What's Your Favorite Kind of Bread? - John 6

One of the most common staples that provides sustenance to our bodies is bread.  Bread is a universal food and comes in many different forms.  Bagels (a personal favorite), pita bread, sourdough muffins, pizza (another favorite), and I could go on and on.  So it is no accident that Jesus uses this very common metaphor to identity who he is.  He says today, "I am the bread of life".  What does that mean?  What can we learn about Jesus from this figure of speech.

30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ 32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

1. First, of all know that for the Jewish people bread had an association with the manna that God provided the Israelities in the wilderness.  They were given enough manna for each day, which God provided each morning on the ground.  It was a symbol of God taking care and providing for them through Moses.

2. It connected with the unleavened bread the Israelites ate hastily, as they escaped from Egypt when the Lord delivered them.  Jesus ate this bread at the Passover meal with the disciples in a meal designed to remember what he did for us on the cross.  There the innocent lamb of God was sacrificed for our sins. 

3. Finally, bread was associated with life.  Bread represented everything we need in this life.  That is why Jesus, when he taught the disciples how to pray he said, "Give us this day our daily bread!"  

When Jesus said, "I am the bread of life", he was saying that everything anyone would need would be found through him.  Provision for this life and eternal life in the world ot come.  In this sense Jesus was heavenly bread sent from heaven.  By using this metaphor Jesus is saying that He was and is God.  

What what can we learn from this? 

God has given you everything you really need in life through Jesus.  He is our sustenance. His presence gives us life both in this world and the life to come.  Jesus makes a promise that if we come to him, we will never be hungry again.  

People look for all kinds of things to fill them in this life but none of them truly can satisfy our deepest need.  Our deepest need is for a Savior, who took away all of our sin on the cross, so we could have a real relationship with God.  

Are you hungry? I mean is your soul hungry? Have you filled the God-shaped soul in your heart?  Go to Jesus and he will provide you with what you really need.  Salvation, true love, abundant life and a living hope that death is not the end of the story. 

And finally, Happy Mother's Day! Mom's show us the love of Christ, which is unconditional.  I love you Mom!