The bread of life

John 6:25 – 71

Begins with a charge to us to examine our motives for going to church and serving God.

Do not work for the food that perishes but the food that produces eternal life. Our life should not be primarily concerned with what we can get but with how can we serve God with who we are. Our looking for and serving Jesus should not be based on the things we want Him to do for us but rather on the eternal life that He can give us.

Things include, getting a car, getting married, having children, etc etc. Jesus knows we need these things and will provide them but our focus in serving God should not be those things but the life which he gives.

Jesus then goes ahead to describe how to gain this life in the rest of John 6 describing Himself as the Bread of Life--the one who not only gives life but sustains it

Vs 48 – 51. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

Results of eating the bread of life

1. When we eat the bread of life, then we have spiritual life here on earth. As food is nourishment to the body, so is the bread of life, Jesus, nourishment to the spirit. No food, no life.
   

2. Any other kind of bread cannot sustain spiritual life and will eventually lead to death just like manna did. Today’s manna could be likened to dead works, worldly pursuits etc.

3. When we eat the bread of life, then we gain eternal life. We are no longer afraid of death because we cannot die. We only change addresses.

4. When we eat the bread of life, then and only then do we have the ability to live like Jesus lived and to have His life in us. Vs 57. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.

How do we eat the bread of life i.e. 'eat' Jesus

1. Believe in Him. Vs 29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." Believe that He is the Son of God. That He came to this earth to suffer and die for our sins. That He rose again on the third day and was seen by many of his disciples. That He ascended into heaven and continues to make intercession for us till this day. That because of all this I am forgiven and saved from destruction.
   

2. Eat His Word. Study it, understand it, meditate on it, digest it. Let the word chastise us where necessary rather than looking for who the word is talking about. Let the word encourage us when we are down and depressed. Let the word give us direction when we are confused and do not know what to do. Let the word motivate us to greater works and service for God.

3. Do His work. My meat is to do the work of Him that sent me and to finish it. Eating the bread of life means doing the work that God has sent you. Not doing the work that you like or that is convenient for you. Not doing the work that someone else is doing that everybody likes. Not doing the work haphazardly and grudgingly. Not doing the work for fame and glory. It is doing the work that God has called you into. E.g. Ruth Graham who died recently. She resigned her position and job to raise the family of the Grahams and to support her husband’s ministry. They were very close. And God prospered them.

4. Follow His Will. Vs 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. Means you must be ready to report for duty every day. Lord, what must I do? Ready to allow God get in the driving seat while you become the co-pilot. Ready to say, Lord you are in charge just tell me what to do.

In closing, Come near and eat of the bread.... Brothers and sisters, just as Boaz called Ruth in to eat of the bread in Ruth 2:14, so is Jesus calling us today to eat of Him, the bread of life. Let us draw near and eat. God bless you.