Advent - “Bread of Life”
What was Jesus like? Why did He come to earth? What makes His arrival such good news? Ask a thousand people these questions and you’re bound to receive a thousand different responses. Rather than rely on the opinions of others, we want to listen to the words of Jesus and how He describes Himself. We’re beginning our Advent journey considering the person of Jesus. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus attempted to give His disciples, as well as the crowds that followed, a way to grasp who stood before them. Often, it came in the form of “I am…” statements. These short snippets give us a profound glimpse into the heart of Jesus and what makes His arrival and eventual return such good news. But, before we begin, I want to provide space for you to pause and pray before we jump into today’s meditation and ask Jesus to introduce Himself to you all over again.
Today, we encounter Jesus right after He pulled off a culinary miracle by feeding 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. With their hunger pains gone, the crowd marveled at what transpired. Having a captivated audience, Jesus took the opportunity to speak about a different type of hunger and thirst - this time a spiritual one. Let’s take a moment and read John 6:35-40:
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
I am “the bread of life.” This is a bold claim like that would perk up the ears of the Jewish crowd. To them, bread wasn't a side item that came out with the salad and appetizers. It served as a food staple that people lived on, a part of their diet that sustained life. Bread also played a part in their faith journey. From the time they were young, they had heard the Exodus story about their forefathers wandering in the wilderness and God daily providing them with manna.
However, unlike the manna that satisfied the Israelites for a while, Jesus says those who look to Him will never be thirsty or hungry again. Satisfying our appetite with the things of this world leaves our stomach growling for more. Nothing can quench our thirst or make those hunger pains disappear; nothing except for Jesus.
But, this goes deeper than a mere intellectual understanding of Him. We can't just nibble by recognizing the truth; we have to chow down by putting what we know into practice. Fulfillment requires real faith and action. As we continue to trust, we continue to be fed. Scripture provides nourishment for our souls. The cravings for purpose, meaning, security, and contentment will dissipate. We will find ourselves to be beyond full.
REFLECT
Before we wrap up our time together, we want to provide you some space to respond to what we read and maybe to what God is trying to say to you. First, take a moment to process this question…Where are you looking to satisfy your soul apart from Christ? Is that pursuit leaving you with a full heart?
Another question to consider is this…What would it look like to find your contentment in Christ in this area?
PRAYER
Father God, thank you for your constant provision in my life. Help me to hunger for more of Your presence, Your voice, and Your wisdom. May I find my satisfaction in You and You alone and allow that contentment to sustain my faith. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.