Instruction
Scripture: John6:22-35
Jesus’ conversation about the bread of life takes up the
rest of chapter six. This is a challenging teaching and many of his followers
will abandon him after this. Nevertheless, Jesus proclaims that he is the bread
that came down from heaven and he gives life to the world. In doing so, he
challenges the status quo of those who follow Jesus because they feel they get
some earthly benefit from him.
Teaching
Jesus’ statement, “I am the bread of life,” is part of a
conversation with some of the people who ate at the feeding of the
five-thousand. They wanted Jesus for their own purposes – to provide for them –
but Jesus’ purpose was much greater than theirs. He had not come to merely
satisfy their physical hunger, but their spiritual hunger. He came to make them
alive to God and sustain that life. Indeed, nothing can satisfy our spiritual
hunger other than Jesus himself.
Life
People have needs and desires. We often confuse the two
things. Our Lord Jesus knows that as physical beings we need food, shelter,
clothing, medicine and the like. He also knows we are emotional beings who need
love, community, and compassion. He provides these things, although when he
does we often think we get them by our own means. He knows that we have a need
that surpasses the physical needs and, while touching on the emotional need,
goes far beyond our experience of these things. He knows that we have an
eternal spiritual need for a new life; a sinless life. He graciously provided
that by dying for us, and offering the benefit of his death to us. Like bread
given to someone who is starving, we take hold of it with thanks and praise.
Prayer
This prayer is written
in the themes of Petition and Confession.
Lord Jesus, we pray that you would provide for your people.
Give those who are hungry the food and resource that they need for this body
and life. Place firmly in our minds that all that we are and all that we have
comes from you, given to us because you love us, and use that knowledge to make
us thankful. Help us to see the many ways you provide for our lives and make us
more and more confident in your gracious providence. More than that, Lord, we
pray that you would give us and all people the bread of life – your very life,
presence, forgiveness, and salvation. Turn our minds and hearts from the
desires of this life so that we would long more and more for you and be
satisfied only with you. We pray that you would place that desire in the hearts
of all people, and draw us all to you.
Lord, we are ashamed to confess that too often we desire
things of this life more than we desire your gifts. When we have food to eat
and our lives are comfortable, all too often, our desire for the bread of life
is diminished. Sometimes we seek you for wrong purposes, to satisfy our wants
and desires. Cleanse us, O Lord, give us the life that will change us from
being dead in our sins to being alive in you. Graciously forgive us, for your
name’s sake. Amen.
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