Jesus Our Bread
John 6:35;41-51
“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’ “ (Jn 6:35).
Bread — a part of daily life in many parts of the world. When Margaret and I were in China twenty five years ago, in the far northwest province of Xinjiang, we grew to love naan, the bread of the local Uyghur people. It was baked in open cylindrical clay ovens in the streets, and time and time again we were drawn by the aroma to cozy up to those ovens to see, smell, buy and taste that memorable Central Asian flatbread.
A few years later we were in Guatemala, helping build sidewalks to keep heavy rains from flooding neighborhood homes. A highlight of our working day was when the women from the tortilla stand down the street would bring our crew hot tortillas, fresh off the press.
Naan and tortillas, just two of innumerable types of bread known and enjoyed around the world. Jesus identified himself with the daily experience of bread eaters everywhere when he declared, “I am the bread of life.”
I, as many, eat tomatoes in different forms. In reference to this passage, I recently asked Margaret why Jesus didn’t say, “I am the tomato of life.” Or the onion, or the apple, or the egg? She reminded me — especially as one who spends a lot of time in the kitchen — that bread is a part humankind’s diet way more than tomatoes, onions, apples or eggs. As such, it is the best food Jesus could have called himself.
Eugene Peterson says, “Jesus is our staple product. Received into our lives, he is the basic stuff of life for us. In him the essential needs of the day are satisfied and the central purposes in eternity are fulfilled” (Praying with Jesus, Sept. 6). Note that it’s in Jesus that our essential needs are satisfied. Yes, the bread comes from Jesus like manna came from God to feed his people in the wilderness. But this is more than that; Jesus doesn’t just give the bread, he is the bread!
“I am the bread of life.” This is one of Jesus’ many distinctions as the great “I am.” He is the God who declared himself as the “I am” of Exodus 3:14, and because of this he ever lives to give life now and forever to all who come to him. Jesus, and Jesus alone, is the food for the sustenance, healing, transformation and fulfillment of our lives.
I’ll think about this tomorrow morning as I eat my poached egg on toast. I’ll think of this as I take a break from next Saturday’s chores to eat my bread spread with peanut butter and avocado (don’t wince until you try it! ) I’m thankful for these and other culinary reminders that point me to Jesus, who is my bread of life.