possessive. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:25.120 Come on. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:26.080 All right. 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:27.680 He lost. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:34.159 Um, let's move on. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:40.080 Um, but I wanted to get to know her, and one night it was over the summer. 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:42.639 I was leading worship for the high school ministry at the time. 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:45.120 And again, remember, no cell phones or anything like this. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:54.719 We had high school students show up on Saturday night, we had Saturday evening services, and they would show up and um we would rehearse for a Sunday morning high school group. 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:59.439 And they showed up, and then Jenny came kind of after church with some friends. 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:01.840 She said, Hey, some of our friends are going bowling tonight. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:02.960 I was like, Uh-huh. 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:04.400 Would you want to come? 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:05.280 Uh-huh. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:10.080 And and so I did what every responsible 19-year-old would do. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:14.159 I turned to that group of high schoolers and said, Practice is canceled. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:17.039 The spirit will move. 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:21.919 And I look back on that, they didn't have cell phones. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:22.879 How did they get home? 00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:25.599 Like with their like, what a terrible person. 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:28.080 Um, but it was a great night. 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:29.280 It was a great night. 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:36.719 And so we went, we went bowling, and you know, when it's with friends, you don't really get to know the person very well. 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:41.680 And then after that, just her and I went out to Java Junction Coffee in Santa Cruz. 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:44.479 It's still there, you can go there, it's a sacred place. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:56.560 Um we sat there until it closed, and I just got to know this girl who eventually became my wife. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:00.400 And it just was this driving question throughout the summer. 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:03.120 It just was like, I want to know you. 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:06.240 Like there's something about you I want to know. 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:08.879 And I kept asking, who is this girl? 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:11.039 Like there's something there. 00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:20.079 You know, at the very beginning of 2023, we said for us as a church, like a very simple, in fact, it feels almost silly to say. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:22.720 Like, this is like what we want to do as a church. 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:33.600 It feels silly because, like, this is what the church is, this is what we as followers of Jesus are, but said this is what we're gonna be about, that we really, really want to know Jesus. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:42.079 Like, not just know about him, know information about him, but like personally, intimately, transformatively know him. 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:59.279 Like, like fall more in love with him and get to know him in such a way that that we just begin to do the kinds of things that he would do if he were here with us. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:08.480 You know, I I actually think every single person on the planet should ask, who is Jesus? 00:05:08.959 --> 00:05:10.959 Like, who is he really? 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:18.959 I actually think if you have any intellectual integrity, you have to ask that question. 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:30.240 Who is this man that literally divided history that is still intriguing, compelling to us to this day? 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:33.120 Who is the person, this man? 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:54.720 That was this carpenter-turned rabbi who lived in a very obscure part of the Roman Empire, eventually was executed by the empire itself, and yet 2,000 years later, we're talking about him and billions of people gathering around the world because of him. 00:05:55.120 --> 00:06:02.959 Like at some point, you have to ask, who is this man? 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:04.160 No. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:16.639 I think even a better question, maybe even a more important question, is who does Jesus say that he is? 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:28.879 Like, not just who do we think he is, and we all have some ideas, and like, oh my I have this, and but who does Jesus say that he actually is? 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:35.360 You know, in John's gospel, there's four Gospels, by the way, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:40.399 They're all telling the life of Jesus from different perspectives. 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:46.560 In fact, Matthew is writing to a Jewish audience, so really declaring Jesus as Messiah. 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:53.120 Mark is writing to a predominantly Roman uh audience, and so it's really this action-packed Jesus. 00:06:53.279 --> 00:06:59.839 Um let's see, Luke, he's the doctor, he's the historian, he's really writing to the skeptic. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:17.600 And John, well, John's writing to a people in Asia Minor around Ephesus, and when he's describing his interaction and writing about the story and the life of Jesus, he's writing to the philosophical, the Hellenistic, the uh the cultured. 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:27.040 And he's writing fundamentally so that we might not only know him, but believe in him. