Jesus, Bread of Life

Title: Jesus, Bread of Life
Sermon: John 6:24-35

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We now gather to reflect on a profound teaching from our Lord Jesus Christ that speaks to the very core of our faith and daily lives. We’ll delve into the Gospel of John, chapter 6, verses 24 to 35. This passage is rich with meaning, touching on spiritual nourishment, faith, and the trustworthy source of life. As we explore these verses together, I invite you to open your hearts and minds to the transformative power of God’s Word.

Let’s begin by setting the scene. Jesus had just performed the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, an event that left the crowds amazed and wanting more. They had witnessed something extraordinary, but as we’ll see, many missed the more profound significance of what Jesus had done.

1. Seeking Jesus (verses 24-25)

“So, when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?'”

Picture this scene, if you will. The day after the miraculous feeding, the crowd wakes up, eager to see Jesus again. But He’s nowhere to be found. Can you imagine their confusion and perhaps even disappointment? They had just witnessed an incredible miracle, and now the miracle worker had vanished. So, what do they do? They took matters into their own hands and set out to find Him.

There’s something admirable about their determination, isn’t there? They didn’t just shrug their shoulders and go home. No, they got into boats and crossed the sea to Capernaum. They were seeking Jesus, and they weren’t going to give up easily. How often do we show this kind of persistence in our own spiritual lives? When we feel that God seems distant or silent, do we try to seek Him out?

But here’s where we need to pause and reflect. While their actions might seem commendable, we’ll soon see that their motivations weren’t relatively as pure as they could have been. They were seeking Jesus, but were they seeking Him for the right reasons?

When they finally find Jesus, their question asks: “Rabbi, when did you come here?” It’s a simple question, but it reveals something about their state of mind. They’re focused on the logistics, on the “how” and “when” of Jesus’ movements. They’re curious about His whereabouts, but are they truly curious about who He is and what He must teach them?

This reminds me of how we sometimes approach our faith. We might go through the motions – attending Mass, saying our prayers – but are we seeking a deeper connection with Jesus? Are we asking the right questions, or are we, like the crowd, getting caught up in the superficial details and missing the bigger picture?

2. Jesus Addresses Their True Motives (verses 26-27)

“Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.'”

Now, my dear friends, we come to Jesus’ response, and as always, His words cut right to the heart of the matter. He sees beyond their actions to their true motivations. And what He sees isn’t particularly flattering. He tells them plainly that they’re not seeking Him because they understand the significance of His miraculous signs but because He filled their stomachs.

Let’s pause here for a moment and reflect on this. How often do we approach God with similarly shallow motivations? We might pray fervently when we need something – a job, healing, resolution to a problem – but do we seek God with the same enthusiasm when things are going well? Do we come to Him simply because we love Him and want to know Him better, or only when we want something from Him?

Jesus gently but firmly challenges the crowd and us to examine our hearts. He’s saying, “You’re here because I met your physical needs yesterday. But that’s not why I performed that miracle. I wasn’t just trying to fill your stomachs but to open your eyes to a greater truth.”

And then He gives them – and us – a profound piece of advice: “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life.” What a powerful statement! Jesus is drawing a contrast between physical nourishment, temporary, and spiritual nourishment, eternal.

Think about it: No matter how delicious a meal is, no matter how satisfying, we’ll eventually be hungry again. Our physical needs are constant and recurring. But Jesus offers something more – spiritual food that truly satisfies and nourishes our souls for eternity.

And where does this food come from? Jesus tells us it comes from “the Son of Man,” from Jesus Himself. He is the source of this eternal nourishment. And He adds a powerful credential: “For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” Jesus is not just some wise teacher or impressive miracle worker. He is the one chosen and approved by God the Father to provide this spiritual sustenance.

3. The Crowd’s Response and Jesus’ Answer (verses 28-29)

“Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.'”

Now, my brothers and sisters, we see a shift in the conversation. The crowd, perhaps sensing that they’ve been called out on their shallow motivations, asks a crucial question: “What must we do to perform the works of God?” It’s a good question. They ask, “How can we align ourselves with God’s will? How can we do what God wants us to do?”

This is a question that many of us grapple with in our own lives. We want to please God, do His will, and live in a way that honors Him. But often, we’re not sure exactly what that looks like. We might think it involves a long list of dos and don’ts or perhaps some grand, heroic actions.

But look at Jesus’ response. It’s beautifully simple yet profoundly challenging: “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” Jesus boils it all down to one thing: belief. Faith. Trust in Him as the one sent by God.

Now, this might sound easy at first. Just believe? That’s it? But let’s think about what this means. To honestly believe in Jesus is not just to acknowledge His existence or even His divinity. It’s to trust Him completely, reshape our lives around His teachings, and rely on Him for our spiritual sustenance.

This kind of belief affects everything. It changes how we see the world, how we treat others, how we make decisions, how we handle difficulties. It’s not a one-time decision but a daily, moment-by-moment choice to trust in Jesus and live according to His ways.

And notice that Jesus calls this “the work of God.” Belief, in this deep and transformative sense, is not passive. It’s active. It’s something we must choose and something we must work at. It requires effort, commitment, and perseverance. 

