Eating True Bread

I. I Am the Bread of Life

Notice that Jesus says that He, is the Bread of Life. Jesus is letting the audience know that He, himself is the one that imparts life. He himself is the one sustains life, that He himself is the one that nourishes life, that He himself is the one that brings fullness to life, that He himself brings satisfaction to life. He himself is the one that gives real life, enduring life, everlasting life. If a man comes to him through faith, through intimate union with him, assimilating him spiritually like bread that is eaten is assimilated by the body this person will have everlasting life. Jesus is saying that he is food, He is the food that imparts everlasting life, he is the food that sustains spiritual life, he is the food that nourishes the soul, and only by consuming this bread will one experience life as God created it to be experienced.

There are some interesting things about bread that we need to know to help us understand the implications of what Christ is saying.

1. Bread was the most important part of the meal in Jesus day. Meat was simply a side dish. What Jesus is saying is that he is the most important part of anyone’s life.

2. Everyone had access to bread, the poor made bread out of barley, the rich made bread out of wheat; nevertheless everyone ate some type of bread. What Jesus is saying is that he is accessible to everyone. He is not just the rich man’s bread or the poor man’s bread. Everyman needs to taste and see that he is good.

3. Bread was a means of fellowship, when you sat down and broke bread with someone, it symbolized that you were friends forever. What Jesus is saying is that he offers divine fellowship to anyone willing to commit to him.

4. Bread symbolizes God presence. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the House of Bread; in the temple the Showbread symbolized God’s presence. What Jesus is announcing to the Jews is that God is in their presence in bodily form.

II. Come to Me and never Hunger

Jesus says come to me, which basically implies that one appears before him in belief and submission, to approach him, to yield to him, to surrender to him. The implication here is a long lingering stay, a wholesale selling out to Christ. The problem many of us have is that we make short token visits to Jesus. We drop in when the bottom drops out on life. We run to God only when we are in trouble or scared. The fact of the matter is we try to satisfy that deep-pitted hunger through things and not God. Money can buy you a house, but not a home; money can buy you an education, but not wisdom; money can buy you a bed, but not restful sleep; money can buy you influence, but not respect; it can buy you medicine, but not health; a spouse, but not love; quiet, but not tranquility. Despite the failure of money, power, pleasure, drink, drugs, or the host of other glittering distractions that promise peace and fulfillment but cannot deliver, we still scramble and claw to find our meaning in everything except our maker and His destiny and purpose for us.Notice that he says come to him, on his terms, and we will “never” hunger. Literally what he is talking about is that those who come to him will not ever strongly crave anything spiritually outside of him. When they approach Jesus, when they appear before Jesus, they will find the fulfillment their spirit man craves.

Illustration

1279 Cruel “Bread” Of China

During the great famine of China, the people made “bread” from a kind of edible earth. But this ingredient was devoid of any nutrients, so those who ate the loaves, starved. Meyer also refers to the nardoo plant which grows in Australia. The spores of this clover fern can be made into bread and porridge. But they contain no proteins, carbohydrates, or vitamins—the essentials for sustaining life. Those who depend upon it for food will have their stomachs filled, but they’ll eventually die.1

1Tan, Paul Lee, Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations, (Garland, Texas: Bible Communications, Inc.) 1996.

III. Believe In Me and Never Thirst

Believing here is an abiding relationship, a dependent relationship, a trusting relationship. To believe in Christ is to be united with him by faith, to participate in his life, and fulfill his purpose. The person comes to Christ as one who has nothing and needs everything. Thirst is talking about our desires, our cravings, our longings, the things that drive us, our persistent pursuits- the things that bring us pleasure and satisfaction. The meaning of this phrase is that the thirsty soul will find complete and enduring spiritual satisfaction in Jesus, perfect peace for the soul. Those that come to him will find perpetual sustenance and refreshment for their souls thirst. They will never die.

Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Conclusion

The question we must ask ourselves tonight is what have we been laboring for. What have we been striving after? Are we spending our money on that which is not bread but just empty calories. Are we laboring for that which can never satisfy? There are plenty of things in this world to distract us from the real food, but it is all empty calories. It may fill you tummy for a short minute, but in the end you will be searching for something more.

The phat shinny car is not true bread

The new house is not true bread

The big promotion is not true bread

That control you seek is not true bread

That power you want is not true bread

That winning lottery ticket is not true bread

The huge bank account is not true bread

The gold around your neck is not true bread

The alligator on you feet is not true bread

The crack, cocaine, crank, meth is not true bread

The illicit sex is not true bread

The alcohol is not true bread

The designer clothes is not true bread.

None of these things will nourish the soul, none of these things will bring you peace of mind, and none of these things will give you a sense of purpose. None of these things can bring you true satisfaction outside of Jesus Christ.

O taste and see that the Lord is good.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Jesus is the Bread of heaven that gives life to whosoever will receive him by faith and commit to him by willful obedience