Life Group Lesson

I Am the Bread of Life

In the book of John Jesus makes a number of “I Am” statements to his followers.  All of these statements were aimed at giving the people the true picture of who he was and what his purpose was as well.  The first “I Am” statement was “I Am the Bread of Life”.

Why do you think he chose bread to represent himself for his description of himself? How does this description relate to us today?

Read John 6:26-27   

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.  Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

We see in these verses the people were looking to get more physical fulfillment with there relationship they were forming with Christ.  In the beginning of the chapter he had fed these same followers and many others through a miracle with just 5 small loaves.

Is it possible for christians today to get lost or distracted by the idea of getting their physical needs fulfilled by God and loose sight of the spiritual gift in front of them?  Can you give examples?

As Christ goes on to explain what he is saying he challenges them that it is only through complete faith in him and his sacrifice will anyone be able to enter the gates of heaven.  He even goes as far as to reference that we know now as communion.

53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.  

After this teaching the passage says that many of the people who had been following Jesus as disciples for a long time left him and said this teaching was just too hard and too much to handle.  Jesus then turns to the 12 and asks them a strong question in verse 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?”

Why do you think they stayed and did not walk away like the others?  How does Peter respond back to him?  

Peter said “we have come to believe”.  That kind of belief was rock solid and unshakable.  How can we develop that kind of belief?  Is it possible for your belief in Christ to grow stronger or even fluctuate during your life as a christian?  Is that ok?  Where can you go when you need your faith strengthened?