The Bread Of Life Part 1

Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)



(John 6:32-35 NKJV) Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. {33} "For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." {34} Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always." {35} And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Jesus is the bread of life that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. Only Jesus! The bread of life is a person. The bread of life is not an institution or a doctrine or a church practice. The bread of life is Jesus. Its as we "eat Jesus" that we have life. I sometimes get muddled up here. Sometimes I think that I can give life to the world through my preaching and teaching. Not so! I can at best set before them the bread of life if I set Jesus before them in the gospel. I do not give life - Jesus does! To receive this life they must "eat" - they must believe. They must take hold of Jesus and digest Him into their lives.

Two things can go wrong - firstly I can give people my good ideas and philosophies instead of Jesus Christ so that they receive intellectual stimulation but not the Bread of the Presence of God. I can give them the wrong food. They may enjoy this philosophical food but they do not receive eternal life, spiritual life, abundant life through it. Secondly I can give them the right food - Jesus but they can refuse to believe. They can be offended by the cross or stumble over Him. I cannot control this any more than Jesus could (and many left Him after His teaching on the bread of life - John 6:60 ).

However we need not be afraid because the proclamation of the bread of life has drawing power as well as the power to divide. Jesus continues.. "(John 6:37-39 NKJV) "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. {38} "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. {39} "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day." All those that God has given to Jesus "will come to Him". Jesus naturally draws the spiritually sensitive to Himself and when they come to Him - no matter what their background - He always accepts them and will never reject them.

Let's examine our ministries and ask "Are we feeding people Jesus?" - the Devil will get us enthusiastic about a thousand good things if we will just stop feeding people Jesus and His living Presence. Where are we focussed? What are we feeding the flock?

to be continued....

Prayer:
Lord Jesus we find it so easy to leave You out. We talk about so many good things and somehow we stammer when it comes to who You are. Help us Lord to feed our people - and to feed them on You alone!

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John Edmiston ([email protected])
Editor - Eternity Online Magazine http://www.eternity-magazine.org/
Cults, exegesis, bible teaching, Christian life and leadership.
For the thinking Christian!