I am the bread of life

.... He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst (John 6:35). The previous day Jesus had fed five thousand plus from five barley loves and two small fish (verses 1-12). The crowds had gathered again, and Jesus perceived that they came because they wanted to be fed again (verse 26). He tells them “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life,” and He tell them “This is the work of God that You believe on Him whom He sent” (verses 27, 29). They ask for a sign referencing the manna, the bred from heaven, that Moses had given the children of Israel in the desert (verses 30, 31). Well, the Father gives the true bread from heaven that gives life to the world, and it's Jesus (verses 32-35).

So then Jesus had demonstrate that He could fulfill physical hunger, physical hunger of course had returned the following day. And He uses the occasion to talk about spiritual hunger, and what will satisfy it. And again, it's Jesus! It seems to be a principle that things have to appear in the natural before the things to which they point, appear in the spiritual. So here manna, the bread from heaven that came down in the desert (Exodus 16:32-35) needed to appear in the natural (physical) before the teaching would make sense to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. As Paul could say of the things he taught, that he taught “not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (2 Corinthians 10:12). Many would not understand, and they would turn back (verse 66).

But how exactly are we to understand this saying that He is the bread of life? Some have wanted to take it literally and see the bread in communion literally turning into His body. But as Peter would say a little later on about Jesus who is the Word (logos) that when He speaks (rhama) these words are what bring life, life in all its abundance and life eternal. In fact Jesus gives us many metaphors, He the bred of life, the light of the World (8:2), the door (10:9), the Good Shepherd (10:11), the resurrection and the life (11:25, 26), the way the truth and the life (14:6), the vine (15:5). In other words Jesus is our all, our sufficiency, our comfort, our guide, our counsellor, our friend and our saviour.

Lord Jesus, You indeed are all we need. In You is life, health, peace, joy, hope, and many other things. Too often Lord we strive for the bread that does not satisfy (27). Forgive us Lord. Thank You for Your promises that when we keep on coming to You and keep believing in You (the force of the Greek tenses), then we will indeed never hunger, for You truly satisfy. And thank You Lord that when we do this, You will in no wise cast us out (35, 37). And all we have to do Lord, is to come to You and have faith in You (29). For this and many other things we give You honour, Glory and praise in Your precious Name Amen