John 6:35

John 6:35

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Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

John 6:35

QOP- Behind the Scenes
Slide

Jesus has just fed 5,000 men, not including women and children, from the lunch box of a boy that one of the disciples just happens to notice. The boy had five loaves of bread and two fish and Andrew asks, “but what are they for so many?” Have you ever pondered why Andrew even brought it up? If you came to NFL game and the concessions stands were out of food, would you even bother to let the stadium manager know you had a couple of granola bars and cheese sticks?

Slide

I think that Andrew knew that Jesus would do something. With the small question “but what are they for so many?” did Andrew have an inkling that Jesus would answer in a big way? Well, Jesus delivered, big time. But the story doesn’t end there. Jesus uses this amazing miracle at hand to bring up a much larger issue, the issue of spiritual bread.

Slide

Fast forward to the next day. The same crowd with others now joining from neighboring Tiberias, jump into boats and chase down Jesus and the Disciples to Capernaum. Jesus responds to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” Jesus fed them physical food, so they followed.

Slide

But Jesus IS so much more than a provider of our daily physical bread. Our verse today tells us that Jesus is the “bread of life” and that whoever comes to him will not hunger or thirst. This brings us to the point of this week’s focal point on prayer and fasting. Like the crowd of 5,000 we can miss the provision of spiritual food when we’re consumed with having our bellies filled with earthly food. A period of fasting combined with prayer is an opportunity to have our souls, not our bellies, filled with food that “gives life to the world” (John 6:33).

Slide

Jesus models the importance of fasting when he launches his ministry with a 40-day journey into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. According to Luke 4:2, Jesus ate nothing during that time and was hungry. Satan tries to use this weakness to his advantage by tempting Jesus three times. But Jesus rebukes him all 3 times using scripture. Remember Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” and “led by the Holy Spirit in the wilderness” (Luke 4:1). Jesus was not alone!

QOP- Make it Real
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Fasting brings us to a point of vulnerability, even the enemy knows that. Fasting allows the Holy Spirit, who is always with us, to tend to our spiritual hunger. We may not even realize that we are spiritually starving until we enter fasting. Our lives can center around food and drink and yes, we need those. Jesus enjoyed eating and drinking with his disciples, sinners, and the hypocritical Pharisees. I can only imagine the great relationship building Jesus had during those moments. But Jesus also understood the importance of “withdrawing to the mountain by Himself” (John 6:15) where He leaned into His relationship with the Father.

Slide

What would it take for us to be a church of prayer and fasting? Jesus stepped into his 40-day fasting journey in the wilderness before launching into His 3-year ministry. What if we embraced the rhythm of prayer with fasting to launch us into the next step or purpose the Father has for us individually and as a corporate body of believers? The result could be the most tumultuous and most joyful period we’ve ever experienced in our lives as we see Jesus work through us!

QOP- End in Prayer
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Heavenly Father,

Teach me to pray and instill in me a desire to fast. I struggle to do it on my own. I know it isn’t something I must do to earn your favor. Show me the rhythm of your son, Jesus, when He walked among us. In his mighty Name, I pray. Amen.

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Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”   

John 6:35

Behind the Scenes

Jesus has just fed 5,000 men, not including women and children, from the lunch box of a boy that one of the disciples just happens to notice. The boy had five loaves of bread and two fish and Andrew asks, “but what are they for so many?” Have you ever pondered why Andrew even brought it up? If you came to NFL game and the concessions stands were out of food, would you even bother to let the stadium manager know you had a couple of granola bars and cheese sticks? 

I think that Andrew knew that Jesus would do something. With the small question “but what are they for so many?” did Andrew have an inkling that Jesus would answer in a big way? Well, Jesus delivered, big time. But the story doesn’t end there. Jesus uses this amazing miracle at hand to bring up a much larger issue, the issue of spiritual bread. 

Fast forward to the next day.  The same crowd with others now joining from neighboring Tiberias, jump into boats and chase down Jesus and the Disciples to Capernaum. Jesus responds to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” Jesus fed them physical food, so they followed. 

But Jesus IS so much more than a provider of our daily physical bread. Our verse today tells us that Jesus is the “bread of life” and that whoever comes to him will not hunger or thirst. This brings us to the point of this week’s focal point on prayer and fasting. Like the crowd of 5,000 we can miss the provision of spiritual food when we’re consumed with having our bellies filled with earthly food.  A period of fasting combined with prayer is an opportunity to have our souls, not our bellies, filled with food that “gives life to the world” (John 6:33). 

Jesus models the importance of fasting when he launches his ministry with a 40-day journey into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. According to Luke 4:2, Jesus ate nothing during that time and was hungry. Satan tries to use this weakness to his advantage by tempting Jesus three times. But Jesus rebukes him all 3 times using scripture. Remember Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” and “led by the Holy Spirit in the wilderness” (Luke 4:1). Jesus was not alone! 

Make It Real

Fasting brings us to a point of vulnerability, even the enemy knows that. Fasting allows the Holy Spirit, who is always with us, to tend to our spiritual hunger. We may not even realize that we are spiritually starving until we enter fasting. Our lives can center around food and drink and yes, we need those. Jesus enjoyed eating and drinking with his disciples, sinners, and the hypocritical Pharisees. I can only imagine the great relationship building Jesus had during those moments.  But Jesus also understood the importance of “withdrawing to the mountain by Himself” (John 6:15) where He leaned into His relationship with the Father. 

What would it take for us to be a church of prayer and fasting? Jesus stepped into his 40-day fasting journey in the wilderness before launching into His 3-year ministry. What if we embraced the rhythm of prayer with fasting to launch us into the next step or purpose the Father has for us individually and as a corporate body of believers? The result could be the most tumultuous and most joyful period we’ve ever experienced in our lives as we see Jesus work through us! 

Danny Venhaus

Danny Venhaus

ACF Operations Director

End in Prayer

Heavenly Father,  

Teach me to pray and instill in me a desire to fast. I struggle to do it on my own. I know it isn’t something I must do to earn your favor. Show me the rhythm of your son, Jesus, when He walked among us. In his mighty Name, I pray. Amen. 

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