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:38.240 And as he writes the account of Jesus' life, there's actually seven different places where Jesus says specifically who he is. 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:39.839 Like you don't have to wrestle with it. 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:45.120 Like if you're sitting down with coffee with Jesus and you're like, Jesus, who are you? 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:46.959 And he would go, I am. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:50.240 And he does this seven different times. 00:07:50.480 --> 00:08:02.240 And in fact, what we're gonna do for the next seven weeks is we're gonna look at the seven I am statements in the Gospel of John, and it's gonna lead us from this day all the way to Easter. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:09.920 And he says, I am the bread of life, I am the light of the world, I am the good shepherd, I am the gate, I am the vine. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:12.480 And then we're gonna finish on Easter Sunday. 00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:15.439 Anyone else excited about Easter Sunday? 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:19.120 I am the resurrection and the life. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:25.279 Like who is Jesus and who does Jesus say he is? 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:27.439 Well, he says this in beginning with us. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:30.480 He says, I am the bread of life. 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:39.039 Whoever comes to me will never go thirsty, and whoever believes in me uh will never, I read that wrong. 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:41.279 Whoever comes to me will never go hungry. 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:42.480 Did I say that? 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:47.840 Next slide, actually, Alyssa, just help me out. 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:50.080 There we go. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:53.600 Why don't we read it aloud? 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:55.919 Because then I don't have to mess up. 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:09.279 I am you guys did much better than me. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:09.840 Good job. 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:11.120 You get an A plus. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:13.919 Jesus, who are you? 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:19.519 The first thing that He wants to reveal and tell us, I am the bread of life. 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:21.279 Now let me give you a little context. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:27.039 In fact, we're gonna read just a section of scripture, and so I want you to kind of get ready as you're listening to me. 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:32.320 So if you have your Bibles or open your phones to John chapter 6, uh, we'll begin in verse 25. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:34.480 John chapter 6, verse 25. 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:41.600 The context for this statement, um, just the day before, Jesus was feeding the five thousands. 00:09:41.679 --> 00:10:14.720 He's out in the wilderness, people flock to him, they find him, he feeds five thousand people, and then he sends his disciples on to Capernaum, but he stays and prays, and then he literally walks on water, and nobody sees it but the disciples, and so he shows up onto the scene in Capernaum, and everybody has been looking for him, trying to get a piece of this miracle worker, this bread multiplier, this person that's going, like, hey, you know what? 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:16.320 You can make bread. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:20.480 We want you as our leader. 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:26.399 Because by the way, anyone who can manufacture bread like that will never go hungry. 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:28.879 In fact, we don't even have to work anymore. 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:29.840 This is great. 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:30.879 You're great. 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:31.679 We want you. 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:42.080 And so, even in this context, there's some deeply political undertones as the people are looking for a political leader and one who will provide for them. 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:46.399 And here's where we pick up the story: John chapter 6, verse 25. 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:51.919 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, Rabbi, when did you get here? 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:54.000 Because they didn't see him walk on water. 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:58.399 Jesus answered, and I love this, he doesn't answer their question. 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:02.799 How often Jesus does this, by the way, read the gospels, it's fascinating. 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:11.679 Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I perform, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:14.399 You got fed and you wanted more. 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:24.080 Verse 27 Do not work for food that spoils, that perishes, but food that endures to eternal life. 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:32.080 Don't spend your life striving after things that'll eventually fade away and are of no eternal value. 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:35.440 Strive after that which will last forever. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:40.399 For on him, uh, which the Son of God and the Son of Man will give you. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:45.279 For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:48.000 So now they're gonna ask a different question. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:54.000 Then they asked him, What must we do to do the works God requires? 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:58.799 Their translation or our translation of this is literally, what do you have to be saved? 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:00.960 What are the eternal life kinds of things? 