Day #74 - I AM the Bread of Life

The Presence - A Devotional for Living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder

“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.” John‬ ‭6‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Photo by Jude Infantini on Unsplash

What is your favorite kind of bread?

For many years I ate a gluten-free diet. Many people would ask me during that time, “what is gluten?” I would jokingly reply, “its the stuff that makes bread wonderful.” You see, most gluten free bread is not that great. It tends to be dense. Gluten is the protein in wheat and some other grains that make bread sticky, airy, light and fluffy. There is something comforting about bread that not only fills you but when you enjoy it with others brings a sense of belonging and community.

Earlier, we learned that Jesus stated in John’s gospel that He is the I AM before even Abraham was born. Jesus is the great I AM in the flesh, fully God and fully man. Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus makes seven clear statements to reveal who he is as the I AM. In John 6:35 we see the first of these I AM statements: “I AM the bread of life.”

Earlier in John 6, Jesus had just fed the multitudes of 5,000 men plus women and children by multiplying one boy’s small lunch of fish and loaves. Supernaturally, Jesus fed these thousands and there were 12 baskets full of leftovers. Later, Jesus is speaking with them about the true bread that comes from heaven. They were so excited about his bread. The Jews believed that when the Messiah returned he would bring manna, a bread that God supernaturally provided for Israel during Moses’ leadership in the desert (1). They started to ask Jesus about this bread because he said the bread from heaven doesn’t come from Moses but from his Father in heaven.

Then Jesus gives them the truth in an unexpected twist, “I AM the bread of life.” And his promise is that whoever comes to him will never go hungry and whoever believes in him will never be thirsty. He is speaking about the power of eternal life. Jesus is speaking of his divinity and his completeness. He gives eternal life and that life will fully satisfy you.

This is more than just about a never-ending bread bowl, this is about the greatest longing of your heart and soul being met only through the person of Jesus Christ.

Why is God’s presence so satisfying? Because Jesus is the all satisfying One. When we come into the presence of Jesus we are going to the source who causes us to never hunger and to never thirst again.

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending the true Bread from heaven, your only Son Jesus. Jesus, you are the source of eternal life, the Bread of Life. You satisfy my hunger and thirst. You satisfy the greatest longing of my soul. I am hungry and thirsty for more of you. I love your presence. There is no one like you Son of God. In your name Jesus, amen.

(1) From the NIV Study Bible Notes.