The Bread

“I am that bread of life.” – John 6:48

The more you exist in this physical world, the more you begin to realize how fleeting it is.  When you are full of youth your strength seems to spring eternal, but as you grow older you begin to realize that the “world passeth away.”  No one, nowhere, can contend against this truth.  We will all physically get older, weaker, and one day pass away.  These facts being readily present, let us seek after that “bread” which will give life beyond the physical and profit far more than the manna that fell in the wilderness. 

In my opinion (take it or leave it) the 6^th chapter of John is an often misunderstood text.  Jesus is not suggesting in this passage that we substitute one forum of physical bread for another and then label the second His flesh.  Rather, he is commanding that we look to a different source for nutrients that will feed an unseen spiritual man.  Jesus begins by telling of Moses and the bread that fell from heaven in the wilderness.  His audience would have understood this reference because they were Jews (note, make sure that if you reference Biblical text your audience understands your reference).  You see, long ago, for the space of 40 years the Jewish nation that then was wandered in the wilderness as a result of their own disobedience.  Now, while they were there, God fed them all by dropping bread or manna out of the sky for them to gather each morning and eat each day.  That bread fed their physical bodies.  Eventually time lapsed and they all died a physical death just like you and I will one day do.  It did not grant them spiritual life only prolonged their day of death.  How many today are wandering this land and country looking for “manna” that will prolong their day of death?  There is a reason why health and wellness is over a 100 billion dollar industry in the US.  The bread that Jesus is offering is not something that can be seen with the natural eye, and it is not something that is meant to sustain the natural body.  It is a spiritual bread that brings spiritual life; it is Jesus, it’s for you, and for me. 

Jesus Christ is the bread of life; not physical life mind you but spiritual life.  We do not physically eat his flesh and drink his blood, nor do we eat and drink anything that represents Him.  However, we must spiritually partake of Jesus Christ, and how is that done?  Good question.  First by partaking in His death.  We do this by dying out to our wills, ways, and wishes.  We consecrate all that we are, and plan to be.  You must totally surrender everything to Him.  “Must I do this one time?”  You must do this when you are wed to Christ and everyday thereafter.  Like a marriage, you make a vow to your wife at the marriage, but you also make the same vow everyday thereafter until death.  After you partake in His death you will be resurrected and granted eternal life.  This is not done because you are so awesome, no friends, the power of God raises you out of the grave of sin just as it raised Jesus Christ out.  Now you have the bread of life, but you must continually nurse your new spiritual life.  You are now a new born baby and as such you must continually partake of Jesus Christ: by reading the Bible, praying, and assembling with like-minded Christians.  By partaking of this bread you will find that your spiritual man will grow stronger and stronger even though your physical body waxes weaker and weaker.  Jesus Christ is the bread of life, everlasting life, let us therefore set our hearts after this bread.