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:06.159 And in our context, in their context, they're asking, there must be something we have to do. 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:07.600 Jesus is answered. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:10.240 The work of God, notice this, the work of God. 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:11.919 What is the work of God? 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:13.840 Is this to believe. 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:23.279 Not to be better, not to do better, not to earn it, but to believe in the one he has sent me. 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:24.080 Verse 30. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:29.279 So they asked him because they weren't ready to believe in him. 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:39.679 And this is what we do when we're confronted with Jesus and for confronted in such a way where we're like, you know what, this is making me a little uncomfortable. 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:41.519 I don't really want to believe in the one who sent me. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.840 I don't, because that means I have to change my life. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:46.320 So let's change the topic. 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:52.720 So they asked him, What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:54.559 What will you do? 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:59.919 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness as it is written. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:02.799 He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:08.080 I don't think it's a good idea challenging Jesus, but here you they went. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:20.399 Jesus said to them, Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:26.159 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:30.320 Sir, they said, always give us this bread. 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:34.320 What you gave us yesterday must have sucked then, because I'm still hungry. 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:36.000 Give us that bread. 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:44.879 Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:52.799 Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 00:13:53.600 --> 00:14:03.919 The first declaration Jesus gives to us in revealing who he is, if you really want to know Jesus, what is he like? 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:10.399 He says, I am the bread of life. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:17.519 There's so much here, and in the rest of the chapter, in fact, our small groups are diving in deeper into this. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:23.200 I actually just want to unpack the six words in our time together today. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:27.039 I am the bread of life. 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:32.320 And who is Jesus and what it means for us today. 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:37.039 When Jesus began, and I said there's seven I am statements. 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:45.039 This spoke so much deeper to the original audience, the original hearers, than it does today. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:49.679 When Jesus said, I am, here's what he is saying to his audience. 00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:55.039 Jesus is the explanation and revelation of God to the world. 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:56.559 He says, I am. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:58.240 I am. 00:14:58.399 --> 00:14:59.919 I am the explanation. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:02.080 I am explaining what God is like. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:03.919 No, it's even better than that. 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:05.200 I'm the revelation. 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:08.720 I am revealing exactly what God is like. 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:19.360 When you see Jesus, when I see Jesus, when we look at him, you do not just see a good man, you see God in flesh man. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:23.039 And so if you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:28.000 If you want to know how God feels about injustice and the poor and the oppressed, look at Jesus. 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:34.399 If you want to know how God would respond to self-righteous jerks, look at Jesus. 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:40.240 See that phrase I am is actually rooted all the way back into the Exodus story. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:46.320 Moses, he was wandering in the wilderness, uh, not guess wandering. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:50.720 He was tending sheep on the far side of the mountain. 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:54.720 And he sees this burning bush, and it doesn't burn up. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:16:07.440 He's curious, he goes over to it, and God speaks to him from amidst this burning bush that's not burning up, and he calls them, calls Moses to be the liberator of the people of Israel, and he's like, Who am I? 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:08.799 And God's like, No, you don't get it. 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:09.919 It's all about me, not you. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.559 It doesn't matter. 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.840 I called you, so go. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:16.879 And then eventually Moses gets to the point where he's like, Okay, but what's your name? 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:20.799 Like, who am I to tell sent me? 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:29.360 In the ancient day, a name was so much more than just an indicator of like Joe, Tom, Debbie, I don't know why I picked those names. 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:33.919 Um Gertrude, right, whatever. 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:45.679 A name in the ancient day actually was a revelation of a person's character uh and who they are, their identity. