Who is Jesus? Advent Day 18: I am the Bread of Life

Manna was the original bread from heaven. When the Israelites left Egypt, they were in the desert and became hungry. The Lord of Sustenance, who called them out of slavery and into the desert, would not abandon them to starve. As the Israelites traveled and became hungry, the Lord provided a bread called Manna. Enough fell from the sky each day so that everyone had their fill with nothing left for the next day. God would provide a fresh fill each day. It was a type of flaky substance that they baked into bread. They got what they needed each day and double the day before the Sabbath.

So, now fast forward to the New Testament; Jesus is ministering to people, performing miracles, and teaching them about Kingdom life. They are out in the countryside with thousands of people and nothing to eat, and this is where Jesus performs one of His miracles of feeding thousands of men, women, and children.

He filled their physical needs and provided for what they needed, and so they pressed on and followed Him for more. Imagine what they may have been thinking, that they would never go hungry again if He continued feeding them this way.

But Jesus had MORE for them than physical sustenance. He wanted to give them eternity. So, the followers are pretty smitten by Jesus and follow Him from town to town.

They are devoted until one sermon becomes too much for many of them. The exchange begins with a question.

Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:29

These were works-driven religious people used to all of the dos and don’ts, and He told them that their only work was to BELIEVE in Him They wanted MORE proof, beyond the healings, the deliverance, and beyond the multiplication of food, So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you?

Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6: 32,33, 35

After Jesus preached the sermon about His body being the bread, He also started to talk about His body and His blood. At this teaching, many of His followers walked away and left him. This teaching was just too difficult for them to grasp.

He even looked to His Twelve Disciples and asked,
“Do you also want to go away?” John 6: 67

But Simon Peter answered Him,
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6: 68-69

Imagine the FAITH it took for Peter and the other disciples to STAY with Jesus when He started to talk about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. The twelve disciples remained even when the others went home.

The crowd followed the miracles, the provision, and whatever else He had to offer, but as soon as the teaching got too difficult to understand with their minds, they turned away. They returned to their former lives when faith rather than intellectual understanding had to receive the teaching.

They rejected the bread of life that Jesus offered because they couldn’t wrap their minds around it. And just like that, they rejected life and sustenance that would never leave them hungry or thirsty again. He wanted to give them everything. He wanted to provide them with so much more than temporary bread that you eat and then get hungry again.

Often, we pray for temporary provision and relief, while Jesus wants to give us a whole, redeemed, restored world.

What do you do with the challenging teachings of Christ when you hear them? The parts of the gospel that call you to repentance, to sacrifice, to living holy and set apart, and to forgive seventy times seven.

Jesus told the woman at the well that He had water for her in which she would never thirst again, Living water. She was confused, but believed Him by faith. She told the whole town. He is offering a spiritual meal that Comforts, Heals, Releases Burdens, Breaks yokes, sets free, and delivers. And JESUS gives us everything the world just can’t offer: internal peace, true identity, and a rock, solid foundation.

What will you do with the hard teachings of Christ?

Dear Lord,
This is hard teaching, but I cry out for a bold faith to just take You at Your Word. I receive You as bread and living water by faith. Let my faith be greater and greater so that I trust every Word You have spoken. I desire to have faith like Simon Peter to be able to stay fully committed even when I don’t understand. I believe in You. I trust You. I have given You my whole life. I will not depart when the teaching gets hard. I will press in and STAY. In Jesus Name, Amen.