Jesus is the Bread of Life

Jesus is the Bread of Life

Before I came to Cardiff to do a PhD, one sister told me that she would never do a PhD in her life. Traditionally, PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy. But she told me that it actually stood for "Permanent Head Damage." Now I rather agree with her. The more I learn, the more I think I know less. 

Furthermore, one beloved brother in Cardiff told me that PHD could also stand for "Poor, Hungry and Desperate." Well, I am not trying to scare you if you want to do a PhD. Doing PhD is a good experience. But these three characteristics are describing not only a PhD student like me, but also all who ever live in this world. As a result of sin, mankind has become spiritually poor, hungry and desperate.

St Augustine wrote this prayer in a book: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." 

This is absolutely true. We can never find rest until we rest in God. Applying from the truth in this prayer, someone has correctly stated that man’s heart has a "God-shaped hole". The shape of this hole is so unique that nothing else but God can fit it. Because of this hole, man feels that he needs something to fill this hole. He therefore tries his best to find something that can satisfy him. He may try to find satisfaction from sex, power, education, money, fame, and acceptance. But none of these things can ever satisfy his heart. He shall never experience true fullness of life apart from God.

God loves us so much. He does not want us to be hungry anymore. He wants to quench our hunger. That’s why Jesus came to this world and gave Himself to us as the "bread of life." 

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.” (John 6:35 NKJV)

In Asian countries, including Thailand, bread is considered as a snack. However, in Jewish culture at that time, bread was the main dish that the people eat everyday. They could not live without bread. Therefore Jesus does not offer Himself as a snack. He offers Himself as the real food that we feed upon. And when we eat of this bread, not only will our hunger and thirst be quenched, but we will also have eternal life.

Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life. (John 6:54a NKJV)

 

But where can we find this bread? Where is it available?

I would like to say that it is so available. To make it available to us, Jesus has already gone through a process, which is so costly to Him, even though it costs us nothing. In the process, He became a Man, lived a human life, died on the Cross for the redemption of our sins, buried in the tomb, rose from the dead, and ascended to the heaven. And now, He is so available and approachable as He has become the life-giving Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45). He is everywhere and we can eat of this bread anytime. Is it not wonderful?

 

Then how can we eat this bread?

To eat is to consume for nourishment. Similarly, to eat the Lord Jesus is basically to believe into Him all that He is and all that He has done in giving His body for us, and to receive Him into our life. It is so simple, is it not? Just open your heart, let Him in, and experience the new life that is free from hunger.  

Are you (spiritually) hungry today? Are you ready to eat of this bread now?

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Psalms 34:8 NKJV)

 Thirayost Nimmanon (Tony)