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:56.159 And so when he's asking, who is what's your name, he's not just saying, I want to be able to have a name, I want to know who you are, what you're like. 00:16:56.399 --> 00:17:01.200 And then God reveals himself and he gives Moses his covenant name three times. 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:10.160 He says this: he says, I am who I am, Yahweh, I am who I am, I am has sent you. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:13.200 And sometimes I think Moses got to be going like, okay, thank you. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:13.680 I am. 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.279 You told me I am. 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:17.039 What does that even mean? 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:20.160 The Lord, the God of your fathers. 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:25.680 This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:36.640 This word Yahweh, I am, it's ever-existing one, uncreated, sovereign creator of all. 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:40.880 And God, and Jesus, as he declares, he says, I am. 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:45.920 It's interesting when they translated the Hebrew scripture into the Greek, it's called the Septuagint. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:50.000 The phrase, the Greek phrase they use is ego and me. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:55.039 And this is the very phrase Jesus uses seven different times to say, This is me. 00:17:56.319 --> 00:18:15.519 I'm God, I am Jesus, the ever-existing one, I am the uncreated creator, I am the sovereign one walking this planet in flesh and person, eternal, immutable, which means changeless and active. 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:18.960 I am, I am actively engaged and involved. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:24.319 When Jesus says, and if you're gonna sit down with coffee with him, he's gonna begin with, I am. 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:29.759 I'm the explanation and the revelation of God to this world. 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:31.279 And what does that mean? 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:38.480 I'm gonna explain it even more, Jesus says, uh, because I am goes so far, but let me explain it and give you a picture. 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:41.039 I am the bread. 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:47.119 In fact, all seven of the pictures are very visceral, tangible. 00:18:47.920 --> 00:19:00.240 One of the beautiful parts about John's gospel, uh, it was written, uh, and so if you don't have any understanding of the Jewish background, you you can actually get the picture. 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:07.279 And then if you do understand some of the Jewish background, it brings so much more depth and meaning to it. 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:15.759 He says, I am the bread, where Jesus is saying, only Jesus, only me, will finally and fully satisfy the desires of your heart. 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:19.599 Oh, I will finally and fully satisfy. 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:24.720 This picture of bread is the picture of the very sustenance of life. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:29.200 It's like we need food to survive, and without it, we can't. 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:33.279 And Jesus is saying, I am the very sustenance of life. 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:43.200 And when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, they show up on Mount Sinai with Moses, they get the law, these commands, and then they wander for 40 years. 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:54.880 God gives them manna, this heavenly bread that came down that provided for them when they were in the wasteland, when they weren't able to provide on their own. 00:19:55.440 --> 00:20:08.160 And as they got further away from Mount Sinai and from that wandering moment for the Jewish people, the bread, that manna actually began to become synonymous with the law of God that came down from Mount Sinai. 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:19.119 And so when the Jewish people began to talk about the very bread, they began to have this metaphor that was connected to the very words of God that bring life. 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:25.279 That this manna is really connected to the Torah and his very words of life that are bringing life. 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:37.200 And the Greek thinker who would be reading this in the Hellenistic culture would understand the bread as the symbol of the wisdom and the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of the gods that actually is life-giving. 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:39.519 And Jesus is saying, Yeah, I'm all of it. 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:41.279 I'm all of it. 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:49.440 I'm the sustainer of life, I'm the wisdom of life, I'm the very words of God, word of God. 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:55.759 In fact, that's the reason John would begin and say, in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:05.039 And moving on to John 1, 14, he'd say, uh, and the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:09.920 I am the bread of life. 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:24.960 And what our hearts need more than anything else is to recognize that only Jesus can finally and fully satisfy the desires of our heart. 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:30.880 He actually gives us some descriptors of what kind of bread this is. 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:36.240 He says it's true bread, it's heavenly bread, it's living bread. 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:38.559 What kind of bread am I? 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:40.079 Well, it's true. 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:45.519 It's true bread as opposed to fake or substitute bread. 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:46.559 It's genuine. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.079 I'm authentic. 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:52.079 It's heavenly bread as opposed to earthly or temporal. 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:53.920 It's eternal kind of bread. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:58.480 It's living bread as opposed to dead or lifeless or poison. