Sunday Notes

The Food of Jesus
John 4:25-45

Jesus is not simply another character in the Bible. He is not like David or Sampson. He is not like Abraham or Joseph. He is not even like Paul or Peter. Jesus is God and far too often I sometimes think that we slip into a mindset of reading the viewing the stories of Jesus very much the same as the other people in the Bible. You might be wondering, isn’t that what the Bible stories are? How do you read one story different than another? Let me answer that by saying you already do read different passages different than others. We do not read Old Testament historical the same as we do the Poetry; which we do not read the same as the Prophetic or the Epistles. But why should we read the Gospel accounts of Jesus different than the rest of the people we read about in the Bible? Simple, he is God! Stop and think about this for a moment. In many of our Bibles, the words of Jesus are in red. Those are the very words of God! They should impact our life more than the rest! God is speaking.

What are the dangers of reading the stories of Jesus the same as say someone like David? First, we diminish the importance of the teachings of Jesus. We put them on par with the other people and teachers in Scripture. You might say that since all scripture is God-breathed how can this be? Aren’t all the words of scripture God’s? Yes, but do you treat them as such? Do you treat what Abraham says the same as Paul the same as Gideon the same as Jesus? What about passages where say Habakkuk is conversing with God? Do you treat the words of Habakkuk the same as God? I believe most people do because we do not study the Bible as God’s revelation of Himself to man. We gloss over it in order to check the box of reading our Bible if we actually read our Bible.

Second, if we read them the same, we diminish the deity of Christ. Is Jesus fully man? Yes. But he is also fully God! This actually should be the first danger because it is the greatest danger that leads to all the others. If Jesus is not read or viewed as God, his words carry the same weight as everyone else’s. Then they weigh the same as any man’s. The same as any theologian. The same weight as any pastor. The same weight as any believer. This is why we hear so many say Jesus was a good person, good teacher, prophet, but not God. Friends, we have established that Jesus is God at so many points through out this study already. Let us never move away from the fact the Jesus is Christ, the Son of God Most High. He and the Father are One. Let us read scripture the same. Jesus is God.

Third and last this morning, if we diminish Jesus and his teachings, we elevate our selves. Here’s how this one works. Since we don’t consider Jesus as God, his teachings aren’t authoritative. Since his words aren’t authoritative, they are not relevant in my life. They don’t apply to me. Sure they are nice sayings or even if you do put some weight to them, they are words to live by but I can pick and choose the ones I want to live by. The passages where Jesus points out sin don’t apply to me. I do enough to warrant a little slack. I’m good enough. He is talking to those sinners across the room here today. We put ourselves into the position of judge and jury which is actually putting ourselves in the position of God which is sin. Let’s keep these in mind this morning and every time we open up the Bible. Jesus is the word. Give him proper honor and glory as such. I really only want to focus on two parts of this passage this morning, Verses 25 and 26 and then verses 34-38.

I who speak to you am he.

1. If Jesus is God what should that mean to your life?

2. If Jesus is God how do you serve him?

a. The disciples wanted to feed him. How often do we try to serve with only the obvious?
b. Jesus tells how to serve.

My food is to do the will of him who sent me

1. John 17 – accomplish the work of him who sent me

2. Food? We are here to be fed? Is this true? How should we feed ourselves?

3. The fields are white. They are already planted and are ready for the harvest.