What bread are you eating? (part 2 in the "I AM" series)

‘Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall not thirst’ (John 6:36)

Prior to speaking these words, Jesus had supernaturally fed five thousand people with bread and fish. He leaves the area and the crowds get into boats and make their way to Him across the lake, not because they see that the miracle points to Jesus as God, nor because they recognise in themselves a spiritual need, but because their bellies are full, and they want more free bread.

The crowd did not see the significance of what Jesus had done in feeding them all. Jesus knows this and exposes their motives.

‘You are seeking me, not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves’ (John 6:26 ESV)

He knows that they want more of the food that they didn’t have to work for, so He goes on to say, "Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (John 6:27 ESV)

The people pick up on the word WORK and want to know what they must do to do the work of God.

‘Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent”’ (John 6:29 ESV)

Is it that simple? Too simple, perhaps?

We somehow think that praying, bible study, church, being kinder, giving money, living sacrificially, that these are the works of God that we must do.

 “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent”’

Years ago, I thought that you couldn’t be more spiritual, couldn’t do a more worthy work for God than be a missionary. In fact I would go one better than being a bog standard missionary, I would go to a country where the people didn’t even want to hear the gospel. Where life would be hard and challenging, but I would do it for God. What better work for God could one possibly do?

But, I had it all wrong.

“This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent”’

Believe in Jesus. Believe in Him when he says  ‘Don't be anxious, Don't be afraid. I will provide. I will protect you. I will keep you. I am your shepherd. I will take care of you’ (Phil 4:6, Joshua 1:9, Phil 4:19, 2 Thess 3:3, Psalm 121:7, Psalm 23:1, Isaiah 46:4).

BELIEVE that in all things, He will work for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)

So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?’ (John 6:30 ESV)

If they are to believe in Jesus as the one sent from God, the long awaited Messiah, and, remember, it has been centuries of waiting and longing, then they want a sign.

Incredible! They have just witnessed the multiplication of bread and fish, they ate it, had their fill, watched twelve baskets of leftovers being collected and they still want a sign to help them believe in Him.

BELIEVE in Jesus. It's a choice you have to make to mould your whole life and shape your days around His words. Choosing to believe what He says about you, and about Himself is the work of God that He is looking for.  NOT that we fill our days being busy and important and clever.

Sometimes it seems that life hands us an indigestible raw grain of wheat. Right now we might not understand what’s going on in our lives or indeed in the world, and this thing that is so hard to ‘stomach’, leaves us bewildered and confused. And just as the human stomach doesn't easily and fully digest raw grains of wheat, our souls are left reeling with the challenges we face.

But, over time, if we allow God into the painful bits, that raw grain will become for us rich bread that nourishes and feeds and fills and completes us. 

I am the bread of life.

He is not one of many varieties - sourdough, white, seeded, wholemeal, brioche. He is the everyday bread needed for survival. Nowadays, in Europe, bread is an extra that they give you in a restaurant. Take it or leave it type of thing.  It’s not the main meal. It’s not a big deal.

But Jesus is NOT an afterthought, an add-on. He is not a bit of extra to nibble on while you’re waiting for the main course.

He IS the main course. He is enough. Totally satisfying, fulfilling, nourishing and life giving. No need for sides, or starters, or dessert.

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE.

‘Whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall not thirst’ (John 6:36)

It seems that the very coming to HIM is the eating and, believing in HIM is the drinking. The way you eat his flesh and drink his blood is in faith, by faith.

Come to Jesus and believe that you will get your breakthrough, that He will do something beautiful with what is presently indigestible in your life.

Believe in Jesus even when it’s really, really hard. Don’t wander away, and withdraw. If we drift away, we will end up feeding on dry, stale bread from weeks ago. Or on the junk food that our culture offers, leaving us empty, and sick.

Maybe this is why God allows some 'shake ups' from time to time. The struggles that we face that are hard to digest like the grain of raw wheat, give us the opportunity to COME again to Jesus and BELIEVE Him for our greatest need. The rough things in life humble us and remind us that we are not in control.

But He is.

This is what Moses says to the Israelites in the desert…

‘He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna……to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD’ (Deut 8:3 NIV)

There is nothing you need more right now than Him. Jesus. He offers you HIMSELF. He doesn't say 'I will give you the bread of life' or 'I'll show you the bread of life' or 'I will help you find the bread of life'.

No, I AM the bread of life!