Pastor's Desk
November 6 , 2005
THE IMMEDIATE PURPOSE of the miracle of the loaves and fishes was to feed the hungry people who had gathered to see and hear Jesus. In doing this miracle Jesus ministered to the felt needs of the people. But there was also a more profound purpose: to draw the attention of the people, particularly his disciples to the fact that Jesus is able not only to provide physical food but that he is the Bread of Life. In our day to day life as we eat, we thank God for the food that he has provided. This food nourishes us and sustains us, giving us strength and keeping us healthy. It helps us to live another day. But what we do with the opportunity that this day provides is not addressed by physical food. That part of our existence can only be nurtured by spiritual food. To that end Jesus offers himself as the Bread of Life.
Jesus said, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (John 6:27) Pointing to the same spiritual truth, Moses reminded the Israelites of God’s provision in the desert: “{The LORD} humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:3) This teaches that while physical food is important, spiritual food is more important. And God is the provider of both because both are necessary. For instance, we need to keep ourselves alive so that we can continue to serve God in the body. We also need to feed the hungry of the world so that they too will have more opportunity to hear the life-giving message of eternal salvation.
But there is another point that this metaphor of the Bread of Life suggests. Just as we need to eat our bread daily to keep ourselves alive and well, so we need to continually eat the Bread of Life to maintain our spiritual health. We need to continually eat of Jesus, who is the Bread of Life by ongoing fellowship with him, talking to him and listening to him by prayer and taking in the Word of God. This is yet another reminder to us of how important it is that we cultivate a Time Alone With God.
****************
Then Jesus declared,
"I am the bread of life.
He who comes to me will never go hungry,
and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
(John 6:35)
This page was last updated on Friday, November 4, 2005