4. The Crowd Asks for a Sign (verses 30-31)

“So, they said to him, ‘What sign will you give us then, so we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”‘”

Now, my dear friends, we come to a part of the conversation that might leave us in disbelief. The crowd asks Jesus for a sign. Can you believe it? They’ve just witnessed the miraculous feeding of five thousand people, and now they’re asking for another sign!

But before we judge them too harshly, let’s consider our hearts. How often do we, too, ask God for signs? How usually do we say, “God, if you’re there, if you care, show me a sign”? Even when we’ve experienced God’s goodness and faithfulness in the past, we can still fall into the trap of demanding proof for our current situations.

The crowd goes even further, though. They bring up the story of their ancestors receiving manna in the wilderness. It’s as if they’re saying, “Sure, you fed us yesterday, but can you top what Moses did? He provided bread from heaven for forty years!”

This comparison reveals something important about human nature. We often have a “what have you done for me lately” attitude towards God. We can quickly forget past blessings and miracles, always wanting something new, something more impressive. We set up comparisons and competitions, forgetting that all good things come from the same source – our loving God.

But there’s also a deeper issue here. The crowd is still focused on physical bread and material provision. They’re missing the spiritual significance of what Jesus has done and what He’s offering them. They’re stuck in the literal and missing the symbolic, the eternal.

This is a challenge we all face. Getting caught up in our physical needs and material concerns is easy. But Jesus continually calls us to lift our eyes higher, to see beyond the physical to the spiritual realities underpinning our existence.

5. Jesus Reveals the True Bread from Heaven (verses 32-33)

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gave you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.'”

Here, my brothers and sisters, we see Jesus patiently redirecting the conversation. He doesn’t get frustrated with their lack of understanding or demand for more signs. Instead, He takes the opportunity to reveal a more profound truth.

First, He corrects their understanding of the manna in the wilderness. It wasn’t Moses who was bread, but God the Father. Jesus reminds them and us that all good gifts ultimately come from God. We sometimes give credit to human leaders or our efforts, forgetting that God is the source of all blessings.

But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He speaks of a “true bread from heaven” that His Father gives. This bread is not like the manna, which only provides physical nourishment for a time. This true bread “comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

What a powerful image! Jesus is painting a picture of spiritual nourishment that transcends time and place, not limited to one group of people but to the whole world. This bread doesn’t just sustain physical life for a day or a year but gives true life – eternal life.

And notice the present tense – God “gives” this bread. It’s not just a past event or a future promise but a present reality. God is offering this true bread right now to each one of us.

6. The Crowd’s Request and Jesus’ Declaration (verses 34-35)

“They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'”

Now, we come to the climax of this passage, my dear friends. The crowd, perhaps beginning to sense that Jesus is talking about something more than physical bread, requests: “Sir, give us this bread always.” It’s reminiscent of the Samaritan woman at the well who asked Jesus for the living water. There’s a glimmer of understanding here, a hint that they’re starting to grasp that Jesus is offering something extraordinary.

And then Jesus declares: “I am the bread of life.” This is one of the famous “I am” statements in John’s Gospel, where Jesus reveals His divine identity and mission. He’s not just talking about providing bread; He’s saying He is the bread. He is the source of true life, of spiritual nourishment that satisfies our deepest hunger.

Jesus makes two powerful promises: those who come to Him will never be hungry, and those who believe in Him will never be thirsty. Of course, He’s not talking about physical hunger and thirst here. He’s speaking to our deeper needs – our need for purpose, love, connection with God, and meaning in life.

These are universal human longings. We all experience a deep hunger and thirst in our souls that no amount of food, drink, money, success, or earthly pleasures can satisfy. Jesus is saying that He alone can meet these deepest needs. In Him, we find complete fulfillment and satisfaction.

Reflection and Application

Now, my brothers and sisters, let’s take some time to reflect on what this passage means for us today. How does this teaching of Jesus, this declaration that He is the bread of life, impact our daily lives?

First, it challenges us to examine our motivations in seeking God. Like the crowd, are we primarily interested in what God can do for us materially? Or are we truly seeking a deeper relationship with Him? Are we more concerned with our physical needs or our spiritual nourishment?

Second, it invites us to trust in Jesus as the source of our spiritual sustenance. Just as we need physical food daily, we must come to Jesus daily for spiritual nourishment. This might look like spending time in prayer, reading Scripture, and participating in the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, where we receive the authentic Bread of Life.

Third, it reminds us that our deepest needs can only be met in Christ. We live in a world that offers many substitutes – success, wealth, pleasure, power – but none of these can truly satisfy the hunger of our souls. Only Jesus, the bread of life, can do that.

Fourth, it calls us to share this bread with others. Jesus says this bread gives life to the world. As those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, we have a responsibility to share this good news with others, to invite them to the table where they can be satisfied by the bread of life.

Lastly, it points us to the Eucharist, where we receive the Body of Christ, the true bread from heaven. In this sacrament, Jesus’ words take on a literal meaning. He gives Himself to us as food for our journey, nourishing us spiritually and uniting us more closely to Himself.

As we go forth from here today, my dear friends, let us carry this powerful truth: Jesus is the bread of life. He alone can satisfy our deepest hunger. Let us come to Him daily, believe in Him fully, and find in Him the nourishment our souls crave.

May God bless you and keep you. May He satisfy you with the true bread from heaven, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.