What are you hungry for—earthly comfort or eternal life?
Key Verse:
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.’” —John 6:35 (NASB)
Background Context:
After feeding the five thousand, Yeshua withdrew from the crowd. Yet they followed Him across the sea, eager not for His message but for another meal. When they find Him, He challenges their motives and redirects their focus from temporary provisions to eternal truth. He reveals that He is the true bread from heaven—sent not just to satisfy stomachs but to offer eternal life.
(Continued and expanded after scripture.)
Words to the People
26Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” 28Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” 30So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? 31“Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.’”32Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33“For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”
35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36“But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
Reflection on John 6:26–40:
The crowd wanted more miracles, more bread, more signs. They referenced the manna from heaven that sustained their ancestors, but they missed the point. Manna perished. The people who ate it still died. Yeshua was offering something far greater—Himself, the bread of life that endures forever.
He tells them not to labor for perishable food, but for that which leads to eternal life. They ask, “What must we do?” His answer is stunning in its simplicity and depth: “Believe in Him whom He has sent.” This isn’t a passive belief, but a surrendering trust, a faith that draws near and never lets go.
In this passage, Yeshua unveils the will of the Father: that none who come to the Son will be cast out. That all who behold and believe in the Son will have eternal life. He offers not only sustenance for today, but the promise of resurrection on the last day.
We must ask ourselves: Are we following Jesus because we think He will make life easier? Or are we coming to Him because He alone offers eternal life? Like the crowd, we may be tempted to seek signs, comfort, or provision, but He calls us to something deeper—complete trust in who He is and what He came to do.
Application:
Evaluate your spiritual hunger. Are you more focused on what God can do for you in this life, or are you pursuing Him for the sake of knowing Him and receiving eternal life? Come to Him daily, not just for provision, but for communion and nourishment that never fades.
Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for sending Yeshua, the true bread of life. Forgive me for the times I have pursued You only for what I wanted, not for who You are. Teach me to trust You, to hunger for Your truth, and to rest in the promise of eternal life. Help me live today with eternity in view. In Yeshua’s name, amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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