Jesus, the Bread of Life
Scripture Reference
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
– John 6:25-35, NRSV
Reflection
Many of us have had spiritual highs, a spark of faith where God spoke to us, or we were touched in some way, be it at church, on a special retreat, or even in a beautiful moment of life.
It’s easy to think that this is what comprises a healthy spiritual life. But it’s what happens after these highs that often cause our faith to dwindle and our confidence to fade.
I believe this was on Jesus’ mind as he spoke to the crowds who came looking for him in the sixth chapter of John. Jesus saw through their enthusiasm to the reality that faith isn’t always a steady diet of provision and proof.
In fact, sometimes being a Christ-follower takes a little work, it means trusting and believing and remembering. When they ask what it means to follow God, Jesus responds: “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
The crowds, who have eaten the loaves he has multiplied, then have the AUDACITY to ask Jesus to show them a sign that he is from God. Something like manna in the wilderness. Already they have forgotten the bread they just ate, multiplied before them by Jesus’ own hands!
But well.... if I’m honest..... I have a pretty short memory of God’s faithfulness myself from time to time.
A huge part of faith is believing and trusting in the Christ we have committed to. And a huge part of the Church’s role is reminding one another of that faithfulness when one of us is struggling to remember the good times.
The life of faith means that you won’t always have tangible proof. You won’t always FEEL that God is present and working and providing. As a faith leader, I’m aware that we are not always the best at setting this realistic expectation.
For many of us in 2020, it may have been a long time since we tangibly tasted a miracle from God, but may we open our eyes to see the Bread of Life always before us, a place at the table always set for us.
Jesus himself is God’s greatest provision. When all else feels hopeless, or maybe just empty, may you find your hope in him.
Submitted By:
Kelsey Vincent, Pastor for Youth and Families, First Baptist Church of Decatur