John 6:22-40 The Bread of Life
What is more basic to life than bread? It has been called the staff of life. It has been used as a metaphor for money. To break bread with another indicates fellowship, unity, friendship. The Lord’s prayer instructs us to ask for bread daily. It represents that which sustains, nourishes, fills, and energizes in both body and soul.
The crowd that came looking for Jesus needed bread. And Jesus had provided it by an outstanding miracle the day before. Why wouldn’t they come after him? They were present for and participated in a major sign of Jesus’ authority over the natural world which demonstrated his status as the Anointed One, The Messiah but they all missed it.
Before I judge them too harshly I must ask myself, are there signs the Lord has given me that I missed? Are there lessons the Lord wants to teach me that I am taking an awful long time learning? The Lord has been miraculously kind and patient with me and Jesus demonstrates kindness and patience with the crowd in his discourse here.
Jesus patiently moves the subject away from physical food and toward himself. He asks them to engage in trust, trust in himself. Is trust/belief work? It is the work of standing firm like a house on a strong foundation standing against the storm. Paul said, “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:13) and, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6).
The crowd is reluctant to let go the hope that Jesus will continue to feed them but now they try to couch it in a spiritual sounding arm twisting. Feed us and we’ll believe in you is the bottom line. Have you ever tried to bargain with God? Did you win? God is good and delights to give us good things but he is God and cannot be leveraged into doing the crowds will or my will. His will, will be done.
Jesus again, patiently, moves the conversation back to himself and makes a stunning “I AM” statement. I am the bread of life. By this statement Jesus used the name of God “I am that I am” , JHVH, YHWH to refer to himself. An unmistakable claim to Godhood. Jesus had taught, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.”(Matthew 5:6) Now he says, I am the bread of life, the living water.
Everyone who comes to Jesus is given to Jesus by the Father.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.(1John 4:10) For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.(Romans 8:29-30)
brotherpayne 