Bread of life
26 Jesus replied, “I assure you that you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate all the food you wanted. 27 Don’t work for the food that doesn’t last but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Human One[c] will give you. God the Father has confirmed him as his agent to give life.”
28 They asked, “What must we do in order to accomplish what God requires?”
29 Jesus replied, “This is what God requires, that you believe in him whom God sent.”
30 They asked, “What miraculous sign will you do, that we can see and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”[d]
32 Jesus told them, “I assure you, it wasn’t Moses who gave the bread from heaven to you, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 The bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 They said, “Sir,[e] give us this bread all the time!”
35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Reflection
Note: This week we have been talking about Jesus as the Bread of Life. First on Monday, we talked about how God nourishes us, even when we (think) we are so undeserving –and we always are. On Tuesday, I was reminded about how sometimes we all need to remember that a relationship between God is meant to feel good! On Wednesday, I explored the vast and varied dimensions of God’s love for all. God’s love is endless. Now on Thursday and Friday, we are exploring Jesus’ direct claim about being the “Bread of Life.” What will this ultimately mean?
Jesus’ words likely angered so many, who believed that he could only ever be Jesus of Nazareth, and not the Human One, or the Bread sent down from Heaven. His claim meant a change in mindset for God’s people. Then Jesus talks about God’s teaching, “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.”
Jesus’ words came unexpectedly and called for a new way to be. When some expected a Messiah who would powerfully take over all enemies, Jesus preached about love. Jesus preached God’s love to those who are longing for salvation. He spoke of a real sustenance in which we would be completely and spiritually fulfilled.
But like his words recalled through scripture, Jesus’ words to the crowd remind that the Bread of Life is also bread which does not come from human beings. It is security and sustenance that leaves one satisfied, in the way that earthly food cannot. To this, the crowd could only say, “Sir, give us this bread all the time.” We don’t want to be left longing. We want to always be satisfied.
However there is another longing that Jesus’ words speak to. When we are so fed and sustained by God, we want to share this “special food” so that others are comforted. It sounds cliche’ but I am thinking of the last time I ate something tasting uniquely wonderful, I turned to my husband and said, “Wow, taste this!”
No more hunger and thirst! We want to share God’s love by helping others to experience it. We can’t just keep God’s love for ourselves; God doesn’t want us to. We want to share this beautiful bread. Feeling God’s love and being so filled-up means that we just want to pass it on. We just want to share it.
by Barbara Carlson
For Pondering and Prayer
What does the term Bread of Life mean for you? How do you share God’s love and what calls you to share it?
Prayer: Gracious God, Thank you for your loving presence. Thank you for the small and big reminders to be joyful in all circumstances. Thank you for the reminder that you are the Bread of Life and only you can nourish our soul. May I always be mindful of the sweetness your love brings. Amen.
