top of page

March 14 -- John 6:25-71

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” –John 6:51 (NIV)

When the crowds from the feeding of the 5,000 found Jesus in Capernaum, He understood their true motive for seeking Him. They were not interested in signs that proved He is the Messiah. They were interested in having Him provide them with more free food.


Even though they asked Jesus how they could do what “God requires,” they were only beginning a manipulative conversation with Him (v. 28). He told them they must believe in Him, and they answered by asking Him for a sign—even though just the day before He had fed them all with five loaves and two fish! Their next statement revealed that Jesus was right about their true motive: they pointed out that, while their ancestors were in the desert with Moses, God gave them manna (“bread from heaven”) to eat (v. 31). They weren’t just asking for a sign—they were telling Jesus which sign to perform!


Jesus declared that He is the “bread of life”—the “true bread from heaven” (vv. 32 & 35). Then He told them that believing in Him meant eating His flesh and drinking His blood (v. 54). This figurative speech was difficult for the crowd to hear, but it is a wonderful analogy. Bread was the foundation of the first-century diet. It was seen as essential to sustaining physical life. Jesus is essential to our spiritual life—He provides and sustains it. Just as material bread is eaten and digested so that it may nurture our bodies, we take Christ into our hearts by fully participating in faith in Him so that we are nurtured by Him and the Spirit can conform us to His image. Only Jesus can meet our deep need in this way. Only He can offer abundant and eternal life.


Most of the people that were following Jesus didn’t understand the analogy, however, and they turned away from following Him. This passage makes a distinction between the two types of disciples mentioned in the New Testament. The first kind of disciple is the kind who is an apprentice in training under an established teacher (“rabbi”). The Twelve were this kind. The second kind of disciple is an “adherent”—one who goes along with a movement because it is popular, not out of any deep sense of belief or commitment. It is this kind of disciple who turned away from Jesus in this passage.


The Twelve remained, and when Jesus asked them if they wanted to leave, Peter confessed that there was no place else for them to go because they believed Jesus had the “words of eternal life” and was “the Holy One of God” (vv. 68-69).


Consider: How has Jesus sustained me in the past? How is He sustaining me today? And, in response to His care, what kind of disciple am I? Do I follow Jesus because I want to get something from Him or because of Who He is?


In the Lord’s prayer, we ask God to “give us this day our daily bread.” Thank Him for giving you both physical and spiritual bread today. And thank Him for always giving you the bread you need, even though it may not be the kind of bread you thought you wanted. Confess any ulterior motives you sense in your walk with Him and ask Him to redeem them and to purify your heart.

11 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Commenti


Author

My name is Melissa Anderson. I'm a spiritual director and ordained pastor who loves God, people, and words. You can read more about me by clicking the button below.

Searches & Certainties

Posts Archive

Let's seek God together.

Thanks for subscribing!

© 2021 by Melissa Anderson. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page