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:06.400 You know, we have built inside of us cravings and desires. 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:14.480 And I think there's some of us that kind of think that the Christian life is somehow the oppression of desires. 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:16.000 And that's not Christianity at all. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:18.640 That's actually Buddhism more than that. 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:25.519 And then there's also this idea of desires that in our culture and day is the exploitation of desires. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:29.119 And that's hedonism, where you give way to all your desires. 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:33.279 In fact, in Christianity, God says, I created your desires. 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:38.079 And they're actually good in the context upon which I created them. 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:41.279 In fact, they're to point to the deeper longing that you need. 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:47.279 You ever notice that as you eat, you're satisfied, but you're never fully satisfied because eventually you're hungry. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:52.720 A little bit later, you know, today I'm gonna have some lunch because I'm gonna be hungry. 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:57.440 But I ate breakfast this morning, and yet later I'm hungry. 00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:59.359 I'm never fully or finally satisfied. 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:09.359 And Jesus says it points to the longing of our soul and heart that one day that ill that someone might fully and finally satisfy and says, I'm here. 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.799 I'm here. 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:15.519 You know, for Lent, and Lent is this time of reflection. 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:22.000 If you're not familiar with it, um, actually, I have this great little primer uh by Esau McCulley just on Lent. 00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:26.480 If you want to learn a little bit more about that, I'd encourage you to take it. 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:32.880 Uh but it's it's a lot about repentance and preparing the way our hearts for um Easter. 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:35.279 And a lot of times during Lent, you do a fast. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:41.839 And so Jenny and Ella and I, I the boys aren't doing it, but um that's a I don't know why. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:46.559 Um but we're doing we're doing some particular kind of fast. 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:48.319 But you know what else we add? 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:50.480 We actually added some things as well. 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:55.839 We're not just fasting from, but we added to, and one of the things that we added uh was water. 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:59.839 Um, I know that sounds kind of weird, but I I'm not a good water drinker. 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:02.640 I know some of you are, you walk around with your water thing. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.680 That's amazing. 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:08.000 Um, I I walk around with coffee, I literally I have coffee here, right? 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:10.000 No, I was gonna take a drink. 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:14.799 Um right, I'm more of a coffee drinker than a water drinker. 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:25.680 And I think part of the question and intention that we have to wrestle with is if Jesus really only finally and fully satisfies, why aren't all of us craving him? 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:28.319 Did you realize? 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:30.799 I didn't know this until recently. 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:36.960 75% of the population in the US are chronically dehydrated? 00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:41.920 Three out of four of you are dehydrated. 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:44.880 I ain't because I've been drinking my water. 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.319 Right? 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:49.599 Three out of four of you are dehydrated. 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:54.079 As I was looking at this and researching this, it was really fascinating. 00:24:54.240 --> 00:25:00.079 Because it's like, well, why, if we're dehydrated, why don't we drink water? 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:02.559 One article wrote this. 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:17.920 You would think that our bodies would tell us we are thirsty, but the modern world's obsession for coffee, soft drinks, fruit juices, and processed foods and additives, listen to this. 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:24.960 Oh, I just went away from it, has desensitized our thirst mechanism. 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:28.319 We have forgotten what it feels like to be thirsty. 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:35.119 We mistake it for hunger, or we reach for a coffee or sugary drink before reaching for water. 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:46.640 Jesus says, You've been reaching for things that are substitutes, and I'm the true bread. 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:48.160 You've been reaching for things. 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:52.000 Yeah, it kind of quenches temporarily, but I'm heavenly, I'm eternal. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:26:02.400 You've been reaching for these things, but honestly, some of the things you're reaching for are just poison that are slowly killing you, and I'm the life-giving living bread. 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:09.920 Only Jesus will finally and fully satisfy. 00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:12.000 And here's what we do. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:15.039 And here's the problem, and what we have to realize. 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:22.720 You cannot fill a spiritual or solve a spiritual problem with a physical solution. 