I Am The Bread Of Life – Jesus’ Teachings

Jesus’ teachings from John 6 include his well-known statement, “I am the Bread of Life.” Ron Hughes explains the significance of Jesus’ statement.

I Am The Bread Of Life

“I am the bread of life…”  This statement of Jesus recorded in John 6:35 leaves people scratching their heads.  At the time, many were disgusted by this metaphor which seemed to promote the eating of human flesh.  Since then, Christians have been sometimes accused of exactly that — mostly because of attempts to associate this passage with communion, when believers eat bread and drink wine in memory of the Lord.

Hard to Believe

However, even more grievous than the thought of cannibalism was the disturbing idea that Jesus had “come down from heaven” — that He was, in fact, God.  Verse 41 tells us that “The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, ‘I am the bread which came down from heaven.’” They went on to challenge this idea because they personally were acquainted with Joseph and Mary, after all He was on His home turf when He said these things.

Speaking figuratively

For Jesus, the idea of His being “the bread of life” was metaphorical.  It referred to people receiving spiritual nourishment through His teaching.

We know this because of what He said in verses 48 and 49 “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.”  Manna, physical food, could only sustain physical life.  Those who ate it still died.

Then He went on to say, referring to Himself, “This is the bread which came down from heaven — not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”  Eating His flesh and drinking His blood speaks of His life and truth being in us and sustaining us. “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”

Speaking Literally

When Jesus spoke of “coming down from Heaven” he was speaking literally.  After all, if He were only a man, then even if people did receive His teachings as spiritual nourishment, there would be no life-giving property in them.  The students of all great human teachers have died, just as did the Israelites who ate physical manna in the desert.  Jesus came to offer spiritual life.

Bringing it all Together

Jesus’ metaphorical claim to be the “bread of life” would have no power at all unless He literally came down from heaven.  Without the latter, the former would be entirely nonsensical.

However, when we understand how Jesus meant these statements to be understood, then we experience the full force of the truth behind his statement:

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (Verse 35)

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