I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” John 6:48-52 NIV
On the heels of feeding the 5000, Jesus takes the opportunity to draw an analogy between our need for food and our need for Him. The “bread of life” feeds us spiritually, whereas the manna fed the people physically. We all die physically, so while bread that sustains the body keeps us alive temporarily, it really doesn’t give us life. Life isn’t about keeping our physical body going, it’s about thriving spiritually, which can only happen when we engage in a personal relationship with Jesus.
God took on flesh so that we might have life. Jesus became a man and sacrificed his physical body for the spiritual life of the world. Think about the process of eating bread. You embrace it, take it in and fully digest it. For a season, at least, it becomes a part of you. It nourishes you and gives you the energy you need, not just to survive, but to thrive. That’s how we need to approach Jesus, the “bread of life.” We need to fully embrace Him, invite Him in completely and become one with Him, not just for a season, but forever. He is the one who gives our spirit energy and life!
The Jews struggled to understand Jesus because they couldn’t get past the physical. Let’s be honest, the physical demands our attention. It’s powerful! We struggle when we are tired, or hungry; and our cravings for physical pleasure scream to be satisfied. It’s easy to lose sight of the more important, longer lasting spiritual side of life. That’s why John records these words from Jesus, later in chapter 6:
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. John 6:68 NIV
Hungry? Looking for something that will truly satisfy? I recommend the “Bread of Life!”