I Am the Bread of Life
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” (John 6:35).
I am the bread of life is one of the seven “I am” statements of Jesus in the book of John. In all seven He combined “I am” with wonderful metaphors which express His saving relationship toward the world.
1. “I am the bread of life” (6:35)
2. “I am the light of the world” (8:12)
3. “I am the (door) or gate” (10:7)
4. “I am the good shepherd” (10:14)
5. “I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25)
6. “I am the way and the truth and the life” (14:6)
7. “I am the true vine” (15:1)
The phrase “I am” is the covenant name of God, Yahweh, revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). It is also a phrase the Jews who were listening would have automatically understood as a claim to deity. This got their full attention!
To put this verse in context, Jesus is in the middle of a conversation with the multitude. Jesus has just fed the 5000 with bread and fish, and the crowd was following Him. He has just told them that they must look to the food that gives eternal life, not just to the food that feeds the body. They ask what they must do to get this food, and Jesus has told them that they must place their faith in Him. This is a metaphor about faith. Their dullness and lack of understanding prompted Jesus to declare unambiguously to them, “I am the bread of life” In this verse, Jesus uses two verbs, “Come and believe” in Him, the Messiah of the world. Jesus is equating Himself with bread, saying He is essential for life. Jesus is not referring to physical life but to eternal life. Jesus is trying to get the Jews to stop thinking in the physical realm and start thinking in the spiritual realm. This is a constant theme throughout the gospel of John. Physical bread will perish, but, He is spiritual bread that brings eternal life.
They are asking for a sign before they will place their faith in Jesus. Their fathers ate manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:1-5), and now they witness the feeding of the 5000. Their unbelief wanted another sign. We should be aware that asking for a sign is evidence of their lack of faith. Asking for a sign is an act of pride that makes God subject to the people, not the other way around.
Jesus then tells them, Moses didn’t give the bread, God did. In the same way, it is God who gives them the true bread from heaven. Both are gifts from God, not the miracles of mere humans. Jesus is not just interested in satisfying bellies, but in satisfying their eternal souls. Manna is physical, not spiritual. All manna really did was to paint a picture of what the true manna is going to be like. Manna was only for Israel, the true bread is for the world. Spiritual bread is not exclusive to a particular group, it is for everyone.
In verse 36, Jesus shifts gears a little and begins confronting the people on their fundamental problem – they do not believe in Him. There is more to it than simply seeing Jesus as a prophet or as an earthly King or as a great man. He wants us to see Him as God in the flesh and realize that our life amounts to nothing without Him. They are to look to Jesus Himself as the spiritual bread, He is our Savior and Lord. The eternal life that comes through Jesus, the bread of life, should be sought with far more zeal than the physical bread of life the crowd selfishly sought. Jesus tell them “come and believe”.
Scripture instructs us to meditate day and night on God’s Word, (Psalm 1:2). We are then feeding upon the living bread. One who is really feeding on Christ, the Living Word will become more like Him. (John 1:1-14).
Jesus prayed for us in John 17, this chapter is known as His High Priestly Prayer, hours before he was crucified. In verse 17, He prayed, “sanctify them in the truth, your Word is truth”. When we place our faith in Him, Jesus satisfies our hunger and thirst for righteousness, Matt. 5:6. Jesus Himself is our spiritual bread. “Come and Believe”.
Your brother In Christ, Jim Nelson
I am the bread of life is one of the seven “I am” statements of Jesus in the book of John. In all seven He combined “I am” with wonderful metaphors which express His saving relationship toward the world.
1. “I am the bread of life” (6:35)
2. “I am the light of the world” (8:12)
3. “I am the (door) or gate” (10:7)
4. “I am the good shepherd” (10:14)
5. “I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25)
6. “I am the way and the truth and the life” (14:6)
7. “I am the true vine” (15:1)
The phrase “I am” is the covenant name of God, Yahweh, revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). It is also a phrase the Jews who were listening would have automatically understood as a claim to deity. This got their full attention!
To put this verse in context, Jesus is in the middle of a conversation with the multitude. Jesus has just fed the 5000 with bread and fish, and the crowd was following Him. He has just told them that they must look to the food that gives eternal life, not just to the food that feeds the body. They ask what they must do to get this food, and Jesus has told them that they must place their faith in Him. This is a metaphor about faith. Their dullness and lack of understanding prompted Jesus to declare unambiguously to them, “I am the bread of life” In this verse, Jesus uses two verbs, “Come and believe” in Him, the Messiah of the world. Jesus is equating Himself with bread, saying He is essential for life. Jesus is not referring to physical life but to eternal life. Jesus is trying to get the Jews to stop thinking in the physical realm and start thinking in the spiritual realm. This is a constant theme throughout the gospel of John. Physical bread will perish, but, He is spiritual bread that brings eternal life.
They are asking for a sign before they will place their faith in Jesus. Their fathers ate manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:1-5), and now they witness the feeding of the 5000. Their unbelief wanted another sign. We should be aware that asking for a sign is evidence of their lack of faith. Asking for a sign is an act of pride that makes God subject to the people, not the other way around.
Jesus then tells them, Moses didn’t give the bread, God did. In the same way, it is God who gives them the true bread from heaven. Both are gifts from God, not the miracles of mere humans. Jesus is not just interested in satisfying bellies, but in satisfying their eternal souls. Manna is physical, not spiritual. All manna really did was to paint a picture of what the true manna is going to be like. Manna was only for Israel, the true bread is for the world. Spiritual bread is not exclusive to a particular group, it is for everyone.
In verse 36, Jesus shifts gears a little and begins confronting the people on their fundamental problem – they do not believe in Him. There is more to it than simply seeing Jesus as a prophet or as an earthly King or as a great man. He wants us to see Him as God in the flesh and realize that our life amounts to nothing without Him. They are to look to Jesus Himself as the spiritual bread, He is our Savior and Lord. The eternal life that comes through Jesus, the bread of life, should be sought with far more zeal than the physical bread of life the crowd selfishly sought. Jesus tell them “come and believe”.
Scripture instructs us to meditate day and night on God’s Word, (Psalm 1:2). We are then feeding upon the living bread. One who is really feeding on Christ, the Living Word will become more like Him. (John 1:1-14).
Jesus prayed for us in John 17, this chapter is known as His High Priestly Prayer, hours before he was crucified. In verse 17, He prayed, “sanctify them in the truth, your Word is truth”. When we place our faith in Him, Jesus satisfies our hunger and thirst for righteousness, Matt. 5:6. Jesus Himself is our spiritual bread. “Come and Believe”.
Your brother In Christ, Jim Nelson
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