Our scripture this morning is John 6:35-40.
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. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”
The term “bread of life” is one of many ways we understand the mission Christ came to accomplish. God sent His Son to redeem us but first He must break through our desire for worldly things and focus our attention on what is truly important, our relationship with Him.
Jesus tells us that He is as essential to our eternal lives as food and drink are to our mortal lives. If we don’t eat and drink, our bodies waste away. If we are not in connection with Him, our spirits waste away.
He came in obedience to God’s will and tells us that in order to rise to eternal life with Him we must obey God’s will as well. We must give up our selfish ways. Following Jesus and being nourished by what He teaches is the only way to be saved.
Gracious God, in Your mercy You sent Jesus as our savior. Help us to follow in faith, that all the world may be reconciled to You. Amen.
