Dear Christian friends:

How could the babe born in Bethlehem prove to men that He was God's Son, the promised Savior? The Jews saw Mary, His mother and Joseph His step-father. They did not know that He became a Baby in Mary by the Holy Ghost as we read in Luke, chapter one. Luke, was not written yet.

When Jesus grew up He told the Jews: "For I came down from heaven." (John 6:38) Then the Jews murmured against Him because He said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." (John 6:41) And they said, "Not true?" "Jesus is the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?" (John 6:42) It was not easy for the Jews to believe that Jesus was the Son of God who came down from heaven, born of a virgin.

Also it is not easy for men to believe that today. Also you and I cannot accept that by our own reason. We cannot understand it and easily doubt it. But by attending to God's Word the Holy Spirit can lead us to believe in this wonderful Savior. Jesus told the Jews: "No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent me, draw him." (John 6:65)

So let us attend to our text this morning and let the heavenly Father draw us to believe in His Son, the only Savior for lost and condemned sinners. In our text Jesus proves that He is the Son of God, Savior of the World.

Jesus proved it by the way and what He taught and by the goal of His teaching. He went right to the temple and taught. He showed great learning yet He had not attended Jewish colleges. The Jews marvelled at His knowledge. (John 7:15) Even today by unbelievers he is hailed as the greatest teacher of any time.

Many who praise Him as the greatest teacher do not accept Him as the Son of God, Savior of sinners, the Bread of Life Everlasting. But Jesus proves Himself to be that in our text by His teaching and what He taught.

When the Jews pondered how Jesus got this knowledge without being taught Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. (John 6:16-18)

Those who are honest and confess their sins when they hear Jesus' teaching will know that He is true and what He teaches is true. Only the proud, self-righteous man will name Jesus untrue and His teaching unnecessary. Jesus' purpose is seeking the glory of the Father, not His own. (John 6:18)

False teachers want only praise and honor for themselves. They listen to find what the people like and want and what easily agrees with man's greedy heart. Then they preach that.

The true teacher preaches God's Word fully and exactly. He shows man his sin and tells him to repent. That his only hope is in God. This Jesus did:

After the feeding of 5,000 the Jews were glad to make Jesus King. They wanted to force him. But Jesus told them: "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.” (John 6:26-27)

"For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:33-35)

If Jesus had shut up about His coming from heaven and not preached about their sins, the Jews would have loved Him and followed Him. They wanted Him to give them good times and kick the Romans out of their country.

But when He refused to be their bread king they began to leave Him and speak against Him. But Jesus did not change to please their greedy bellies. He continued to preach the truth so that those whom God had chosen before could hear and believe. And true He got much shame and suffering and death by telling the truth yet He won forgiveness of sins for all men and gave honor and glory to His heavenly Father. Therefore we know He is honest and true. He did not seek His own glory but the heavenly Father who sent Him.

So in our life here teach and witness for God. Don't seek to please men for self-glory. But speak the truth, teach the truth, and support the truth, so that you may be a true teacher. Witness and really lead souls to the Bread of Life.

Amen.