Jesus Is The Bread Of Life!!

In John 6:35, Jesus claims the first of nine "I am" statements, "I am the bread of life"Jesus used this term in order to claim His deity In this chapter we see Jesus is feeding five thousand, walking on the water and His teaching on His claim" I am the bread of life". Bread represents life every where.Jesus made this claim to show that He is the only one who can meet our spiritual hunger. Also He  made this claim to prove His deity. This happened at the peak of his popularity across the sea of Galilee. The multitude was impressed by the miracles Jesus performed. He went up to the mountain and saw the multitude. He was moved by compassion and asked Philip how can we feed  this multitude. Jesus asked this to test his faith. Philip counted the cost and thought it is impossible. Andrew brings a lad who has five loaves and two fishes. He gave all he had to Christ. Jesus gave thanks and fed the five thousand. Give all you have to Christ. He can bless it and satisfy many. By giving thanks for food, Christ acknowledge that God is the source of all blessings. Jesus asked disciples to collect the left over and there was twelve basket full of bread.We should not waste God's blessings.

Multitude wanted to make Jesus their king. But He withdrew to a mountain to be alone. His kingdom was not of this world(John 18:16). It is so easy for men to seek Christ for the wrong reason. Jesus asked the disciples to go to the other shore of the sea of Galilee. They were hindered by darkness and severe storm. Some times God would allow storms in our life to test our faith and to teach us to trust Him. If we are in the will of God, He will deliver us from it ,some time through it and some time out of it. Disciples saw Jesus walking on  the sea and coming  near the boat. He said to the frightened disciple"It is I,be not afraid". Thus the  one who met the need of five thousand  now met the need of twelve disciples. Jesus is the present help in times of our need. Some one suggested that there are over 360 time we see the statement "stop being afraid " in the Bible. Immediately  the sea became calm and the  boat was at land. Thus Jesus demonstrated that He has power over gravity and space.

Jesus is the supreme teacher because in Him hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge(col 2:3). Though He did many miracles, teaching was his main ministry. Some one suggested that at least 45 times  Jesus is called the teacher in the gospel account. He seized the opportunities to tech individuals and large crowds. People recognized Jesus as a different kind of teacher from scribes. He taught  with authority(Matt 7:28,29).His words were gracious words(Lk 4:22). Never a man spoke like Him(John 7:46).His teaching transformed lives and shaped the course of history. He gave the commission to His disciples to teach and make disciples. His teaching on the bread of life so profound and note worthy.

When people sought Jesus, He welcomed them and said don't seek me for the food that perishes but for the food that endures to eternal life.That food is Christ Himself. People were confused about what they must do to find acceptance with God. Jesus said "this is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom Father has sent. Jews wanted Jesus to perform a miracle. They did not realize that faith based on miracle  can easily mislead people. Christ identified Himself as the bread of life. Those who believe in Him will be spiritually satisfied. All that Father gives to Christ  will come to Him. Who ever comes to Jesus, He will never cast out. This verse describes God's sovereignty and human responsibility in salvation.To reject Son is to reject the Father.Jews murmured and offended at His teaching. He did not intend for them to eat the flesh and drink the blood. They do not profit anyone.  His Spirit that gives life. The word He spoke were spirit and life.Those who believe His word would have life. But unbelief prevented many to believe His words and they left Jesus and no longer walked with Him. Christ now turned to the twelve  and said"do you also want to go?"Simon Peter answered Him"Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and come to know that you are Christ, the Son of the living God. Assurance always follows true salvation. Jesus knows His own. He knew that one among the twelve was a devil. He spoke of Judas Iscariot who was going to betray Him. Do you know this Christ who loved you and gave Himself for you.If your are a believer, do you have the assurance of salvation. May God help us!!

Jesus knows your need and willing to help!!

