In John 6:31-38 Jesus teaches about how He was the bread of life. This teaching makes the parable of the bread of life easy to understand.
First of all, I think it’s good to put things in context. So, to give a bit of context, this is what happened the day before this parable began when Jesus told this parable.
The day before he was teaching, the people were hungry and Jesus said, “Don’t send them away.” And he said, “What do we have?” And they had a couple of loaves and some fish and he fed 5,000 men plus the women plus the children. Around 12,000 to 15,000 people were fed with a couple of fish and five loaves of bread. And then he feels that people move away. He sent his disciples away and went up the mountain and wept a little and talked to his Father about how John the Baptist had just died.
He then told his disciples to go back for him and they were whipped by the winds. So he walked into the water and he walked on the water and Peter said, “I hope that’s really you. Let me walk.” So Peter went out to walk on the water. Jesus got into the boat and they reached the other shore. So that’s what happens.
When he reached the shore, the people said, “How did you get here?” Because they realized that Jesus did not get into the boat with the disciples and Jesus said to them: Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were satisfied. Work, not for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has placed his seal on Him.”
Now, many of us today still work the food that perishes. A lot of people today are filling their bellies with food and the internet and DVDs and MP3s and all sorts of other things going on. We all have to have the latest mobile phone and we only spend money, then more money and after that. Our desire for all things new is insatiable.
Jesus says: “Do not go for things that perish and pass away, but for something eternal that is Jesus Christ”. Then they said to him: What shall we do to put into practice the works of God? Jesus answered them: “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one He sent.” Then they said to him: What sign will you do, then, so that we can see it and believe in you? What work will you do?
Now, I don’t know about you, but Jesus had just walked on water. He had helped Peter walk on water. He had fed 12,000 to 15,000 people with a few loads of fish and some bread and I think Jesus had done some mighty signs before. He fed the 12,000 people, healed all the sick of those people. Jesus the day before had done some mighty signs and wonders and they are still looking for a sign.
Nothing has changed today. Some of the world’s most gifted evangelists are constantly being asked for signs. They want proof from the doctor that the cancer was cured and proof that the diseases were cured and proof that the person was officially dead and is now alive. They want all these kinds of X-rays and tests. They are not happy with a person’s testimony of healing. People today have not changed and still want a sign.
Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” .” So they said, “Lord, always give us this bread.” Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I told you that you have seen me and do not believe. that the Father gives me, will come to me, and whoever comes to me, I will not cast out, because I have come down from heaven, not to do my will, but the will of those who feel me.
Did you hear that statement there? “All the people who believe that he can lose his salvation. All the people who believe that they can commit certain sins as a Christian and not go to heaven.” Did you hear that statement that Jesus said in verse 37: “Whatever the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will not cast out.” Doesn’t that mean that if you are a Christian, you will not be expelled by Jesus? People who say you can lose your salvation need to consider this verse.
By saying “he who comes to me will never be hungry,” Jesus is saying that one day you will be hungry, the next day you will be hungry, the next day you will be hungry, but if you eat the true bread from heaven, you will no longer be hungry.
So how does that work in practice? How can we take this parable and apply it to our lives?
It is very interesting. What does this parable have to do with our lives? I have often sat in churches and listened to them share the parables of Jesus and they don’t seem to preach them in a way that means anything to me.
For 10 years, I have been thinking about writing a book on the parables of Jesus and have been researching the parables of Jesus, just to answer other people’s questions. Questions I’ve always had.
Did you know that when you know Jesus, when you know his heart, when you know how he loves, when you know his compassion, when you know his mercy, when your heart beats with the heart of Jesus, you see that God loves and loving your neighbor is the only purpose in life. When you find your purpose in doing what you were created to do, when you find your joy in serving and helping other people, when your life is about serving other people, helping other people, bandaging other people’s wounds, having an effect on The evangelism of the world, save people from eternal hell and damnation, bring people to the Kingdom of God, only then will you be satisfied in this world. Jesus has organized our spirits to hunger for him and his will in life. When we find his will, when we are completely in union with him and his will, then peace reigns in our hearts.
When what you do with your simple money and your simple time changes lives, when you impact lives; when you live such a life, it is a totally satisfying life.