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:24.480 This is what we try to do. 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:35.039 We try to fill our spiritual problem, the ache in our heart, the longing with some physical thing. 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:35.680 You know what? 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:51.519 If I just was prettier, if I just had more followers, if I just was more popular, if I just, you know, drove a better car, if I had a nicer house, if I had a better job, then I'll finally be satisfied. 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:53.759 Now, here's another interesting thing. 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:58.640 Spirituality in the US is not on the decline, but it's on the incline. 00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.519 It's growing. 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:11.200 In fact, a research from Barna that literally just came out said that 91% of Americans either believe in or are open to the idea of a spiritual or supernatural dimension. 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:14.880 77% of Americans believe in God or a higher power. 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:20.079 An astonishing 74% say they would like to grow spiritually. 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:25.119 And we're, in fact, more spiritual post-COVID than pre-COVID. 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:32.960 There's this crystal shop around the corner from my house in Willow Glen, and I've just noticed through COVID how wildly popular it is. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:41.920 Because we're craving for something to finally satisfy, to make sense of the world, to help us navigate and figure it out. 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:59.200 In fact, um, there's this Stanford professor, she was interviewed by their own internal news paper, and she's doing her work on crystals and the history of them. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:03.920 She wrote, in the Middle Ages, people thought that crystals would bring a spiritual presence. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:12.880 People had this hunger, hunger, this is what hunger to have something physical that embodies faith and spirituality. 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:15.359 People still have that hunger now. 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:18.000 And that's why crystals are so popular. 00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:25.599 Philip Yancey in his book. 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:29.359 I just went blank on the book, never mind. 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:32.319 He's a pastor and an author. 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:40.319 He wrote, A society that denies the supernatural usually ends up elevating the natural to a supernatural status. 00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:49.200 Sophisticated moderns have renounced transcendence, but rather replaced it with weak substitutes. 00:28:49.440 --> 00:29:00.960 They have not renounced transcendence, but we've replaced it with keeping up with the Joneses, the American dream, having just the right person in our life. 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:01.759 I am. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:06.319 Jesus is the explanation, revelation of God to the world, the bread. 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:10.400 Only Jesus can finally fully satisfy of life. 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:14.880 Jesus is the source of meaning and purpose for your life. 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:18.079 There's a few words in the Greek for life. 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:21.200 The two primary ones is zoe and bio. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:26.559 Bio has to do with the quantity of life, how much life you have. 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:30.480 Zoe has to do with the quality of life. 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:33.359 Meaning, purpose, wonder, amazement. 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:35.200 That's the Zoe life. 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:38.240 John is using the word Zoe here. 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:46.799 Like Jesus is offering Zoe life, eternal kind of life, life that's filled with meaning and purpose in life. 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:48.880 In fact, he's not just offering it. 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:50.079 We gotta get this. 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:53.920 He's not just offering it, he's saying he is it. 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:56.559 He is meaning, he is purpose. 00:29:56.720 --> 00:30:10.079 In fact, a little bit later on, he would go and say this in John chapter 6 very truly I tell you, the one who believes, we get that word again, has present tense, eternal life. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:17.680 Believe, to place your weight upon, to put one's full trust in, has eternal life. 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.880 Well, what is eternal life? 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:22.880 John chapter 17, verse 3, Jesus defines eternal life. 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:32.000 Now, this is eternal life that they know, personally know you in relationship with the one true God and with Jesus Christ. 00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:33.119 That's eternal life. 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:42.000 Like eternal life isn't later on someday way out there when I die, get my fire insurance, hello, and now I'm good. 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:46.960 Eternal life starts today in personal relationship with Jesus. 00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:53.039 And the minute you step into relationship with him, he is meaning, purpose, and satisfaction. 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:58.160 And eternal life starts in the moment you say yes to him and you put your trust on him. 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:05.200 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:07.599 I am the bread of life. 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:11.200 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:17.599 But here, right now in front of you, is bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:20.000 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:22.240 Whoever eats this bread will live forever. 