Forever Satisfied

Last Sunday, Pastor Ken began our summer series: The Great I Am: The Eight I Am Statements of Jesus. We considered John 8:48-59, where Jesus reveals that he is in fact the God of the universe—the Great I Am—and that whoever keeps his word will never see death. We learned that those who Jesus saves abide in his Word, experience victory over sin, love Jesus, and have hope of eternal life.

Read: John 6:22-59

This Sunday, Ryan Heard will preach from John 6:22-59, where Jesus proclaims, “I am the Bread of Life, whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). We will consider the truth that Jesus gives eternal life and satisfaction to all who believe in him. As you prepare for Sunday worship, let this devotional from John Piper direct you to drink deeply from the all-satisfying water of Jesus Christ.

Reflect: “Forever Satisfied”

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

This text points to the fact that believing in Jesus is a feeding and drinking from all that Jesus is. It goes so far as to say that our soul-thirst is satisfied with Jesus, so that we don’t thirst anymore.

He is the end of our quest for satisfaction. There is nothing beyond, and nothing better.

When we trust Jesus the way John intends for us to, the presence and promise of Jesus is so satisfying that we are not dominated by the alluring pleasures of sin (see Romans 6:14). This accounts for why such faith in Jesus nullifies the power of sin and enables obedience.

John 4:14 points in the same direction: “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” In accord with John 6:35, saving faith is spoken of here as a drinking of water that satisfies the deepest longings of the soul. And the satisfaction becomes productive, like a well overflowing.

It’s the same in John 7:37–38: “Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”’”

Through faith, Christ becomes in us an inexhaustible fountain of satisfying life that lasts forever and leads us to heaven, and on the way sets us free from the sinful illusions of other satisfactions. This he does by sending us his Spirit (John 7:38–39).

“Forever Satisfied,” March 25 Devotional, by John Piper, www.desiringgod.org

Sing: Song List for Sunday

1. “This I Believe,” Arr. Shane & Shane
2. “We Hunger and Thirst,” by Sovereign Grace Music
3. “Lord, I Need You,” Arr. Shane & Shane

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