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I am the bread of life - John 6
I am the bread of life - John 6
In John 6 Jesus uses one of the many ‘I am’ statements in the gospel of John. This time He is ‘the Bread of Life’.
They sought him for physical food like that which he had fed the 5000 with. He encourages them to seek the food that endures to eternal life (6:27). They demand a ‘sign from heaven’ and remind him that Moses had given them ‘bread from heaven’.
The true bread from heaven is HE who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world (33). I am the bread of life (35, 46, 51). He added, "For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink” (55).
He then emphasizes that people must eat / feed upon his flesh and blood (53, 54, 57, 58). To the disciples he explained that "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (63). Peter responded to Jesus: “..You have the words of eternal life..” (68).
Jesus is the true bread and gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins. We must put our trust in Him to find eternal life (35, 40, 47). Such trust is bound intrinsically with the words and teaching of Jesus. We must not only believe but live by His word.
Way back in 1877, Mary Lathbury wrote the lyrics to the hymn: Break Thou The Bread of Life. Notice how the old hymn picks up this understanding of John 6:
1. Break Thou the bread of life, Dear Lord, to me,
As thou didst break the loaves Beside the sea;
Within the sacred page, I seek thee, Lord
My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word.
3. Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,
Thy holy Word the truth That saveth me;
Give me to eat and live With Thee above;
Teach me to love Thy truth, For Thou art love.
Brethren, He has the words of life. Let us devour, feed upon, and consume them.
Hugh DeLong