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.440 What is this bread? 00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:28.079 It's my flesh, which I give for the life of the world. 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:34.319 My body, as he would say in another gospel, broken for you. 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:47.920 On the cross, laid out, and my blood poured out for you to welcome you in to life itself. 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:54.400 John Piper, this pastor, he he has this great line about this. 00:31:54.960 --> 00:32:00.160 He says that Jesus doesn't want to give bread, but to be bread. 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:04.640 Jesus doesn't want to give bread, and that's what the people were thinking about him. 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:06.640 Could you give us some of this? 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:10.720 I want to get a little something from you and go on my merry way. 00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:15.519 I want to get a little something from you and make my life better and then do my own thing. 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:31.279 And that's what we want, and that's why crystals are kind of so popular, is we want to get something from it to be able to do our thing, live our vision, have our way, and pursue what we think will bring meaning and purpose and satisfaction, and we keep after it, keep after it. 00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:36.480 Jesus doesn't want to give bread, he wants to be bread. 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:44.000 I say this to Jenny every so often, and if you're married and a guy, a husband, uh, don't do this. 00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:47.359 Um, but I do this, it's joking, it's tongue in cheek. 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:55.200 Um, but I just I sometimes I look at Jenny and go, Jenny, you're my favorite wife. 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:03.359 What's wrong with that? 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:10.000 Do you see how odd that feels? 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:12.960 How wrong that seems? 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:14.240 You're my favorite. 00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:15.839 No, no, no, you're my only. 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:26.799 See, when we think about Jesus and we think about what he provides and the meaning and purpose, we go, we kind of prioritize in hierarchy and go, you know what, Jesus, you're at the top. 00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:27.839 You're my favorite. 00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:29.920 He doesn't want to be your favorite, by the way. 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.279 He wants to be your only. 00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:36.240 He's like, no, he is meaning. 00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:37.440 He is purpose. 00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:43.920 And everything else, everything else other than Jesus is just simply a fake, a substitute. 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:46.160 It will never fully satisfy. 00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:51.039 And you can run after it and you can chase after it, and you can search for it, and you can build a career around it. 00:33:51.119 --> 00:33:55.039 You can build your life around your kids and your marriage and whatever else. 00:33:55.119 --> 00:33:59.279 And though those are good things, they will not finally fully satisfy. 00:33:59.359 --> 00:34:02.960 They will not bring you, meaning only Jesus. 00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:06.480 Only him. 00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:08.960 He is the bread. 00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:12.960 Life. 00:34:18.159 --> 00:34:35.840 And uh he has everything that you would think about that would come to your mind that you go, if I had that, then I would be, you know, I'd be so happy. 00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:42.800 He's good looking, he's got a good-looking wife, he's got good-looking, smart kids. 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:51.119 He's so wealthy, he can travel whenever he wants, go wherever he wants. 00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:54.159 He doesn't have to work anymore, but he still does. 00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:57.039 He's got a great house. 00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:03.679 I mean, everything you could dream of. 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:14.000 And because I've known him, and because we journeyed, what I know that no one else sees because what we see is the substitute. 00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:18.800 We see the exterior that looks good but isn't good on the inside that is all hollow and empty. 00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:20.480 We see that and go, you know what? 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.599 I'm gonna go after that. 00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:27.760 And if you just could peel behind and rip it open a little bit and see that no, it's actually empty and hollow. 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:33.599 What I know is he's chasing after something else and other things because that doesn't satisfy him. 00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:55.119 In our hearts, and our souls often are so victimized by the pursuits and the demands of Silicon Valley and the images of what we think will actually satisfy Jesus. 00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:57.199 It always has been. 00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:12.960 How will we respond? 00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:21.039 To who I think there's at least two responses. 00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:24.239 Maybe two words I want to give you. 00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:26.159 Repentance and renewal. 00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:28.000 Repentance and renewal. 00:36:28.079 --> 00:36:31.280 These are very lent language and words. 