Read John 6:22-64
Drawn by curiosity, they heard an amazing speaker, but then reaped an unexpected benefit: a free meal. Reminiscent of manna freely provided to those who followed Moses, they saw a promising possibility - a guaranteed meal. If that meant following Jesus, like their forefathers followed Moses, they were willing. They were even willing to work for it. Life in First Century Judah/Galilee was hard. The economy was tight, taxes were high and just putting food on the table was a daily challenge. They wanted bread for life. They needed the Bread of Life!
When they heard that this “bread of God” could give them life, their response was “Lord, always give us this bread.” They could only imagine what it would be like to never be hungry. Just think how much money they could save not having to buy groceries. However, the Bread of Life was sent from heaven not to fill our stomachs or our pocket books. Actually, Jesus says, “The flesh profits nothing!”(v. 63) Our bodies don’t gain any advantage. We will still get hungry. We won’t live longer, stop aging, or be immune to diseases. There are no health or wealth guarantees. We don’t get superpowers. When God does meet our physical needs, we need to see it as the amazing grace it truly is.
The Bread of Life is about the Spirit filling our spirit and putting life in our life (v. 63). Jesus willingly came to be “the Bread of God which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world” (v. 33) even though the cost was high and many would walk away from the life He alone makes possible.
The reason they walk away is, like any other kind of bread, there is a catch, a requirement: it must be “eaten!” There are two different words translated “eat” in this passage. In verses 51-53 and 58, the word is esthio, which means to eat completely or consume in entirety. As the Bread of Life, Christ must be received and willingly taken into our lives as the sole provision for true and eternal life. No nibbling; no pick and choose; all or nothing. It is a choice. Eating (esthio) = believing = eternal life.
The other word used is trogon, which means to continually gnaw or chew. It is this constant “chewing on Jesus” that is evidence that we “have eternal life” (v. 54) and that we abide in Christ and He in us (v.56), as well as the assurance that we “will live” (v. 57). He gives of Himself continually, so we can constantly feast on the Bread of Life. This eating (trogon) results in growth and the spiritual nutrition necessary to actively be involved in the Kingdom of God reaching out to a spiritually starving world.
We are invited to partake of this wonderful Bread of Life. As His followers, we need to share this Bread of Life so others too can eat. May our prayer be: “Lord, always give us this bread!”
Making It Personal
What are some of the personally benefitting reasons people might have to want to follow Jesus?
What is your reason?
Why does the requirement of having to fully consume (esthio) Jesus turn some people away from Him?
What does it mean to you to “chew on Jesus”?
Do you need to “chew” more? In what way?
Through the Day Challenge
Working the work of God (v.28) is all about sharing the Bread of Life with others, so they wholeheartedly believe (esthio) and then continually apply that belief in a life redefining way (trogon). How did you actively participate or see the work of God being done today.
Originally posted 6/22/11
