In John 6:48, Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life.” I love how Jesus uses “I am” statements to help us better understand who he is. In other places he says, “I am the door,” and “I am the way,” but I think that this statement of “I am the Bread of Life” might be my favorite.
I for one love, love, love bread. To me, bread means comfort, satisfaction, and delicious delight. When I think of bread, I have warm memories of my mom’s fresh baked bread. Is there any better smell in the world? I also think of my family’s habit of baking artisan bread. We have made hundred of loves over the years, and the kids are always so happy when fresh, warm loaf comes out of the oven.
And while physical bread is one of life’s greatest gifts, here in the chapter of John 6, Jesus makes a distinction between everyday bread and “the bread of life.” He says, “Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.” (John 6:49-50) In his commentary, The Blue Letter Bible, David Guzik explains what Jesus is saying here. “The spiritual bread Jesus offers is even greater than the manna Israel ate in the wilderness, because ‘eating’ the bread from heaven Jesus offers brings eternal life.”
Jesus is the “bread of life” because a relationship with him completely satisfies. It satisfies out spiritual hunger and ends the quest of trying to find out identity and comfort in meaningless pursuits. He is the ONLY substance that can truly fill us, not success, not pleasure, not doing good.
Jesus goes on to explain to his listeners that we much “eat of this living bread” (6:51) What does he mean that we must “eat”? Again, Guzik goes on to explain this so well in his commentary. He says, “
He who eats this bread will live forever: Jesus offers us heavenly bread for eternal life, but we must eat it. Faith in Jesus is not compared with tasting or admiring, but with eating. We must dig in! Jesus says that we must have Him within us, and we must partake of Him.
” Seeing a loaf of bread on a plate will not satisfy our hunger. Knowing the ingredients in the bread will not satisfy our hunger. Taking pictures of the bread will not satisfy our hunger. Telling other people about the bread will not satisfy our hunger. Selling the bread will not satisfy our hunger. Playing catch with the bread will not satisfy our hunger. Nothing will satisfy our hunger and bring us life except actually eating the bread. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
Guzik, www.blueletterbible.org
Dear reader, have you eaten of this bread of life? Do you agree that Jesus "Is the Bread of Life?" If not, come to him today. I love these two verses from the book of Romans that explain how to make Jesus your savior, your "bread of life." "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Romans 10:9-10 "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 To learn more about placing your faith in Jesus, read more here, or email me! I would love to talk to you more about this. And for you readers who have made Jesus your savior, I encourage you today to keep eating that bread! Remember that Jesus satisfies and comforts and meets all of our needs. Keep turning to him in prayer over and over and over with every burden and care. I know for me, it is so easy to start worrying about all of the major problems (covid, recall elections, violence abroad, vaccination debates) and forgot to eat of the "living bread." Above all, let's always keep in mind the reward that he has for us: eternal life. Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever."
