The Gospel of John contains seven “I am” statements made by Jesus. Each of these “I am” statements reveal an important aspect of the person and ministry of Jesus. We read the first “I am” statement in John 6:35-40.
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day’” (John 6:35–40, NASB, emphasis added).[1]
When Jesus says “I am the bread of life” it links Him with life in the closest fashion by declaring him as food and sustenance that nourishes and sustains our spiritual life. Three important aspects of our faith are revealed in these six verses as Jesus declares that He is the bread of life.
First, we know faith saves and not our works because it’s God’s decision. “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me” (v. 37a). In the first part of this verse we see God’s divine election of people for eternal life. God the Father gives people to Jesus.
Second, we know faith saves and not our works because our approach to God is based on faith in God, not our deeds for God. “he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst” (v. 35a). When it says “not hunger” and “never thirst”, the disciple John has placed Jesus’s words in the strongest way to negate something in Greek. This is called an emphatic negation subjunctive.[2] This form of Greek is used to say someone will no way, no how, never ever, no matter what, be hungry or thirsty again.
Third, we know faith saves and not our works because it’s something that can’t change. “the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (v. 37b). Jesus makes a promise that we won’t be cast out, but also makes a promise that He won’t reject anyone that comes to Him. This again—like earlier—is the strongest way to negate something in Greek.[3] You will no way, no how, never ever, no matter what, be cast out. Even if you forget to put in your tithe check; you’re okay. Even if you got angry and yelled at your spouse and kids; God forgives you. Even if you decided to stay home and watch TV instead of be with God’s people at a worship service; you’re still in God’s family. Whether good or bad, black or white, taxpayer or unemployed, married or single, God welcomes everyone that comes to Him. Jesus continues, “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day” (v. 39).
Once we’re caught by Jesus we’ll never be lost. Eternal life is not eternal if we can lose it. In his book, Grace, pastor Max Lucado writes, “To live as God’s child is to know, at this very instant, that you are loved by your Maker not because you try to please him and succeed, or fail to please him and apologize, but because he wants to be your Father. Nothing more. All your efforts to win his affection are needless. You can no more make him want you than you can convince him to abandon you. The adoption is irreversible. You have a place at his table.”[4]
Ultimate assurance in life comes when we place our lives in God’s hands. This is assurance for us because our eternal life does not rest on our ability to hold on to Jesus. Instead it’s based on Jesus’ strong grip on us.
[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.
[2] Daniel B. Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996), 468.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Max Lucado, Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2014), 124-125.