"I am the bread of life" - John 6:35 {TPT)

Jesus is speaking here to the crowds; this passage is just after He had fed 5,000 (or more) people with five barley loaves and two fish. The groups are pressing in on Jesus, asking Him questions about the miracle of the bread and fish and other miracles which He had performed among the crowds.

 Miracles alone are not what makes Jesus who He is, and this is what He was trying to convey to the crowds.

Jesus replied, “Let me make this very clear; you came looking for me because I fed you by a miracle, not because you believe in me.” John 6:26 (TPT)

Jesus is attempting to shake the people from their belief that the Messiah needs to come with signs and wonders rather than just as a lowly servant, which Jesus was. Jesus was attempting to focus the crowds' attention on where the bread came from rather than the multiplying of the food itself. 

Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life,” Jesus was making a declaration here that “I am,” which means “I exist” or consist with humankind. Even though Jesus was God, He is declaring here that He exists as a man. 

The role of the Messiah was to come and remove the curses placed on mankind due to their rebellion against their divine right to rule. Jesus could not remove the curses as God, it had to be done as a man for God’s promises were for mankind alone and God would not go against His own word He declared for mankind for it would make His word of none effect. 

The Messiah had to be a man who would bear the full weight of curses and remove them physically by His obedience to counter the rebellion.

 “The truth is,” Jesus said, “Moses didn’t give you the bread of heaven. It’s my Father who offers bread that comes as a dramatic sign from heaven.” 

John 6:32 (TPT)

When Jesus declares: “I am the bread of life,” Jesus was revealing a pattern here that as the Father fed the children of Israel in the desert for forty years with manna (bread) which came down from the heavens to sustain their lives, so the Father was also providing Jesus to them as “the bread of life” to sustain them and exist or consist with them. 

When Jesus fed the five thousand, it was to show the crowds that the Father was again revealing a pattern of support for the family of Yahweh to let them know that He has not forgotten them.

Jesus wanted them to see the patterns and recognize that He was the answer that the Father had sent to them.

“Yet, I’ve told you that even though you’ve seen me, you still don’t believe in me.”

John 6:36 (TPT)

This was the hardest thing for Jesus to communicate to the crowds, it was for them to see Jesus as the provision of God for their lives, their minds were clouded over with visions of a conquering prince or king to defeat their Roman oppressors rather than receive the simple pattern that just played out before them that the Father will supply everything they need both natural and spiritual to keep them alive and well.

“My Father who sent me has determined that I will “not lose even one of those he has given to me, and I will raise them up in the last day.” John 6:39 (TPT)

There is determination here by the Father that His purposes will be done, it was never in question but a fact that was demonstrated by the same determination of Jesus sacrificing Himself on the cross for us.

So Jesus said, “I speak to you timeless truth. The Son is not able to do anything from himself or through my own initiative. I only do the works that I see the Father doing, for the Son does the same works as his Father.” John 5:19 (TPT)

Jesus declares that “I only do the works that I see My Father doing”  which gives us a glimpse into what it meant for Jesus to live out a life of complete devotion to the purpose and will of the Father. 

Even though Jesus was a mortal man who brought us a second chance by bringing about humankind’s redemption, He stayed the course no matter the consequences would unfold. The ultimate purpose of the Father was sending Jesus to restore our position before Him, we are Yahweh's family.

“For the longing of my Father is that everyone who embraces the Son and believes in him will experience eternal life and I will raise them up in the last day!” John 6:39 (TPT)

“I will raise them up” is not speaking of resurrection sometime in the future, or in the sweet bye and bye.  In its context, it is talking about raising people up who are lying down sleeping, waking them up to new life in Christ. 

When Jesus says “last day” He is referring to the times in which we now live, the last days are referencing the old covenant expiring and the new covenant fully taking hold. It is the idea of a new era of God’s enlightenment in Christ Jesus. It is the last days of the overlapping of the old covenant and the final establishment of the new covenant, a new dispensation.

Jesus is the bread of life, that life He speaks of is not just day to day existence as is so familiar to man; it is zōē life, abundant life, life in its fullness. This is why He says if you eat this bread you will never hunger again, He is speaking of His life being infused into you by metaphorically eating this bread so that He sustains you and fills you to overflowing with Himself. 

Be Blessed;

Stephen Barnett