The Bread of God

“After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself” (John 6:1-15).

Even though He challenged the crowd to move beyond simply following Him and to become a disciple, many continued to follow Jesus because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. He withdrew from the crowd and He went up on a mountain to spend some intimate time with a few special followers. These followers loved Him so much they were willing to leave the crowd behind to get away with Jesus and to learn more of His truth. These He called true disciples… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). But the crowd was relentless and soon they approached Jesus again. He noted with compassion that they were hungry and he saw this as an opportunity to feed the crowd and identify Himself to His disciples as the Messiah and the Bread of God.

Physical needs are very prominent and difficult to ignore. We know when we are hungry, hurting, or need healing. Where do you turn when you are confronted with a physical need? Do you count on the paycheck to cover the expenses of your home and the food on your table? When you are sick or injured do you run immediately to the doctor or drug store? Physical needs challenge our belief that God is sovereign and in control of our world…  “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19).

When confronted with a physical need we are challenged to believe that God is aware of our every need… “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8). God allows physical needs in our lives to compel us to bring our needs to him in prayer… “As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!” (Psalm 40:17). The Spirit of Truth moved Paul to teach that God loves to bless His children by meeting their needs. When God gives us even more than we ask for He receives glory… “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). When Jesus miraculously provided food for His followers He identified Himself as the Son of God who provided bread for the children of promise in the wilderness… “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven” (John 6:32). At the same time Jesus identified Himself to His disciples as the Bread of God… “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33).

As we grow up into Christ our faith grows as He meets our every need and reveals Himself as …

The Bread of God.