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The Bread of Life - The Gospels · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: Let us pray. And Jesus said unto them, I am
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  Speaker 1: the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall
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  Speaker 1: never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
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  Speaker 1: John 6.35 Jesus, I thank you for being the source
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  Speaker 1: of healing and redemption to those who are lost. Just
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  Speaker 1: like bread was accessible to all people no matter the
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  Speaker 1: social economic standing, I thank you that your grace and
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  Speaker 1: your forgiveness is available to all, no matter where they
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  Speaker 1: are in life. Because you are the bread of life,
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  Speaker 1: I thank you for nourishing every part of my being.
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  Speaker 1: I thank you for making yourself available to rejuvenate and
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  Speaker 1: restore those who are lost. In the same way you
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  Speaker 1: offered healing to the Gentile woman in today's reading, use
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  Speaker 1: me also to offer your grace and mercy to those
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  Speaker 1: who have yet to receive it? Because of what you
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  Speaker 1: did on the cross, Jesus, we no longer have to
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  Speaker 1: hunger and thirst for a connection to our Heavenly Father,
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  Speaker 1: but we have direct access into his kingdom and all
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  Speaker 1: that he has laid up for us. Oh, thank you
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  Speaker 1: that your word is the bread of life. Thank you
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  Speaker 1: that I don't have to settle for crumbs of breakthrough,
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  Speaker 1: but I can experience it all. In Jesus' name, amen.
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  Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. Continue listening for
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  Speaker 1: an incredible Bible story brought to you by BibleInAYear.com.
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  Speaker 2: The Bread of Life In our last story, Jesus fed
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  Speaker 2: 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish.
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  Speaker 2: He fed all the people with more to spare, and
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  Speaker 2: everyone awed at him. They wanted him to be made king,
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  Speaker 2: so Jesus departed before the crowd became violent. The disciples
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  Speaker 2: departed on a boat while Jesus stayed on shore to pray. Then,
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  Speaker 2: in power and glory, Jesus walked on the water to
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  Speaker 2: return with his disciples. Now we learn about the crowd
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  Speaker 2: finding Jesus once again. Instead of feeding them food, he
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  Speaker 2: feeds them the truth about who he is. He speaks
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  Speaker 2: powerful truths hidden behind awkward metaphors, so awkward that many
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  Speaker 2: depart from him, inspired.
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  Speaker 3: By the Gospels. Hello, Pastor Jack Graham here with another
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  Speaker 3: episode of The Bible in a Year. We're so grateful
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  Speaker 3: for so many of you who are listening and engaging
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  Speaker 3: with God's Word with us. In our last episode, we
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  Speaker 3: heard how Jesus fed a multitude of people with just
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  Speaker 3: five loaves of bread and two fish, showing the people
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  Speaker 3: that God brings abundance even in the most unlikely of situations.
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  Speaker 3: The people were amazed but failed to recognize Jesus' true
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  Speaker 3: intent and identity. They tried to make him king according
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  Speaker 3: to their own desires, but he retreated to a quiet
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  Speaker 3: place to pray. Later, Jesus walked on the water. striking astonishment, awe,
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  Speaker 3: and adoration from his disciples as they worshiped him. Today,
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  Speaker 3: we'll hear as Jesus teaches about the bread that truly matters,
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  Speaker 3: not the kind of bread that temporarily satisfies, but a
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  Speaker 3: bread that gives life, eternal life, and abundant satisfaction. Let's
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  Speaker 3: listen now to today's reading.
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  Speaker 2: The day after Jesus had fed the 5,000, he was
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  Speaker 2: on the other side of the sea with his disciples.
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  Speaker 2: They sat on the shore and ate together, enjoying the
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  Speaker 2: solitude away from the crowds. The people had seen the
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  Speaker 2: disciples depart on their boat the day before, but they
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  Speaker 2: knew that Jesus had not joined them. They searched all
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  Speaker 2: night and day for Jesus, not knowing that he had
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  Speaker 2: walked on the sea to join his disciples. The crowds
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  Speaker 2: had finally sailed and walked to Capernaum to find Jesus.
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  Speaker 2: They saw him on the shore with his friends and
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  Speaker 2: ran towards him. Rabbi, they exclaimed, when did you come here?
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  Speaker 2: They were worried that Jesus had left the region. They
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  Speaker 2: wanted to be near him to see more signs. Jesus
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  Speaker 2: stood on the boat to speak to the whole crowd.
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  Speaker 2: He was concerned about why they had followed him. So
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  Speaker 2: he spoke clearly, saying, You are not seeking me because
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  Speaker 2: you saw signs or listened to the teachings. You are
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  Speaker 2: seeking me because your bellies were filled with bread and fish. Jesus'
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  Speaker 2: words struck a chord with the people. He was right.
