Bread of Life

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:22-59

After Jesus fed the 5,000 with loaves and fish, he explained to the disciples that they were intrigued and wanted to follow him, not because of the miraculous signs, but because of the bread that satisfied them. He also explained to them that working for food that perishes is foolish, but working for food that endures is eternal and life-producing! It’s so fascinating that Jesus uses such a simple example, bread. Bread is a staple food across generations and cultures. Jesus makes a point to explain that physical food, the temporary things don’t last or truly satisfy, but the bread of life, that is Jesus, quenches a depth of our hunger that the world leaves empty.

In verse 33, Jesus says, “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” He’s responding to the disciples’ comment about how God fed the Israelites manna from heaven in the Old Testament, but Jesus points out something beyond what they’ve been able to understand before. The purpose of the Bread of Life (Jesus) coming is LIFE, not momentary fulfillment of physical hunger, but eternal fulfillment of spiritual hunger. A satisfaction that the disciples were just beginning to taste of.

Jesus is our Bread of Life. He is the only one who can truly satisfy!

- By Brittany Larson, missionary with Overland Missions
brittany@overlandmissions.com