August 12, 2018 Sunday

“35  And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36  “But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37  “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38  “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39  “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40  “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”” (John 6:35-40 NKJV)

            Jesus refers to himself as the bread of life and this is one of the seven “I am” statements in John that defines Jesus for us and gives us a deeper understanding of what God is like. This passage also reveals Jesus is obedient to the Father.

            This passage also shows us Jesus often uses words of a physical nature to help us understand a spiritual truth. When Jesus refers to himself as “the bread of life” he is not talking about a loaf of bread but about his body. We can know this because Jesus had already chastised them for just wanting physical bread and he proclaims with the spiritual bread we will never be hungry or thirsty again!

            We must not think little of them for not understanding since the Last Supper which was the first communion to be celebrated had not yet occurred. An interesting point is Jesus proclaimed the bread was his body broken for us and the wine was his blood shed for us but Jesus would not be crucified until later!

            Jesus also proclaimed everything the father had given to him would not be lost and Jesus would raise it up at the last day. This is a point where Calvin would say we are predestined or chosen by God to be saved and those who believe in free will would say the ones God foreknew those who would be saved. This is a teaching each must decide for themself after studying the Bible.

            Jesus then teaches that to have everlasting life we must see and believe Jesus. The word see is used as see, behold, perceive, consider and look on. The deeper meaning is to be a spectator, to view attentively, survey, to view mentally or to enjoy the presence of someone. Believe means to be persuaded of, to have confidence in someone and to entrust your possession or yourself to them.

            Are you looking for more than physical things or food? Does realizing Jesus was obedient to the Father teach you anything? Are you willing to see and believe in Jesus and receive eternal life?