In the village of Yvon in Haiti, there is a bakery near where we lodge and base our operations. When we discovered this bakery and found out when there was freshly baked bread each day, we made it a regular stop to purchase these small loaves of fresh bread. We could buy a dozen loaves for $3 USD and would often eat a few of the small loaves and gift the remainders to the cooks, some of the children, and workers.
Bread in some form is part of the cuisine the world round, it seems. Whether lefse in Norway, naan in India, or chimodho in Zimbabwe, the breads of the world provide an economical staple to feed the people.
In John 6:35, Jesus states, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” He later states, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever, and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh” (6:51). The image of the bread coming from heaven, is a reminder of God’s provision for the Israelite people when each morning manna would fall from heaven. This manna gave life, though temporal, to the Israelite people. Jesus coming down from heaven gives life eternal. A life of fullness; a life of purpose; a life everlasting.
In our world today, there seems to be a lot of hungry people, searching for something of purpose, sustenance, and true life. The search to satiate this hunger leads people to internet searches, bookstores, and different houses of worship. The search seems difficult and in many cases life-draining, until the person comes to Jesus. This is the simplicity of the Gospel, Jesus says, “Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.” The image of coming to Jesus is not a one-time altar experience; rather, it is a daily coming to Jesus knowing He is our sustenance and our life. As we come to Jesus, we discover our life is expanding with new experiences and a growing faith. The feeling of emptiness is no longer present as we feast on the Bread of Life.
During this Lenten Season, we will be looking at the “I AM” statements from the Gospel of John. Today, I wonder how we come to Jesus as the Bread of Life for our lives. Are we daily feasting on Jesus, knowing that He is our life and our salvation? Do we recognize as we believe in Him, we have life eternal? How can we make decisions during this Lent to lay aside our idle (or idol) searching for that would satiate our unmet hunger, and come to Jesus as the Bread of Life?
Prayer: Lord, when I do not come to you and try to find other worldly spiritual cuisine to satiate my hunger, I do not find true life. Forgive me for those times I have not come to you. During this Lenten Season, point out the areas of my life where I am not coming to you. I want to purge that which is not you, so I can feast on you as the Bread of Life in new ways. In Jesus’ name. Amen.