The Bread of Life

The Bread of Life

“I am the bread of life.” John 6:48 NKJV

Jesus’ declaration of being the Bread of Life (John 6:22-71) created quite a stir among the Jews and His disciples and it still creates quite a stir in the Church today. There is some misunderstanding about the discussion that He had at that time still today and therefore some bad teachings about it.

This is a study about what Jesus was saying and how we should understand and apply it to our life.

First what do Jesus and the Bible say?

In the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke they record Jesus’ temptation and the very first challenge the devil gives Jesus after 40 days of fasting is to turn a stone into bread, Jesus response is, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of GOD.’” This is a quote from Deuteronomy 8:3, “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.” This was after 40 years of living in the wilderness and eating manna for most of that time. Now Israel was going to enter the Promised Land and GOD was giving them a review of His faithfulness and the promises and curses of obeying or disobeying Him.

In John 4:4-42 Jesus ministers to the people of the city of Sychar Samaria through the woman at the well. When His disciples offer Him food He tells them, “…I have food to eat of which you do not know…My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” :32 & 34

“Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:31-34

“When He called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, ‘Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!’ When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. So He said to them, ‘Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all food?’ And He said, ‘What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.’” Mark 7:14-23

The Bible has a lot to say about the mouth, the heart, food and life following are a few scriptures that deal with the natural life and the spiritual life.

 “A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.” Proverbs 13:2

“Then he said to them, ‘GO your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’” Nehemiah 8:10 This was after many Jews had returned from their captivity to Jerusalem and the priest had just read the Law of Moses to them.

 “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” 1 Timothy 6:6-9

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13

“Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the Kingdom of GOD is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to GOD and approved by men.” Romans 14:16-18

So it is clear that eating is normal but our life is not about eating and living after the natural things of life. Rather we should be seeking GOD’s Kingdom and doing His will and let Him provide for our natural life as He wills.

All that said, so the meat of the matter is that Jesus is the Living Word of GOD, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and the Word was GOD…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth…For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:1, 14, 17

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.’” Matthew 26:26-29

So Jesus is GOD and the Living Word and we are to live by every Word from the mouth of GOD, this makes Jesus the Bread of Life which comes from the Father! When we take communion it is symbolic of Jesus’ body and blood given as a living sacrifice for the remission of sins for the whole world.

When we seek GOD‘s righteousness and Kingdom by doing His will for us individually and as His body in the earth; as we study and live by His written Word; as we yield to Holy Spirit to instruct and gift us; then we are eating His Living Word and receiving our spiritual life plus He is providing what we need for our physical life.