People are looking for a new car, a new house, a new MP3 player, a new digital TV, a new this, a new that. When you’re shopping for things, there’s always a bit of joy as soon as you buy them. Everyone is looking for that little burst of joy. But what kind of joy stays? What is the kind of joy that is like this bread of life that Jesus is talking about here? Where can you find the joy that will stay for days? What can you do in this world where you are not spiritually hungry the next day? How can you consume this bread of life? What is Jesus talking about?
Did you know that if your money financed an evangelist, it is costing him on average $20 to save each person in Africa in campaigns? Do you know that there are twelve lives that go to heaven and that they are eternally exchanged for your money every year? Did you know that you can have problems in your life but as soon as the Gospel reaches an African person, who is steeped in Muslim tradition or steeped in witchcraft, that transformation of her life is a joyful experience for them? It is a total revolution in their lives. And you, by simply giving $20 a month, are their benefactor. You are the one who has made all these people go to heaven. You could work a couple of hours a week and with that money you could be saving one person a month. Imagine that?
Imagine giving twenty dollars to a homeless man. Imagine taking a bum out for twenty bucks steak for dinner and then not stopping to thank you for such a treat. Imagine how far twenty would go for a single mother in her church. Imagine buying twenty worth of baby formula for a single mother. There are so many things you can do when you focus your eyes on other people. When you focus your eyes on God. You know that God owns the cattle on the thousand hills. God doesn’t need your money. You have to give your money to God and the Kingdom of God. You need to put your love and security in God.
Jesus spent all day every day giving himself. The only time Jesus gave himself to others was early in the morning when he was in prayer. When Jesus went out for breakfast after prayer, he was always serving other people. If he wasn’t healing people and casting out demons, he was teaching people a new way of life. When he finished speaking, people inundated him with questions and for a few more hours he answered the questions. Jesus was always giving, always serving, always making himself available to all people to meet his spiritual and physical needs. So too, the bread of life can be appropriately accessed in a life of service and generosity.
You see, every time you strive to eat, every time you strive for something new after something new, you will never be satisfied. The reason we put up with TV and all the commercials in between all the TV shows is because we love the commercials as much as we love the shows. We love to shop, shop, shop. We just shop, shop, shop. We are addicted to the rush to buy. Get addicted to the rush of doing business in the Kingdom.
Many people live in this life with no real direction or purpose. Few Christians really know their purpose and why they are on earth. Most people just live and wander aimlessly. One must do a study and ask God what their purpose is and one must find out what God has spiritually equipped them to do with their life. Only by living in your purpose can you truly be fully satisfied. Only by walking in the will of God each day can we truly stop being hungry.
A survey in the United States found that only 10% of Christians knew what their spiritual gifts were. Of the 10% who knew what their spiritual gifts were, only 10% of them actually walked and used their spiritual gifts. That means that 99% of Christians in the United States are not doing what he has called them to do. And sadly, only 1% of Christians in the US were truly satisfied with life.
Find out what your spiritual gifts are. Spend your time and money on making those gifts. Do this and you will find fulfillment in your life. See, when you find your purpose for living, when you find your reason for living, when you read this book or participate and watch all the videos in this series, you will see what the perfect will of God is. You will see what Jesus was talking about. You’ll see the basics of the Kingdom of Him and how to live in that Kingdom.
You know that Jesus always taught in parables and parables were a way for people to search for deeper things. Have you always wondered what the bread of life is? Are you a Christian and not supported? Are you a Christian who lives a life where you are sad, depressed, depressed, feeling that the Christian life does not have everything that was expected? Are you living with self-condemnation? Is your life full of sin? Do you have addictions? Do you have sins that you just can’t stop doing?
There is more to the Christian life than this. There is more to the Christian life than living a depressing life, busy spending all your time, being consumed by life full of lust. There is more to life than coveting the things of the world. You can live in the world but not be of the world. You can live in the world without greed for all the things in the world. You can live a life in which you are living the perfect will of God.
Living is God’s will for your life is the only place where you will stop being hungry. Find out what it will be for you. Discover your spiritual gifts and take care to use them and you will find a joy that cannot be compared to what you have now.