Read: John 6:15-38

I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (v. 35)

The hungry crowd that Jesus filled is feeling hungry again. It is the next day, and they are looking for Jesus. They want him to be their king so he can provide them miracle bread every day. The people want their physical hunger satisfied, but Jesus wants to provide more. Jesus invites the people to look more deeply at their need. While their physical need for food is real, he also wants to fill them spiritually.

Jesus offers his own body as the means for the people to receive full life. This is confusing for the crowd; they later call it a hard teaching (v. 60). Today, we know that Jesus was talking about Communion. In celebrating Communion, we receive Jesus’ body and blood in the form of bread and wine. “I am the bread of life,” Jesus says. Just as our food gives life to our bodies, so Jesus gave his life so we can experience fullness of life in our entire being. This means that celebrating Communion is the way we can receive and remember the fullness of life Jesus offers. The miraculous meal on the hillside points to this Communion feast.

The people were right: it is difficult to fully understand how Jesus’ body and blood can provide deep nourishment for us. We will explore this mystery tomorrow, looking at the way this spiritual feast provides us fullness of life. —Amy Curran

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for being my bread of life.