In the fifth chapter of John's Gospel we see the account of Jesus healing a man On Sabbath. He was sick for 38 years. It happened near sheep gate, near a pool. The name of the pool was Bethesda means house of mercy. Jesus singled out this man and asked him"do you want to be healed". Jesus saw his need and willing to help him. Jesus said "get up,take up your bed and walk. He knows the fundamental problem he was facing and able to  save him. Also He gives the power to break him from his past life and grow spiritually. The man took his bed and walked away.His obedience to Christ's Word brought  instant healing in his life. But instead of rejoicing with him Jewish leader were upset because it happened on a Sabbath day.They were more concerned about who told him to carry the bed on Sabbath rather than this poor man was healed. The man did not know who healed him. Later he went to the temple and met Jesus.. Jesus told him since your sins are forgiven he must live in the newness of life. When religions fail to see the need of men Christ is willing and able to meet their needs. He wants that those who are forgiven should live in the newness of life(Phi 2:12).

The Jews in the Jesus' day lived with long list of rules to keep the Sabbath holy. God established Sabbath as a sign of His special  covenant relationship with Israel(Ex 31:12_17).Christ ultimately set us free from the law by fulfilling the law.Christ' said from the cross "it is finished"(John 19:30). Now we serve God because we love Him.Sunday is not Christian Sabbath day but a day of remembrance of Christ' death and resurrection. It is a day of rejoicing and reflection on Christ who loved us gave Himself for us. Father and Son may have rested from creation but now they are at work bringing salvation to lost sinners. This salvation is purely by grace through faith(Eph 2:8,9). Once we decide to earn God's favor by rule keeping including Sabbath rather than surrendering to God's grace, then the whole law applies to us(James 2:10).  Bible says that "by the deeds of the law no flesh be justified  in God's sight(Rom 3:20).

Jesus affirmed His divinity by claiming that He is equal with the Father.  He said "My Father never stops working, so why should I?"(John 5:17).Thus He justified the healing of the sick man on Sabbath day.God is the everlasting Father(Is 9:6).Christ was always the Son of God(John 1:1;17:5). we use the word son to describe that he is born from parents. But for Christ the word Son is used to describe the nature of the Father. Only Christ can say whatever Father does Son also does. He said "I and the Father are one"(John 10:30). Unlike us God is distinctively the Father of Christ. Father was never without Son nor Son without Father. This relationship has no beginning or end. All that Father does Son does. Father does not set apart from the Son the raising of the dead and judgment. Father committed all judgment to Son. Father and Son share the same life. If Son is not God we can never know God(John 1:18).Christ deserves equal honor with the Father. He who believes in Christ  is passed from death to life. It is noteworthy that Christ gives several witnesses to establish the validity of His claims. It is testified  by John the Baptist(33-35), the miracles He did(36), the Father' testimony at baptism (37,38),and the Scripture(39-47). Jews always searched the scripture because they knew that it contained the message of eternal life. They bear witness of Christ. But because of the hardness of their heart they rejected Christ.  They sought praises from men rather than from God. Though they had great respect for Moses they did not accept his testimony about Christ(Deut 18:15-18;  Lk 24:27).May that not happen in our life. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved(Act 16:31).. May God help us!!                 

He Is Indeed The Savior Of The World!!

Jesus Christ once said " the Son of man is come to seek and save that  which was lost"( Lk 19:10). Christ is the master soul winner. In the fourth  chapter of John's Gospel we read about the story of the woman of Samaria and how she got saved. Jesus means Savior, He came to save and not to condemn the world. Unlike Nicodemus  the woman of Samaria was a pagan, ill reputed,despised,and confused  person. She was from a mixed race and Jews had nothing to do with them. Samaritans mixed Jehovah God with heathen gods. Some suggest that they used only the first five books of the Old Testament. Christ decided to go through Samaria. His compassion drove Him to this needy soul. He saw the value of this soul so great and set aside the man made social barrier to go through Samaria. Christ said to her "give me a drink".This surprised her because Jews refused to have any relationship with Samaritans. Jesus offered to her the gift of living water and  said one who drinks the water He gives will never thirst. She failed to understand the spiritual meaning of  living water and who Jesus was. Understanding is never a requirement for salvation but faith in Christ Jesus.