00:36:31.599 --> 00:36:33.280 But let me explain them. 00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:40.559 Repentance means to change your mind, which results in a change of direction. 00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:44.320 Repentance, you know, is this turnabout. 00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:50.239 It literally means to change your mind that results then in a change of direction. 00:36:50.400 --> 00:37:02.000 And especially for those in this room who've never begun a relationship with Jesus, who have never stepped into this new life that we've been talking about, this eternal kind of life, to know him. 00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:10.239 It's to change your mind about what brings satisfaction, to change your mind about what brings meaning and purpose, to change your mind and going, you know what? 00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:15.840 That job, that career, that person never will, that bottle, those pills, they never will. 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:21.679 And I'm gonna turn my face towards Jesus, and I'm gonna say yes to you, Jesus. 00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:28.559 And today I place my faith, which is my trust in you, the full weight of my life, and I say yes to you. 00:37:28.800 --> 00:37:32.079 Would you come into my life and make me new? 00:37:32.320 --> 00:37:39.599 And he longs to have a personal relationship with you, and that's repentance. 00:37:40.239 --> 00:37:44.159 And we're gonna take communion in just a second. 00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:56.239 And if you're in a place where you've yet to begin a relationship with Jesus, I want to invite you as I give you time just to process to pray a simple prayer. 00:37:57.360 --> 00:38:06.719 It's looking at God, I'm tired of running after those things, and they've never satisfied me. 00:38:08.239 --> 00:38:10.719 Today I'm turning to you, Jesus. 00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:13.360 I believe you are the bread of life. 00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:16.400 Would you come into my life and make me new? 00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:32.079 And when you respond and you call out, every single time he moves and he uh changes and transforms, and the Spirit of God comes and lives and dwells inside of you, bringing life. 00:38:32.800 --> 00:38:34.239 That's repentance. 00:38:35.679 --> 00:38:37.599 The other word is renewal. 00:38:37.840 --> 00:38:41.199 And I think many of us in this room, that's the word for us. 00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:42.559 It's renewal. 00:38:42.880 --> 00:38:52.719 Renewal is an assistence of reasoning, uh, of resuming an activity or a state after an interruption. 00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:58.559 It's an insistence of resuming an activity or a state after an interruption. 00:38:58.880 --> 00:39:11.519 And that's actually one of the beautiful parts about Lent is it really gets us into the church calendar that reminds us that for many of us, our hearts are easily adrift from God. 00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:18.159 We've gotten out of whack, we understand, we've heard the message before, and yet we we have run after those other things. 00:39:18.320 --> 00:39:22.559 In fact, I was talking with another buddy this last week, and he was just sharing. 00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:25.760 He's like, you know, Ryan, materialism is my thing. 00:39:27.199 --> 00:39:31.440 And right now is the heaviest and the hardest work for me. 00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:33.519 And you know what I had to do? 00:39:33.760 --> 00:39:38.639 I had to go to a small group out of an act of resistance to materialism in me. 00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:43.280 But just that recognition, like, I need renewal. 00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:45.920 I need to pick back up what I've left off. 00:39:46.159 --> 00:39:48.159 I need to return to my first love. 00:39:48.239 --> 00:39:56.719 And this moment, as we take the Lord's Supper, we remember the bread of life. 00:39:57.599 --> 00:39:59.760 Would your prayer be one of renewal? 00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:08.960 Or you go, God, I I recognize I've been adding things to you. 00:40:11.679 --> 00:40:16.000 I want to get a little Jesus, but I want to go do my own thing. 00:40:17.840 --> 00:40:20.079 And today I want you to be my everything. 00:40:20.800 --> 00:40:22.320 I'm picking it back up. 00:40:24.559 --> 00:40:25.920 Picking it back up with you. 00:40:28.400 --> 00:40:33.039 In just a moment, we're gonna take the elements and add awakening, we practice what we call an open table. 00:40:33.199 --> 00:40:34.960 If you're a follower of Jesus, you're welcome. 00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:40.159 If you're not, we encourage you to get to know Jesus, please. 00:40:41.760 --> 00:40:44.880 But if you're not a follower of Jesus, you just can watch and it's great. 00:40:45.360 --> 00:40:47.599 We're gonna have people standing at the front. 00:40:47.760 --> 00:40:50.079 There's two stations in the front, one in the back. 00:40:51.039 --> 00:40:54.239 And they're gonna dispense the bread and the cup. 00:40:55.199 --> 00:40:59.840 They're gonna say, This is his body broken for you. 00:41:00.159 --> 00:41:06.159 And this cup represents the cup of the new covenant, Jesus' blood poured out for you that you might have life. 00:41:06.320 --> 00:41:08.480 Do this in remembrance of him. 00:41:08.719 --> 00:41:15.360 And what I want you to do is just take the next moments as the band plays and respond. 00:41:16.239 --> 00:41:17.760 This is who Jesus is. 00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:19.679 What is your response? 00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:25.840 And after you take some time, then you can get up during worship and come forward or go to the back. 00:41:25.920 --> 00:41:29.599 And by the way, in the back, we also have a gluten-free option. 00:41:32.400 --> 00:41:34.400 But what will you do with Jesus? 00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:37.199 What is your response? 00:41:37.840 --> 00:41:39.519 Don't you take some time? 00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:43.119 And then we'll partake in the elements together. 00:41:44.400 --> 00:41:46.719 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:41:46.880 --> 00:41:51.360 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:41:51.519 --> 00:41:53.599 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:41:53.760 --> 00:41:59.679 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.