Knowing Him: The Bread of Life

There is nothing greater than knowing Christ. Seven times in the book of John, Jesus offers us profound insight into His nature and character. In this series, we seek to guide the reader into a deeper understanding of these “I Am” statements, and the rich hope and comfort that can be found in Christ in the midst of grief.

Bread—such a simple, staple food with so much rich biblical significance.

For the people of Israel, bread was typically a readily available element, no matter one’s income. There is nothing elite or exclusive about bread—from the poorest of the poor to the richest of the rich, everyone ate bread on a daily basis. But bread also played an important role in the history and worship of God’s chosen people.

When the Israelites were wandering in the desert, the Lord graciously provided manna—bread from heaven—each day to sustain His people. So important was the manna to the Israelites that they put some inside the Ark of the Covenant along with the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments and Aaron’s staff (Hebrews 9:4) to remind themselves of God’s kindness and provision.

Bread was even involved in worship. One of the five specific offerings God required was the Grain Offering, which was typically a cooked bread (Leviticus 2), and during the Passover, one of Israel’s most sacred festivals, they were instructed to eat only unleavened bread as a reminder of the haste with which they fled from Egypt (Deuteronomy 16:3).

Fast forward to the New Testament. In John chapter six, we see Jesus take a few measly loaves of bread and a couple of fish and feed the thousands that were following Him. It’s easy to see the practicality in this miracle—the people are hungry and Jesus feeds them. But don’t miss the divine and timeless —Jesus takes the meager and insufficient and in turn creates abundance and sustenance.

Those who were there that day, however, did just that. They were so focused on the physical that they missed the spiritual. When they sought Jesus out following this miracle, He chastised them with these words: “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” (John 6:26 NIV)

Jesus has just proven His identity—His deity—through this miracle. He told the people that He was the Son of God, and reminded them that it was not Moses who provided the manna in the desert, but God, Himself. But still, the people weren’t concerned with who Jesus was, but merely what He could do for them. They even had the audacity to ask Him what He would do to prove Himself, as if the incredible wonder they had just witnessed wasn’t enough, and to demand that He would always “give [them] this bread.” (vs 34) It’s in this context that we hear Jesus utter the phrase we know so well:

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 11:35

Everyone around Jesus wanted their physical needs met. They wanted Him to continue feeding them like God had done for them in the desert. They merely wanted Jesus’ provision, when He wanted to give them His very self.

I’m afraid we’re not so very different. Sister, do you find yourself asking Jesus to give you another baby? A healthy body that can carry to term? A healed heart or marriage? These are normal, healthy, perfectly fine desires, but they’re not what matters most. Yes, Jesus longs to meet our physical and earthly needs and desires, but they’re not His ultimate priority.

He desires for you to see Him alone, not the good gifts He can give, as your deepest desire and fulfillment.

He is the very Bread of Life. He is readily available to all who will partake. He satisfies in a deep, lasting way. He multiplies. He takes the lacking and makes it abundant. He is enough. He is the ultimate gift and the ultimate sacrifice. Without Him, our hearts and souls will wither. But in Him, there is life and sustenance.

Sam is a graphic designer and marketing professional in Frisco, Texas. She and her husband, Spencer, have been married since 2011, and have two children in heaven, Max & Baby Martin, and one in their arms, Lachlan. They enjoy serving in their church, building community, and restoring their 100 year-old home. Sam is in two book clubs and can always be found with a book in her purse and a warm beverage in her hand.

Are you a writer who would like to join the blog team? Learn more and apply here.