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  Speaker 2: They were so excited that Jesus was able to feed them,
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  Speaker 2: they came in expectation that he would do it again.
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  Speaker 2: Jesus raised his voice again, saying, Do not look to
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  Speaker 2: fill yourselves with food that perishes. You will be hungry
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  Speaker 2: again and again for it. But seek the food that
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  Speaker 2: satisfies your soul. Seek eternal life. The crowds were confused
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  Speaker 2: and curious at Jesus' words. What shall we do then
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  Speaker 2: to inherit eternal life? they asked. Believe in him who
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  Speaker 2: God has sent, Jesus responded. He was speaking of himself
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  Speaker 2: and the work he would do on the cross. How
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  Speaker 2: are we to know that you are the true one
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  Speaker 2: that God has sent, they asked. Even Moses gave our
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  Speaker 2: ancestors bread from heaven, manna. Jesus shook his head and said,
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  Speaker 2: It was not Moses who gave them manna. It was God.
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  Speaker 2: God is the provider of all things, and he has
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  Speaker 2: provided you with the true bread that gives life to
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  Speaker 2: the whole world. The crowds were stirring when Jesus mentioned
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  Speaker 2: bread that gives eternal life. They pleaded with Jesus saying,
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  Speaker 2: Where is this bread? Could you give it to us?
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  Speaker 2: For they thought that Jesus was speaking of a specific meal.
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  Speaker 2: They did not understand the true meaning behind his words.
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  Speaker 2: Jesus raised his arms and shouted, I am the bread
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  Speaker 2: of life. Whoever comes to me shall never hunger again.
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  Speaker 2: They will be satisfied. Whoever comes to me will be
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  Speaker 2: taken care of. Whoever comes to me will never be
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  Speaker 2: cast away. I have come from heaven to do the
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  Speaker 2: will of him who sent me, and I am not
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  Speaker 2: going to lose anyone who comes into my arms. For
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  Speaker 2: the will of God is this, that whoever looks upon
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  Speaker 2: me shall have eternal life. Some people awed at Jesus' words,
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  Speaker 2: but others grumbled. Some of them spat on the ground
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  Speaker 2: and said, I know this man. He is the son
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  Speaker 2: of Joseph the carpenter, Who is he to now say
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  Speaker 2: he has come down from heaven? Jesus could see the
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  Speaker 2: crowd stirring. They disputed among themselves as to whether Jesus
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  Speaker 2: was truly God himself. Jesus watched as they argued. Do
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  Speaker 2: not grumble among yourselves, Jesus said. The Father will draw
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  Speaker 2: those who come to me. Whoever has seen me has
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  Speaker 2: seen God. Your forefathers ate manna in the wilderness and
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  Speaker 2: they eventually died. However, whoever eats of my flesh and
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  Speaker 2: drinks of my blood will never die. These words repulsed
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  Speaker 2: many of the people. They cringed and said, Now he
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  Speaker 2: wants us to eat his flesh and drink his blood?
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  Speaker 2: The closer followers of Jesus were also disturbed by this.
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  Speaker 2: They found it hard to imagine themselves eating Jesus' flesh
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  Speaker 2: and drinking his blood. It reminded them of the old
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  Speaker 2: pagan rituals of the Canaanites. This is a hard saying, Jesus,
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  Speaker 2: the people said. Does this offend you? Jesus asked. I
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  Speaker 2: speak in the spirit who gives life. There will be
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  Speaker 2: some of you who do not understand and do not believe.
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  Speaker 2: It was true, for many of the close followers of
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  Speaker 2: Jesus had already been thinking of leaving his side. They
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  Speaker 2: did not believe the words of Jesus and were looking
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  Speaker 2: for any excuse to leave him. So as Jesus spoke,
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  Speaker 2: many of them turned away and left him. Jesus watched
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  Speaker 2: as dozens of his close followers left. All that remained
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  Speaker 2: were the twelve. Jesus looked at Peter and said, Are
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  Speaker 2: you going to leave me as well? Peter shook his head.
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  Speaker 2: Where would we go? he asked. You alone have the
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  Speaker 2: words of eternal life. Peter gestured to the other disciples
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  Speaker 2: and said, Even though you may be hard to understand sometimes,
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  Speaker 2: we have come to know that you are the Holy
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  Speaker 2: One sent by God. So Jesus and his disciples departed
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  Speaker 2: to the district of Tyre and Sidon. The sun was
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  Speaker 2: high and hot in the sky. The streets were busy
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  Speaker 2: with commerce, and children played among themselves. As the disciples
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  Speaker 2: were walking, they were approached by a Canaanite woman. She
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  Speaker 2: was not a Jew, and therefore it was culturally taboo
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  Speaker 2: for her to come to Jesus, a rabbi. Please have
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  Speaker 2: mercy on me, O Lord. Son of David, have mercy
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  Speaker 2: on me, the woman pleaded. My daughter is severely oppressed
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  Speaker 2: by a demon. She writhes in pain and is tormented
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  Speaker 2: day and night. Jesus did not answer her. However, she
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  Speaker 2: persisted and walked with the disciples. Jesus was listening to
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  Speaker 2: her incessant cries. He heard her, but he was waiting
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  Speaker 2: to see the response of his disciples. Finally, the disciples
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  Speaker 2: leaned towards Jesus and said, You should send this woman away.
