Jesus the bread of life

John 6: 25 - 67

Bread is an absolutely delicious wholesome meal, it is defined as a kind of food made of flour or meal that has been mixed with milk or water, made into a dough or batter, with or without yeast and baked. It is also referred to as livelihood, or in other instances, bread is also a slang meaning money.

In John 6: 25 -57, while Jesus was preaching to the people on the other side of the lake, after he had fed the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish (John 6: 1-15), he told them that he was the bread of life.

" Jesus answered them and said, Verily verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled."

"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." John 6: 26 -27 (KJV)

" And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger: and he that believed on me shall never thirst." John 6: 35 (KJV)

The people had followed Jesus because he had just fed five thousand of them with five loaves of barley bread and two fish, (John 6: 1-14). Jesus knew they were looking for the bread that you eat to fill up your hunger and satisfy your stomach. He advised them not to work for food that spoils but to work for the food that lasts for eternity. This food can only be given by the Son of Man (Jesus) because God has put his mark of approval on him.

The people made reference to the manna (bread) from heaven that their ancestors ate while in the wilderness with Moses. However, Jesus explained that the bread God gives is he who comes down from heaven and gives his life to the world.

"For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world." John 6:33

So the people asked for this bread and Jesus revealed that he was the bread of life. Those who come to him will never be hungry; those who believe in him will never be thirsty.

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." John 6:35

Jesus came down from heaven not to do his will but to do the will of the one who sent him (God). What is the will of the Father (God) who sent him (Jesus) to the world? He goes on to tell us.

God's will is that he should not lose any any of all those that he (God) has given him (Jesus). In other words everyone who comes to Jesus will be received and never be turned away. None of the souls that accept Christ should be lost on the last day.

"And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:39-40

God wants all who see and believe in him should have eternal life. It is not God's will for any believer to go to hell. Our eternal salvation is important and paramount to God. He loves us so much that he gave his only Son to die for our sins and save us from eternal damnation.

When the people heard Jesus say this, they began to grumble and murmur about him. Jesus told them to stop grumbling and again explained that he who believes has eternal life. He reiterated that he was the bread of life.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

I am that bread of life." John 47-48

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:51

His statement started an angry argument among the people. They wondered how he could give them his flesh to eat. Jesus replied that only those who ate of his flesh and drank of his blood have eternal life.

"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him."

John 6: 53-56

Jesus said this as he taught in the synagogue in Capernaum.

One thing that stood out from what Jesus said in John 6: 37, 44 and 65 was that no one can come to Jesus unless the Father (God) makes it possible for them to do so. Salvation can only be attained with the help of God. No one can receive Jesus without being led by God.

Many times when we preach the good news, we tend to forget that on our own we cannot lead anyone to Christ. We must remember that God is the one who leads his children to Jesus. No one can find Jesus on their own. We must seek the help of God at all times, human power is of no use at all. That is why when Jesus lost many of his disciples that day, he was unfazed because he already knew the one who would not believe and which one would betray him.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

In conclusion, Jesus revealed himself as the bread of life, if we eat of this bread we will never hunger again. He laid his life on the cross for you and I so that we will receive the free gift of salvation. We are saved not by our deeds or actions, but by faith when we believe and receive Jesus into our hearts as our Lord and Saviour.