All We Need Is Jesus

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​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood                          
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012                                                                              
Sermon Notes Sunday Service July 19 2026
Sermon Title–All We Need Is Jesus
Text – John 6:22-39
Rev. Key Min Lee

​I continue to emphasize that we should not fix our eyes on our circumstances because they have the power to pull us away from the love of Christ and fill our hearts with fear, worry, and anxiety.  When fear and anxiety begin to dominate our lives, the first thing that happens is that we start questioning the presence of Jesus.  We begin to see everything through a negative lens, and eventually our relationships start to break down.  That is why I continually encourage you not to focus on your circumstances.  Left unchecked, they become one of the greatest obstacles that draw us away from the Lord.
So how can we keep ourselves from being controlled by our circumstances?   I believe today’s passage gives us the answer.
In today’s Scripture, Jesus tells the crowd that they were following Him because they had eaten the loaves and had their fill (v. 26).  There is a very important truth hidden in those words.  Their physical needs had been satisfied.  This speaks to the physical side of our lives.
          God created us with both a body and a spirit.   We were designed to grow in both. When one grows while the other is neglected, the neglected part gradually becomes numb and no longer recognizes its need to grow.  In the same way, if we pursue only what is visible and physical, we eventually stop recognizing our deepest need—Jesus Himself.
          This is exactly what Satan desires.  He wants us to become so preoccupied with our circumstances that we drift away from God.  This is the very deception the Bible warns us about.
          Our circumstances are always changing.  They never remain the same.  That is why we must train ourselves to keep our eyes on the Lord, who never changes and is always with us regardless of our circumstances.  This spiritual discipline means living every day as though Christ could return today.  It means eagerly longing for His return and finding our complete satisfaction in Him alone.
          It also means serving everyone we meet with the love of Christ and giving them the very best of ourselves.  It means living each day in obedience and self-sacrifice for the glory of God.  When we live this way, we are no longer controlled by our circumstances but instead learn to live continually in the presence of the Lord.
 
Throughout today’s passage, Jesus contrasts food that perishes with the food that gives eternal life.  He tells us not to labor for food that spoils, but for the food that endures to eternal life (v. 27).  He also says that believing in the One whom the Father has sent is the bread that truly satisfies and leaves us never hungry again (vv. 29, 35).
          If the food that perishes represents our ever-changing circumstances, then the bread of life represents Jesus Himself.
          Jesus also emphasizes that the words He speaks are not merely His own, but the very words of the Father who sent Him (vv. 38–39).  In other words, when we obey and respond to the words of Jesus, we are obeying the Father Himself.  This is also how we overcome our circumstances.
          Jesus promises that whoever comes to Him will never hunger or thirst again (v. 35).  The Father’s Word is like an everlasting spring that never runs dry, continually filling us with His grace and His presence.  That is why God’s Word remains fresh every day and continually gives us new hope.  As Lamentations 3:23 reminds us, “His mercies are new every morning.”
          When the Lord speaks, our responsibility is simply to obey and apply His Word to our lives.  As we do, we begin to rise above our circumstances.  Instead of being controlled by them, our hearts become filled with gratitude and the fullness of God’s presence.  We begin to live each day with hope.
          After our family moved to Cherry Hill, we had the opportunity to take walks around our neighborhood.  It is a beautiful community with many large homes, luxury cars, and beautifully landscaped gardens.  Some of the lawns are so well maintained that they almost look perfect.  Our yard actually has more weeds than grass, so I spend time taking care of it every week.  It is obvious that many wealthy families live there.
          As we walked together, I said to my wife and children, “There are certainly many wealthy people living here.  But how thankful I am that we are rich in heart.  How thankful I am that the Lord is with us.  Praise the Lord!”
          Some people might hear that and think it sounds like we’re simply trying to make ourselves feel better.  But I truly mean it.  Our greatest joy is not found in what we own but in the Lord Himself.  He has given us everything we need, and because of Him we are genuinely happy and content each day.  That is why we are not easily discouraged or shaken by our circumstances.
          Brothers and sisters, love gives freedom.  It is that freedom that allows us to choose Christ.  Our responsibility is simply to respond to His love.  When we choose Jesus, our circumstances no longer control us.
            On the other hand, if we continue to focus on our circumstances, we remain trapped in deception.  Doubt begins to grow, and doubt produces fear, worry, and anxiety.  Eventually relationships begin to break down, and the church cannot be built up as God intends.
          Remember this one truth above all else:  Jesus Himself is the power.  Jesus Himself is all we need.
          Even today, Jesus is not looking for people who merely react to their circumstances.  He is looking for those who will keep their eyes fixed on Him regardless of what they are facing.
My prayer is that you would live each day with eager anticipation of Christ’s return.  May you find your complete satisfaction in Him alone.  I bless you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.