Devotion: The Bread of Life
The Bread of Life
“Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who 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.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
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.” John 6:28-35
Isn’t it a little funny how the crowd asks Jesus what sign He’ll perform, what work He’ll do, to prove that He is who He says, only one day after he fed more than five thousand people with five loaves and two fish? Less than 24 hours after witnessing Jesus perform this miracle, and they act as they’ve forgotten already. They want more. What Pastor Greg said on Sunday about miracles is true. They may inspire awe, but, as the crowd proved, they don’t lead to long-lasting faith or connection with God. If faith is totally based on miracles, we’ll keep seeking them out, just like the crowd. And what then happens to our faith when there’s not another flashy miracle to be found?
Fortunately for us, Jesus didn’t rise to the crowd’s desire for another flashy sign and instead taught where true, lasting fulfillment comes from. “I am the bread of life.” Only by centering our faith on Christ can we really be nourished. Miracles and signs won’t, on their own, sustain us. As Jesus points out, even Moses’s people didn’t survive solely on the manna God sent through Moses, but through the “true bread from Heaven,” given by the Father. Miracles can be meaningful, and even necessary, like the manna was for the Israelites. But without belief and trust in Jesus, they’re ultimately hollow.
How blessed we are to have a Savior who is our bread, that which sustains us and gives us life. No matter how important they may be, we don’t have to rely on works or miracles or signs to keep us going, and that is something for which to be thankful. Whether we’re feasting or starving, inspired, or lost, Jesus never stops being our bread.
Heavenly Father, we’re so grateful for the miracles, big and small, that you grant us, but help us remember that only through You can we find true fulfillment. Thank you for sending Your Son, our bread, to give us life. Amen.
Written by Preston Thiemann
Preston Thiemann and his wife, Rachel, live here in Lincoln. He is the Web Content Coordinator for the ASEM Marketing team at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he’s worked since April 2015. At Sheridan, he also plays guitar with the Praise Band and is active in Sheridan’s 20s & 30s group called Second Quarter.
In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching movies and spending time with friends.