Christ commanded the woman to call her Husband.She was ready for salvation but her heart should be prepared for sowing the seed. There can be no conversion without conviction of sin and repentance. She  admitted her sin and acknowledged that Jesus is a prophet.But she wanted to shift the discussion  from moral sin to religion. She is still confused about Jesus and said when Messiah will come He will tell all things. Jesus replied "I am the Messiah"This filled her with hope and faith. Her understanding increased about Jesus from a Jew. then a prophet and finally to Messiah.To understand Christ's teaching one must have a desire to do His will(John 7:17).She became a witness for Christ and not a
shamed of Jesus.She rushed to the village and told the men of Jesus who told her all things she ever did.  They came to to see Jesus and requested Him to stay with them for two days. Many believed in Him and acknowledged that Jesus is the Savior of the world. Here we see how the testimony of an unnamed woman can impact others. Sharing the personal testimony is one of the effective method of witnessing.Let us not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

When the disciples returned they saw their Master broke the tradition and speaking to Samaritan woman.
They wanted Him to eat. Christ replied that His meat was to do the will of Father. Jesus reminded them of the urgency of witnessing. Christ was referring to the crowd of Samaritans coming to Him when He said " Lift up your eyes and look on the field, they are ready  for harvest"..In the spiritual harvest one sows and another reaps.Here Christ had planted the seed and disciples were ready to reap. Jesus came to bear witness of the Father and His love for mankind. His followers are entrusted with responsibility of becoming the witness of Jesus(Act 1:8). May God give us a passion for souls and fill us with His power to become effective witnesses for Christ.

In this Chapter we read about true worship. Woman wanted to talk about worship. Samaritans worship in mount Gerizim.  Jews worship in Jerusalem. Jesus said where  we worship is unimportant. God is not indifferent towards the object and the manner of worship. Only God should be worshiped. He desires our worship. The end of witnessing and evangelism is worship of God. The chief occupation of the Church is worship. It is the constant activity on earth and in heaven.Only those who are saved can worship God. They are spiritual made alive, Spirit filled, separated and prepared people of God. worshiping God in Truth and Spirit important. Worship must be sincere, truthful and not in type.Christ the whole truth. New Testament worship is a spiritual worship and not confine to a place like Jerusalem. Believers are the temple of God and we are priest to offer spiritual worship. May our worship be acceptable to God!

We also see in this chapter the healing of Nobleman's son. This happens when Jesus was in Cana. This official came from Capernaum and requested Jesus to heal his son. He thought that Jesus have to come to Capernaum to heal his son. Jesus said to him "go thy way your son lives". The official responded with  faith in the word of Christ and not on the miracles.The man went his way and met his servants with the good news that his son is healed. The healing was instantaneous.Faith means to act upon God's promise.  The result  was that the entire family placed their trust in Christ. This was the second miracle in Cana. Thus Jesus proved that He is the all powerful God. Both miracles produced faith and life among people. May God grant us faith and bring glory to Him by our obedience!

You Must Be Born Again!!

