The Bread of Life
by Hugh DeLong
The temptation to turn rocks into bread brought the response of Jesus that man is to live not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. God’s word is the bread of life that sustains the soul. Now in John 6, Jesus returns to this concept and affirms that HE is the bread of life! Again, the situation involved physical hunger and the need for food. Jesus then speaks about the bread of life.
Note this quick summary of Jesus’ statements here in John 6:
- "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world" (John 6:33).
- Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst" (John 6:35).
- "I am the bread of life" (John 6:48).
- "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh" (John 6:51).
The problem comes with trying to understand the ‘eating and drinking his body and blood.’ The people of Jesus’ day attempted to understand this in a literal sense, but realized it wasn’t a viable approach! Thus, Jesus’ own explanation of such eating:
- Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst" (John 6:35).
- "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life" (John 6:47).
- "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh" (John 6:51).
- "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him" (John 6:56).
One must come to Jesus (spiritually speaking), trust (believe) in Him, and continue such ‘eating and drinking’ of His word. Thus, Jesus stated, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life" (John 6:63).
And Peter’s response: Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
Are you ‘eating’ His words? Read, comprehend, and do them. Does this describe your relationship with Jesus?