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  Speaker 2: It is not right for us to mingle with her.
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  Speaker 2: Jesus turned to the woman and said, You know I
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  Speaker 2: have come to shepherd the lost sheep of Israel. His
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  Speaker 2: tone was impassive and seemingly out of character. However, the
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  Speaker 2: woman did not waver. He said, Jesus smiled. The woman's answer,
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  Speaker 2: he said. Yes, but even the puppies get scraps from
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  Speaker 2: the table, the woman protested. Please, you are my only hope.
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  Speaker 2: Jesus smiled. The woman's answer revealed a humble spirit. Although
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  Speaker 2: Jesus had always planned to help her, he wanted her
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  Speaker 2: heart to be displayed among the disciples. Great is your faith,
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  Speaker 2: Jesus said to her. Go home.
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  Speaker 3: Your daughter is healed.
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  Speaker 2: Thus began the healing power of God extended to the
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  Speaker 2: Gentiles and not just the Jews. Soon the whole world
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  Speaker 2: would know that Jesus was the source of life and healing.
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  Speaker 2: This woman and her daughter were only the beginning.
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  Speaker 3: In today's scripture, Jesus and his disciples have sailed to
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  Speaker 3: the other side of the Sea of Galilee, away from
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  Speaker 3: the crowds. It was a moment of quiet that was
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  Speaker 3: growing increasingly rare as the crowds continued to follow Jesus
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  Speaker 3: wherever they could find him. And it wasn't long before
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  Speaker 3: they found Jesus again on the shores of Capernaum. Jesus
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  Speaker 3: knew their motives for seeking him were often misguided and
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  Speaker 3: even selfish. They weren't always seeking words of truth or
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  Speaker 3: even seeking miracles. They wanted physical comfort. So Jesus called
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  Speaker 3: them out, saying they weren't interested in what he had
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  Speaker 3: to say, They wanted to get their bellies full to
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  Speaker 3: eat more bread and fish. They were only thinking of today,
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  Speaker 3: of here and now, failing to see that Jesus had
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  Speaker 3: so much more to give to them. He told them
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  Speaker 3: that they should be looking for food that brings life,
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  Speaker 3: eternal life, rather than chasing after the food that will
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  Speaker 3: not last. To their credit, they asked Jesus what they
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  Speaker 3: were to do to get this eternal life. It was
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  Speaker 3: a good question, but one rooted in a belief that
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  Speaker 3: works could somehow make one right with God. But listen
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  Speaker 3: to how Jesus replied in Matthew 6, 29. Jesus answered
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  Speaker 3: and said to them, This is the work of God,
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  Speaker 3: that you believe in him whom he has sent. This
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  Speaker 3: is the ultimate truth that Jesus is communicating to us today.
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  Speaker 3: There is nothing we can do to gain or inherit
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  Speaker 3: eternal life or salvation except by grace through faith in him.
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  Speaker 3: Trusting and believing in Jesus and what he has done
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  Speaker 3: for us, his cross, his resurrection. This is the message
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  Speaker 3: of the gospel. Our actions, our behavior will certainly flow
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  Speaker 3: out of belief, but the work of salvation was done
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  Speaker 3: by Christ and Christ alone on the cross. There is
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  Speaker 3: nothing that you or I, any of us can do
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  Speaker 3: to gain approval or right standing with God on our own.
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  Speaker 3: This is why we desperately need Jesus and that he
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  Speaker 3: gives eternal life. For it is by grace that we
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  Speaker 3: are saved through faith. But as we heard, the people
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  Speaker 3: still didn't understand. They asked how they were to know
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  Speaker 3: Jesus was the Messiah. After all, Moses gave them manna
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  Speaker 3: in the wilderness. Of course, it was not Moses who
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  Speaker 3: gave people the manna. And Jesus told this to the
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  Speaker 3: people very clearly. It was God who gave the manna.
