The Bread of Life

John 6:35 – Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." (NLT)

At almost every meal, it sat on the table.

I remember many things about my paternal grandparents — probably because I stayed with them most of the time when I was small. My grandmother served as my first babysitter, and I gladly accompanied her in her green 1950s Chevrolet as she made her "Avon calling" rounds.

Later, when I reached upper elementary and middle school age, I worked with my grandfather as he delivered ice cream to mom-and-pop shops and grocery stores.

Of course, I ate with them often, too. I remember the meals vividly. My grandfather always cooked breakfast — bacon and eggs. My grandmother usually took care of lunch and supper: country cooking. A few things were boiled, but mostly, everything was fried.

I don't remember my grandmother doing this one thing, but my grandfather did it regularly at supper. "You want some bread?" he'd ask. Sometimes, I did, but at other times, I didn't. Regardless, he placed a Melmac saucer on the table with five or six slices of bread, just in case I changed my mind. And him? Well, he always wanted bread.

He loved a particular brand of bread, secured at the day-old bread store across the highway from his house. Bread served as a filler — not that there wasn't enough food to satisfy us. But he had lived through the Great Depression. He remembered the lean times when food and many other items were as scarce as a rare coin.

Bread was also a staple of Jesus' time. Jesus used bread to refer to Himself, telling people He was the bread of life that would fill them eternally. Once they ate of Him, they'd never need to eat again. Hunger would escape them like a rabbit set free.

I've found Jesus' words to be true. The world offers many things that promise peace, joy, and fulfillment. They often fulfill their promises — but only temporarily. Either they tear up, or we tire of them and want a new version.

Things differ with Jesus. Through a relationship with Him, we find true peace, joy, and contentment — lasting peace, joy, and contentment that carry us through life and into eternity. We need nothing else or more — just Him. One slice of this bread suffices.

How does knowing Jesus change your perspective on things?

Prayer: Father, thank You for providing the bread of life that satisfies all our needs. Amen.

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About the author:

Martin Wiles <mandmwiles@gmail.com>
Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
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