John 6:37-66  I read this section this morning and pictured the scene.

The crowd of 5000 men (plus women and children) had been fed by Jesus the previous day, by breaking a little boy’s five small loaves into pieces, blessing them, and giving out them out until everyone had had their fill and then some!

Jesus had to slip away into the mountain, because He knew the would come – mob style – and make Him their king. (Imagine someone who could miraculously feed you from almost nothing!!  

The next morning they found him again, intent on more of the same…..

Give us BREAD!” Cried the thousands! “Give us bread! BREAD like Moses gave us! BREAD so we won’t hunger! BREAD so we won’t have to labor! BREAD! Give us bread every day and… we will make you KING!”

“I am the Bread of Life, he who comes to me shall never hunger.”

“GIVE US THIS BREAD FOREVER!”

“My father gives you the TRUE bread. The Bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Wait, what does he mean he came down from Heaven? Isn’t this Joseph and Mary’s son?’

“I am the Bread of Life. He that believes on me has everlasting life.”

“Grumble, grumble.”

“I am the Living Bread that came down from heaven. If anyone “eats” of this bread he shall live forever.”

“This is a HARD saying, who can listen to it?  Man, all we wanted was bread.”

(“You ask and don’t receive because you ask amiss that you may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3)

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How often I am concerned only with “my daily bread” and forget the rest of the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples about how to pray.

First off my lips should be a realization and praise for who God is – holy, almighty, immutable. Praise Your name forever!

My desire after that should be for HIS will to be done, and HIS righteousness and HIS kingdom to come, and how He could use me to accomplish it in my small way.

After recognizing who God is and giving myself to Him, Jesus then said I can confidently – as a small child approaches her Daddy – ask for my daily needs, with sure expectancy that they will be supplied according to my Heavenly Father’s riches in heaven.

Confession of my sin – for which Jesus has ALREADY paid, and the acknowledgement and thanksgiving for His forgiveness of them all – past, present & future – should raise JOY in my heart.

A plea for help in temptation and deliverance from evil as I walk in His will and his way will remind me to seek his face, listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and obey his Word.

Bread (daily sustenance) is vital to life, but this life will eventually pass away.  Believing in Jesus – the True and Living Bread of Life – is the only way I will have ETERNAL life and be raised alive again in that last day. Thank You!