Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.” “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again. But as I told you, you’ve seen me, and yet you do not believe. Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should raise them up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:32-40
Over the summer, my mother attended a week-long extensive class covering just the science of bread; how it’s prepared, baked, and even served. Hearing her share everything she had learned made me realize that bread really is a part of so much of our lives. Bread is a part of so many cultures and lifestyles, and we see in Genesis 3:19 that bread is a source of food for all of humanity. Most people eat bread daily, and it is safe to say that many people crave this delicious carb. Individuals consume bread to meet the needs of physical sustainment, but through Jesus’ statement that He is the Bread of Life, we see that He is the only one who can meet the needs of spiritual sustainment.
Jesus Provides Physical Sustainment
In John 6, Jesus states that He is the Bread of Life. This statement alone speaks to His attributes and character. He is our sustainer, sufficient, and means of life. Before we study what Jesus means by this “I Am” statement He gives, we should look at the full context of this passage. Before John 6:35, we see the miracle of Jesus feeding the five thousand. Here, we see Jesus miraculously provide physical sustainment for the multitude with only 2 loaves of bread, and 5 fish. After this, the multitude followed Jesus in awe of the physical feeding that was provided to them. Then Jesus shares this statement, “I Am the Bread of Life.” This statement was controversial, and difficult to understand by many who were following Jesus. We see this confusion by the crowd, and also the disciples.
Jesus Provides Spiritual Sustainment
Jesus shares the Bread of Life does not mean that He is physically bread, but He is our Sustainer, and Giver of life. He is the Bread that is enough for all our spiritual needs. Through Christ, we will never go spiritually hungry, nor will we need to seek anything else besides the One who gives life because He is truly enough. Only through Salvation in Jesus Christ alone, is anyone satisfied forever. In John 6, we see Jesus meeting the physical needs of the crowd, and delivering the amazing truth that He always meets our spiritual needs through Salvation. A physical piece of bread helps end hunger for the time being, but Jesus being the Bread of Life ends spiritual hunger for eternity.
Believer, rest in the understanding that you have everything you need. Jesus is your Bread of Life, and you do not need to seek any other spiritual substance because Christ is enough. Rest in this assurance.
Unbeliever, I urge you to seek this truth. Jesus is enough and is sufficient for your spiritual hunger. Come to Jesus because you are spiritually hungry, and partake in the Bread of Life.
