The bread of life - O le areto o le ola

Scripture Focus: Ioane 6:25-40

And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
- John 6:25-40 (KJV)

Study:

In this passage, Jesus reveals a profound truth about spiritual sustenance and eternal life. The crowds who seek Him initially focus on the physical bread because they experienced His miracle of feeding thousands with few loaves. Jesus challenges them to look beyond temporary physical needs and to seek the "bread which endures unto everlasting life." He identifies Himself as that true bread from heaven, a gift from the Father that provides eternal satisfaction and life. Furthermore, Jesus emphasizes that believing in Him is the work God desires and assures that those who come to Him will never hunger or thirst spiritually. He comes not to do His own will but to fulfill the Father's will, which is to offer eternal life to all who believe in the Son.

Application:

Today, we often seek quick fixes for our needs, focusing on temporary comforts rather than the eternal nourishment that Jesus offers. This passage reminds us to prioritize spiritual hunger and seek Jesus, the true bread of life. Trusting Jesus means relying on Him for deeper fulfillment, peace, and hope that transcends life's challenges. When we believe in Jesus, we experience eternal life that begins now and extends beyond physical death. This assurance encourages us to turn from worldly distractions and fix our faith firmly on Christ as our eternal sustainer.

Reflection Questions:

• What are you currently seeking to satisfy your deepest needs, and how does that compare to seeking Jesus?
• How does understanding Jesus as the bread of life change your view of your daily spiritual walk?
• In what ways can you deepen your belief in the Son to experience more of the eternal life He promises?
• How do you respond to the assurance that Jesus will never cast out anyone who comes to Him?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you are the bread of life who satisfies our deepest hunger and thirst. Help us to seek You above all else and trust in the eternal life You freely give. Strengthen our faith so we may come to You daily, knowing You will never reject us. Fill us with Your Spirit and guide us to live in the light of Your eternal promise. Amen.

Tags: bread of life, John 6, Jesus, eternal life, spiritual nourishment, Christian faith, believe in Jesus, temporary vs eternal, God's will, miracles of Jesus