February 8
Bible Reading: John 6:41-59
John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
Laura baked a loaf of bread the other day. It smelled so wonderful when it was baking. And it tasted so good when it was still warm out of the oven. Bread is a food staple, but there weren’t so many kinds to choose from when I was a child—white, whole wheat, rye, and a few others. A loaf of bread cost about 20 cents back then. My, how things have changed! Walk down any bread aisle in a supermarket and you will find countless varieties of bread, in various shapes and made from many different kinds of grain. But what you won’t find is any kind of bread that can make you “live forever” if you eat it (John 6:51). Jesus is the Bread of Life. He alone can make that happen.
The multitudes sought after Jesus after he miraculously fed them, wanting to make Him their king. His response is what is commonly referred to as “the Bread of Life” discourse (John 6:25-59). Instead of being preoccupied with food which perishes, He said they should seek after the food which endures (John 6:27). Prominent in the discourse are the words “life,” “live,” and “living.” I count eighteen occurrences of these terms. I’m reminded of that which was stated in the beginning of the gospel account — “In Him was life” (John 1:4). He is the bread of life which came down from heaven (John 6:32, 41, 51, 67). He came to give Himself for the life of the world (John 6:33, 35, 50-51, 53-54, 57-58). He died so that you might live.
Many varieties of bread are available at the local supermarket, but no bread on earth can impart true life to the spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1). And while people often focus their concern and effort on obtaining physical bread (food), every person has a greater and deeper need for the true bread that can impart life, eternal and abundant. He is the bread of life. Have you partaken of this bread? To eat His flesh and drink His blood (John 6:53) is to receive Him by faith (John 1:12, 6:36). His promise? “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). True life, eternal and abundant, is to be had in Christ alone.
C. S. Lewis and spoken to this: “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
C. S. Lewis
Only the “food which endures to eternal life” can satisfy your soul’s hunger! – John 6:27).
LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVE EXCELLING
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heav’n to earth come down,
fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
all Thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love Thou art;
visit us with Thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit,
let us find the promised rest.
Take away our love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver;
let us all Thy life receive;
suddenly return and never,
nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve Thee as Thy hosts above;
pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
glory in Thy perfect love.
Finish then, Thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see Thy great salvation
perfectly restored in Thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heav’n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before Thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
LookingtoJesus 