The bread of life (Jn. 6:25–35)
This is quite a unique day. It is the First Sunday in Lent, marking the early stages of our preparation for Easter. But today we are also celebrating Harvest Thanksgiving. It might seem like these two themes for the day might contradict each other, but I’ve found that our gospel reading speaks straight into both sides of this unique day. Before we begin, let’s pray...
Searching
“When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’” (John 6:25)
The ones asking this question are some of the five thousand people that, only the day before, had been fed by Jesus on a hill on the other side of the lake by means of a miracle. They stayed the night in town and then came back to that spot in search of Jesus the next day, but he wasn’t there. They saw that the disciples’ boats had gone, so they went across the lake in search for them. They eventually find them at the synagogue at Capernaum.
They ask, probably gasping for air and red-faced, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Maybe they were quite surprised at how quickly he managed to get across the Sea of Galilee. Little did they know that he had walked on the water during a stormy night...
You’d think Jesus would welcome them with open arms. “Hey! Good to see you again!” No, this wasn’t Jesus’ response at all.
“Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.’” (John 6:26)
Ouch. He doesn’t only not answer their question, but he corrects it. They had just seen a sign from Jesus – a sign showing his identity as the Son of God. But all they saw was the miracle. They couldn’t see past the amazement and shock of the act to see what it meant. That’s why John uses this word “sign” rather than “miracle” throughout his gospel. They saw the gift, but not the Giver. Jesus continues:
“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (John 6:27)
Jesus isn’t denying the necessity of physical food. He teaches us to ask our Father in heaven for our daily bread, which includes all of our daily needs. Jesus has just given these people more than enough physical food, but they still hunger for something more. Jesus is directing them to the spiritual food they so deeply long for. They don’t even know that that’s what they need, but Jesus knows.
Jesus is able to provide us with this “eternal food” because he has been approved to do so by his Father. He carries the maker’s mark, God’s seal of approval. Only last week we heard God speak those words over his Son at the Transfiguration: “This is my Son, my Chosen One.” He spoke very similar words at Jesus’ baptism as well. It’s this approval that gives Jesus the authority and the power to give us what we truly need.
Working
“What must we do to do the works God requires?” (John 6:28)
Jesus just told them to work for eternal food rather than physical food. Is he saying that we need to work for this food? Do we need to earn our spiritual health? That’s what the people thought. “You say that we need to work for eternal food, so what kind of work do we need to do?”
They are used to thinking about God in terms of a working and earning relationship. They grew up learning the laws in the Old Testament and living by a standard set in Scripture. It makes sense to ask Jesus, “What do we need to do? What kind of work are you talking about?”
“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:29)
It can’t be that simple. I don’t think we see it to be that simple. The work of God is believing in the one he has sent. Is the work of God the work that God does, or is it the work he requires? Both could be true. All that God “requires” – if you want to use that word – is that we believe in his Son.
That’s not to say that the other work isn’t important. It’s not required by God – rather, it is a gift of God. In fact, both kinds of work are. Our jobs, our daily tasks, our manual labour are all a gift of God for us to enjoy and have pleasure in.
“A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24–25)
When it comes to our daily work – whether that’s in the form of employment, running a household, volunteering at church or anything else we do from day to day – it can very quickly become devoid of meaning and fulfilment if we separate it from God. All of these things are a gift of God to be enjoyed. Make the most of them. Be thankful for them. Work hard and enjoy the satisfaction of it. It won’t earn your salvation – that’s not its purpose – but it has been given to you to enjoy.
Our work, and the fruit from it, is what we give thanks to God for today. God gives us daily bread, even without our prayer, Luther says, but when we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we pray that he would lead us to realise this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving. So that’s what we’re doing today, but let’s not forget the other bread that Jesus gives.
Proving
“So they asked him, ‘What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”’” (John 6:30–31)
Clearly, these people don’t believe in Jesus yet. They want proof. As if the sign Jesus performed only yesterday wasn’t proof enough! In their minds, they knew Moses to give a whole nation manna for years, but Jesus only fed five thousand people for one meal. They’re expecting something even bigger and better than what Moses pulled off. Jesus resists the temptation to take offence at the Word of God being used against him and makes a couple of key points.
“Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’” (John 6:32–33)
This is the second time Jesus has come out with those words, “Very truly, I tell you.” That’s a signal that what he’s about to say is a bit of a truth bomb. Moses didn’t provide the manna – it was God through Moses. But that’s not as important because God is giving you an entirely different kind of bread. This is the kind of bread that gives life to the world. It doesn’t just sustain physical life – it gives life itself. And not just to a single chosen nation, but the world, all nations. There are certainly parallels to Moses and the manna, but this is a whole new ball game.
“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” (John 6:34)
Don’t confuse this response for genuine faith. They still only want what God gives rather than God himself. They don’t understand that you can’t have a continual supply of this bread. It’s not about possessing it or consuming it. The bread from heaven is standing right in front of them, but they keep wanting something else.
Come and believe
Now Jesus spells it out to them, loud and clear:
“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” (John 6:35)
He’s been talking in third person the whole time, but I think it was pretty clear who he was talking about. But now he uses the very precious “I am” – an instant claim to be God himself – and names it.
These people have searched, worked, and asked, but what does Jesus say? “Whoever comes to me...whoever believes in me...”
Have you been searching without finding? Have you been working without satisfaction? Have you been asking with no answers?
Look no further. Work no longer. Ask no more.
Jesus is here. Come to him. Believe in him.
Eat this bread. Drink this wine. Consume his Word and digest it. Never be hungry again. Never be thirsty again.
We give thanks to God for our daily bread and the true bread, Jesus Christ.
