“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes
to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.’”
(John 6:35)
In the Old
Testament, God continuously revealed Himself to mankind so that they will come
to know Him. In the Book of John, Jesus, the Son of God, revealed even more of
Himself and God’s plan of salvation to us. He also used “I am” seven times so
that we will know more of the will of God, and to illuminate the relationships
between the Father and the Son, and the Son and us (the church). “I am the
bread of life” is the first revelation pertaining to the salvation from God.
After Jesus
Christ performed the miracle of the “five loaves and two fishes” and fed over
5000 people, many were attracted to follow Him. But the Lord knew that their
thoughts and perception were not correct, and only followed Him because they
had had their immediate fill of bread. That is similar to many nowadays who
follow Christ. They have tasted the grace from Heaven but are still
short-sighted, valuing the things of this world and time, so that they are
unable to sustain their discipleship. Christ reminds us that we should work for
the food that endures until eternal life, that is Himself. (John 6:27) He used
the example of the Israelites wandering in the desert and eating the manna.
Every day they witnessed God’s miracle. Yet they died in the desert because of
unbelief. The will of the Father is to bestow the Son, just as manna was
delivered down from Heaven, so that people who believe in Him will have eternal
life. Our ancestor Adam failed in the matter of food consumption, not only
losing the opportunity to have the fruit of the tree of life, but also causing
all mankind to be trapped by the death of the body and soul. So God permitted
us to regain life through the eating and drinking of the Son of Man. (John
5:53-56) From the symbolism of Christ being born in a manger, we see the
intention of God (A manager is where horses and sheep feed). He is telling us to
receive and believe in His son, just as people eat food and drink water, so
that we can regain our lives. Therefore, I hope that those friends among us who
are not yet sure if they have been saved grasp the opportunity to repent and
receive Christ, and believe that He is the Saviour, so that you will receive
the eternal life given by God.
As well,
according to John chapter 6, Christ not only declared that He is the Bread of
Life, He also emphasized several times that He was sent by the Father (v. 38,
39, 44, 46, 57). This clearly indicates that in the Holy Trinity of God, the
Holy Father and the Holy Son have an intimate relationship. For example, Christ
said that the Son has the seal of approval of the Father (v. 28). Christ came
not to do His own will but the will of the One who sent Him (v. 38). He came
from the Father and has seen the Father (v. 46). He lives because of the Father
etc. (v. 57). All these indicate the Holy Father and the Holy Son work together
in one mind to prepare and complete the salvation of man. Also, Lord Jesus
expounded many times that the faith of man will gain him the gift of life from
God. For example, to believe in the one God has sent is the work of God (v.
29). He who believes in the Lord will never thirst (v. 35). Everyone who looks
to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life (v. 40). He who believes
has everlasting life (v. 47). Those who do not believe will eventually turn
back (v. 64-66) and even betray the Lord (v. 64). From all these words of the
Lord, we see that those who believe in the Son of God will have eternal life.
They must maintain this faith until the end, so that their souls will be saved.
“You need to
persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he
has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come
and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if
he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those
who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”
(Hebrews 10:36-39)
By: Daniel To