“Then Jesus told them, ‘I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving 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.’ So they said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread all the time!’
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.’” —John 6:32–35
Similar to the Samaritan woman at the well respectfully asking Jesus for water (John 4:15), these Jewish followers of Jesus respectfully request of Him bread. However, both were desirous of the physical reality alone, missing the spiritual reality that Jesus is all we will ever need. Is that not human nature? While it is never wrong to pray for our needs, how much of our prayer life is often consumed with asking for meeting our physical needs to the exclusion of our spiritual needs, not taking into account that our bodies could better fare without food than our souls without Jesus. Most often our priorities are askew because our focus is not fixed. We choose to dwell on the temporal rather than the eternal.
Oh, that we would have the greater desire of King David to seek God’s face prior to seeking His hand. Psalm 27 gives us David’s earnest petition to the Lord:
“I have asked the LORD for one thing—this is what I desire! I want to live in the LORD’s house all the days of my life, so I can gaze at the splendor of the LORD and contemplate in his temple.” —Psalm 27:4
To dwell in the Lord’s presence is to dwell in security. In Psalm 91 we read:
“As for you, the one who lives in the shelter of the Most High, and resides in the protective shadow of the Sovereign One—I say this about the LORD, my shelter and my stronghold, my God in whom I trust—he will certainly rescue you from the snare of the hunter and from the destructive plague. He will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.” —Psalm 91:1–4
What we are seeking is satisfaction. Unfortunately, we all too often look for it in all the wrong places—roaming from here to there, jumping from bigger to better; seeking, striving, sweating, only to be found wanting.
While the provision of our earthly needs provided by the Father is profitable, it pales in comparison to the provision sent for our spiritual needs. Just as God rained down the manna from heaven, sending it to temporarily fill the stomachs of the wanderers, He sent His Son—the true Bread—to save all who would believe—permanently.
Become More
Jesus responds to His hearers in our verses for today by giving them the first of many “I am” statements presented in John. “I AM” was the way God described himself to Moses. Jewish hearers would have known when Jesus used those same words to describe himself that He was equating himself with God. He is our satisfaction in all things.
“I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). Jesus is our sustenance, our sufficiency.
“I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Jesus is our guidance, our direction.
“I am the gate for the sheep” (John 10:7). Jesus is our access to the Father.
“I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). Jesus is our caring protector, our total safety.
“I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Jesus is our surety.
“I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus is our eternal counselor.
“I am the true vine” (John 15:1). Jesus is our source of strength, our power.
Further Reflections
“The hand of God being my chief provision and storehouse, is it not a shame to be anxiously careful for anything? Has the Lord all things in his hand? Then surely I shall receive what he has for me; none will be able to withhold it. Faith has always a free access to the treasures of God, who is never wanting. Christians have their chests and treasures in such a high place, even in God, that no thief can rob them, and they are sure to have enough in God; and though the Lord should try them with want a little while, yet he relieves them in due time: their bread must rain from heaven, rather than they should be left without. If this does not comfort and strengthen us, nothing else will.” —K.H. Von Bogatzky
“Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land. I am weak, but Thou art mighty, Hold me with Thy powerful hand. Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more; Feed me till I want no more.” —William Williams