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  Speaker 3: It is God who gives everything. He gives every good
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  Speaker 3: and perfect gift that comes down from above according to
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  Speaker 3: the scriptures. It's a reminder to all of us that
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  Speaker 3: God works through people to bring blessings and provision, but
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  Speaker 3: we must never forget that it is God who himself
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  Speaker 3: provides for us. God is faithful, and he never forsakes us,
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  Speaker 3: and he always provides for us. And now Jesus said
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  Speaker 3: God has provided the true bread of life. Speaking of himself,
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  Speaker 3: Jesus is the bread of life. And this bread satisfies
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  Speaker 3: the deepest hunger of the human heart. the deepest hunger
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  Speaker 3: of the soul. Jesus then told everyone that whoever would
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  Speaker 3: come to him and believe in him would have eternal life. Clearly,
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  Speaker 3: the people knew Jesus was special, very special, but to
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  Speaker 3: hear him say that he came from God and that
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  Speaker 3: he alone would give them eternal life was way too
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  Speaker 3: much for some. They saw him as a carpenter's son,
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  Speaker 3: just a man, just a carpenter. But Jesus went on.
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  Speaker 3: It was time for the people to hear the word
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  Speaker 3: of truth he came to give them. And when he
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  Speaker 3: said that he was different from that man of which
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  Speaker 3: their forefathers ate, he then said anyone who ate his
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  Speaker 3: flesh and drank his blood would never die. Of course,
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  Speaker 3: those aren't the easiest words for us to understand. Jesus
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  Speaker 3: knew that this was difficult for many to accept. Some
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  Speaker 3: would even be offended. They could not understand. He was
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  Speaker 3: speaking a spiritual truth, but their minds were still focused
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  Speaker 3: on the physical, on what they could see, what they
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  Speaker 3: could taste. How often do we limit God by our
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  Speaker 3: own spiritual inadequacy? And so many that day left, and
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  Speaker 3: they didn't follow Jesus after that. So looking to his disciples,
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  Speaker 3: Jesus saw that they remained. And Peter's words are one
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  Speaker 3: of the great confessions of faith that we find in
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  Speaker 3: the Bible. Jesus asked them, will you also go away?
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  Speaker 3: And Simon Peter said, where would we go? You have
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  Speaker 3: the words of eternal life. Such great truth. In Christ
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  Speaker 3: and Christ alone, we have eternal life. His words are
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  Speaker 3: truth and his words are timeless. He gives eternal life.
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  Speaker 3: Peter's words demonstrated why Jesus chose him and the other men.
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  Speaker 3: They were far from perfect. They weren't educated men who
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  Speaker 3: knew all of the laws of the religious group, but
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  Speaker 3: they had faith and they put their trust in Jesus,
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  Speaker 3: even though they couldn't quite yet comprehend it all. They
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  Speaker 3: followed Jesus because they did believe that he was the
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  Speaker 3: one that God had sent. They followed Jesus because he
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  Speaker 3: was so compelling and so compassionate. All but one of
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  Speaker 3: the men, and Jesus knew which one would betray him,
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  Speaker 3: chose to follow him all the way and to fulfill
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  Speaker 3: God's plans and purposes. Our reading closes with another encounter
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  Speaker 3: with an outsider, a Gentile woman in need of healing.
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  Speaker 3: She pled with Jesus, believing he could make her whole. Jesus'
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  Speaker 3: actions and words may seem harsh and uncaring, but they
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  Speaker 3: are far from it. He was teaching the disciples that
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  Speaker 3: his love, his grace, his healing, ultimately the salvation that
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  Speaker 3: he offers was meant for all, not just for Jewish people,
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  Speaker 3: not just for people like the disciples. It's a message
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  Speaker 3: for the entire world. Let's pray. God, we do thank
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  Speaker 3: you for eternal life. Thank you, Jesus, for providing this
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  Speaker 3: gift to us. For your love, for your grace, for
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  Speaker 3: your help, for your hope, we give you praise. Thank
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  Speaker 3: you that you bring the words of eternal life to
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  Speaker 3: us every day. May we take those words to the
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  Speaker 3: world as well. May we bring the bread of heaven
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  Speaker 3: to earth by preaching the gospel and witnessing of your
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  Speaker 3: love and power to save. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank
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  Speaker 3: you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.
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  Speaker 3: I'm Jack Graham of Dallas, Texas. You can download the
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  Speaker 3: Pray.com app and make prayer and Bible study the priority
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  Speaker 3: of your life. And if you enjoyed this podcast, tell
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  Speaker 3: someone about it. Pass it on. Let others know because
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  Speaker 3: it is our desire to get God's Word to as
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  Speaker 3: many people as possible as fast as possible. And if
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  Speaker 3: you want to know more about what it means to
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  Speaker 3: be a Christ follower, what it means to be a
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  Speaker 3: disciple of Jesus, then go to jackgraham.org, jackgraham.org. And we
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  Speaker 3: have many resources that are available for you there. God
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  Speaker 3: bless you.