Bread is one of my favorite foods. I love whole grain bread, sprouted bread, rye bread, sourdough bread, especially any homemade bread. I love the smell of bread baking in the oven. Bread doesn't always like me as it clearly shows at my waistline. Can you imagine being able to eat all the bread you desire without any added weight gain? In fact, what if you could eat all the bread you want and lose weight? Well, there is a way to eat bread and lose "weight".
Recently on my way to work, I heard that familiar traditional song, "Come All Ye Faithful". "Oh come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, oh come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem..." The phrase "oh come ye to Bethlehem", stuck out in my mind. In the Hebrew language, Beth-lehem means "house of bread"; “house” (Beth as in Beth-el, “house of God”) and “bread” (lehem). I how interesting it is that the very one who is the bread of life was born in the "house of bread". John 6:35 The Passion Translation, Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life. Come every day to me and you will never be hungry. I love how the Amplified says it: Jesus replied to them, “I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually].
Earlier in John chapter 6, knowing what He was about to do as he was teaching the disciples and the multitudes who gathered around, Jesus asked Phillip "Where will we buy enough food to feed all these people?" See, an impossible situation is only a breeding ground for a miracle. They found a boy with five small barley loaves and two fish & with it, they fed 5,000 men and then women and children. Not only did they all have enough to eat, but there were also 12-large baskets filled with leftover pieces of bread! The bread of life, who was born in the house of bread, also multiplied the bread! Later on, in the chapter is where Jesus stated "I am the bread of life". Jesus provided physical bread but here He is talking about so much more. Much like the crowd that gathered, we often focus on our physical needs. The multitudes followed Jesus and he touched them. He had compassion on them and healed those who were sick, cast out demons from those who were demonized, and even raised the dead.
In Matthew chapter 6 Jesus taught the disciples to pray. He said, "give us this day our daily bread". The Bread of Life, who multiplied the bread, was born in the House of Bread, also prayed, "give us this day our daily bread." That speaks of daily provision. God is Jehovah Jireh, our provider. He wants to provide for you on all levels of your being, not just your soul and body. He wants to sustain you spiritually. Of course, He deeply cares about our needs and desires but as we mature in Christ, we should be seeking the person of Him, not only for what He can provide or do for us.
It was after that miracle of the multiplication when the disciples were in a boat, the waters were getting really rough, and Jesus comes to the disciples walking on the water. They were afraid but Jesus called out to them and when the moment He stepped into their boat, they were transported to the other side! There's a whole message just in that; what happens when you let Jesus in your boat!
The next morning the crowds had caught up with Jesus on the other side of the lake. In verse 25 of John 6: When they finally found him, they asked him, “Teacher, how did you get here?” Jesus replied, “Let me make this very clear, you came looking for me because I fed you by a miracle, not because you believe in me." Sadly, I believe this attitude often happens in the church today. We want a touch, we want a miracle, a sign, but do we truly want Him? He came to give us so much more!
Verse 27: Why would you strive for food that is perishable and not be passionate to seek the food of eternal life, which never spoils? I, the Son of Man, am ready to give you what matters most, for God the Father has destined me for this purpose.” They replied, “So what should we do if we want to do God’s work?” Jesus answered, “The work you can do for God starts with believing in the One he has sent.” They replied, “Show us a miracle so we can see it, and then we’ll believe in you. Moses took care of our ancestors who were fed by the miracle of manna every day in the desert, just like the Scripture says, ‘He fed them with bread from heaven.’ What sign will you perform for us?” Again, that sounds like many in the church today.
Verse 32: The truth is,” Jesus said, “Moses didn’t give you the bread of heaven. It’s my Father who offers bread that comes as a dramatic sign from heaven. The bread of God is the One who came out of heaven to give his life to feed the world.” “Then please, sir, give us this bread every day,” they replied. Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life. Come every day to me and you will never be hungry. Believe in me and you will never be thirsty. Did you catch that? In the Passion Translation is it says "Come to me every day". It didn't say "just when you have a need. Only when you feel hungry." But, "come to me every day and believe in Me".
Verses 48-51: I am the true Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate manna in the desert and died. But standing here before you is the true Bread that comes out of heaven, and when you eat this Bread you will never die. I alone am this Living Bread that has come to you from heaven. Eat this Bread and you will live forever. The living Bread I give you is my body, which I will offer as a sacrifice so that all may live."
Verses 57-58: The Father of life sent me, and he is my life. In the same way, the one who feeds upon me, I will become his life. I am not like the bread your ancestors ate and later died. I am the living Bread that comes from heaven. Eat this Bread and you will live forever!” Communion is something that is greatly overlooked. Verses 54-55 say " and I will raise Him up on the last day. It's more than just going to heaven, your spirit comes alive the moment you begin to eat! For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." Oh, how we miss out when we partake in communion just once a month or on "Holy Holidays". Did you know you don't have to wait until Communion Sunday comes to partake of communion? Smith Wigglesworth partook of communion every day. We can and should partake of communion at every opportunity we get. You can partake of communion by yourself, with saved family, with others of the household of faith. When we partake, we are joining with all the saints that have ever partaken and ever will!
The body of Jesus is the record of the power of the resurrection, the life, that can flow from that body. When you take the Body of Jesus Christ you eat that record of the resurrection power. You partake of His divine nature! Imagine that, He partook of our human nature so we could partake of His divine nature! And when we eat the Bread of life, not only do we partake of His divine nature, we lose that "weight" that tries to hold us, hostage, to our fallen human state. Let us stop striving for that which is perishable. The Bread of Life came out of Heaven to feed you! Let's run after that which is eternal. Jesus is the Bread of Life, born in the town known as "The House of Bread". Only He has that which has eternal sustenance and sustains your spirit! Follow and seek Him and you will never hunger or be found wanting again! Come to the House of Bread. Come and behold Him. Lord, give us this day our Daily Bread! Come and eat ye of it.
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