JESUS ACCORDING TO JESUS: THE BREAD OF LIFE

One of Jesus’ most famous miracles is known as “the Feeding of the 5000” where he took 2 small fish and 5 loaves of bread and miraculously multiplied them to feed over 5000 people. The next day after that miracle, many of the people who were there followed him to the other side of the sea of Galilee. It is here that we pick up the story.

Read John 6:25-40

Jesus points out that the people who followed him didn’t do so because they were amazed by his miracle. Rather, they followed him because he gave them a full stomach of food and they simply wanted more of that. They wanted more bread. Jesus responds by telling them not to be so concerned with bread that disappears so quickly, but rather to be concerned with the things that are eternal. They were so focused on their immediate needs that they missed out on what their greatest need was. They preferred having literal loaves of bread over having Jesus himself.

Many times we turn to God with this same confused focus. We come to God hoping he will solve all of our immediate needs: money, hunger, health, relationships, a job, etc. And truthfully, we’re more interested in the gifts than the giver. We come to Jesus asking for bread, as if bread is the thing we really need. To this Jesus gently replies, “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life” (Jn. 6:27).

What is this food? Where can we have our “eternal” needs satisfied forever? What bread could give life to people who are dying of hunger?

“Jesus said to them, “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE, whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (Jn. 6:35)

Ask yourself these questions and write down your responses:

  • When you think of what you need right now, what comes to your mind?
  • Do you feel like you need Jesus? If so, why? If not, why not?
  • What can Jesus satisfy that food, money, and health never could?

If you’d like to learn more about Jesus’ teaching about being the Bread of Life, listen to this sermon from Pastor Tim: