Today’s Scripture:
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’” — John 6:35 (ESV)
Reflection
Today’s passage is a continuation of yesterday’s passage. The Jews wanted to see another miracle from Jesus to make sure that he is the Messiah, and they specifically quoted Exodus, where God gave them manna to eat. Jesus responds by saying that God gives the true bread, which is Jesus himself, who gives life to the world. Yet, the people did not understand what Jesus was saying, and their eyes were fixed on the things of this world rather than on the heavenly things. Jesus makes himself more clear to the Jews by saying that he is the bread of life. Jesus tells them that whoever comes to him and believes will not hunger and thirst, and that all who the Father has given him will never be cast out. Jesus came to do God’s will: whoever looks up at Jesus will have eternal life, and Jesus will raise them up on the last day.
Jesus is the bread of life. In the Lord’s Prayer, there is a line that says “Give us this day our daily bread,” but taking this passage into account, this line really means “Give us Jesus daily.” Every day, I need to be reminded that Jesus is the bread of life that quenches all hunger and thirst (Bread doesn’t quench thirst… but okay Jesus). When we get our fair share of Jesus, our spiritual hunger will be filled.
This passage just screams “THE ELECT” all over it. I find it so comforting that I have been given to Jesus by the Father, and that Jesus will raise me up on the last day. Jesus holds tightly to his elect, and they cannot be lost from him. This should give all the believers assurance that Jesus will never let us go. That being said, there is an implicit calling to go find others who are part of the elect, and bring them to Christ. I can’t forget that the doors of heaven are not shut yet. There are still more people to come.