There are two incidents  we see in the third chapter of John's Gospel. The interview with Nicodemus and the last testimony of John the Baptist.In this chapter the doctrine of new birth or regeneration is explained. Nicodemus came to Jesus by night  so that he could  personally meet with Jesus. He was convinced  that Jesus was a teacher who came from God because of the miracles He did. Jesus did not do miracles to prove that He is God but he did perform miracles because He is God.Satan tempted Jesus by saying "if you are the Son of God command that these stones be made bread(Matt 4:3)." Jesus never had any doubt about His identity and had victory over Satan. Let us be aware of this truth. Nicodemus was a pharisees. He was a very religious person. Also he was a member of religious court Sanhedrin.He was also an influential teacher among the Jews who was waiting for the kingdom of God. We also learn that Nicodemus was a wealthy man and advanced in age(John 19:39).Jesus told Nicodemus that he should be born again to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus knew what was in Nicodemus mind(John2:25). Nicodemus did not understand the nature of the kingdom of God or new birth. He asked  how can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again? Christ explained to him the contrast between physical birth and spiritual birth. The flesh produces flesh and the Spirit produces Spiritual life. Nicodemus asked, how can these be?The answer is given in John 3:16. Because God so loved us. Bible teaches that understanding in not a prerequisite  for salvation but faith in Christ(Eph 2:8,9).Faith or believing is more than mental agreement(Jam 2:9). Faith is active trust in Christ that He is God and live in obedience to Him. Baptism is not essential for salvation otherwise none of the Old Testament saints including the thief  on the cross could be saved.

Why we must be born again? Because the natural man is spiritually dead. Bible says heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked(Jer 17:9).We are at enmity with God and controlled by Satan.We are created in the image of God. Sin deformed us.We try various methods to  reform us but still searching for answers. Nicodemus  found the answers in Christ Jesus. Bible says only Christ can transform us.

What is regeneration means?  It is the initial act of the Holy Spirit, in response to our faith in Christ,  imparting divine life is us and making us a part of His family.When we get saved God sends His Spirit to take residence in us to guide and radically change us. Thus we become new creation in Christ(2Cor 5:17).It is not a reformation but a recreation. All three Persons of God-head are in our salvation. We are born again because of the mercy of God the Father(1Pet 1:3). Christ gives us eternal life (John 10:28). Holy  Spirit lives in us to guide and empower us(Gal 5:25).To illustrate  regeneration, Christ uses two examples. The wind and the brazen serpent Moses lifted up in the wilderness. The source of the  wind is God. It is invisible. Yet we feel it's effect. Like wise God is the one who provided the brazen serpent. All those who looked to the serpent found deliverance. So regeneration is entirely an act of God. The joy and peace we experience is the result of regeneration. God uses His Word and His Spirit in our new birth. Those who are born again have a new heart .(Ezk 11:19). They become partakers of divine nature(2Pet 1"4).They are indwelt by the Holy Spirit(Rom 8:9).They are the children of God.(1John 3:1). They obey Christ and practice righteousness(1John 2:3,29). They do not practice sin(1John 3:9). They love fellow Christians(1John 3:14;4:7 They know that biblical love is not a feeling but a choice.They acknowledge God as the source of this love. The extend of this love  to all the world. The sacrifice of this love is the giving of His only begotten Son. And the result of this love is that whosoever  believe Christ  shall be saved(John 3:16). God sent His Son, not to condemned the world but to save those who believe His son. Bible says that those who reject Christ are already under judgement(John 3:36).Bible says many people do not believe in Christ because their deeds are evil and their sins will be exposed. This not an intellectual problem but a moral  and spiritual problem.

Lastly in this chapter we read about the last testimony of John the baptist. There was a debate over  the baptism of Jesus  and the baptism of John the baptist. John did not get involved in this discord because he knew his calling. He knew that he was only a forerunner,  sent to bear witness of Jesus Christ.  John rejoiced over Jesus' popularity. His desire was that Jesus must increase  but I must decrease. John acknowledge that Jesus is from heaven and he is from earth. He baptized with water but Jesus with Holy Spirit. Jesus only can give eternal life.Let us not to be ashamed of the Jesus Christ.  Eternal life is sharing the divine life with God and enjoying relationship with Him.Our attitude of faith in Christ should lead to actions of obedience in life. There is no neutrality in this relationship. Either we are with Christ or against Christ. Bible says that those who reject Christ,the wrath of God abides on them. God loves every body  and wants all to be saved(2Pet 3:9). God's wrath is His settled indignation towards sin. May God help us to appreciate His love and mercy towards us,