Page 19 - July 2025 - Truth & Tidings

In verse 53, the Lord is speaking of that grow stronger, each moment in prayer-
which is initial, but verses 54 and 56 speak ful communion with Him brings deeper
of that which is continual. This satisfaction satisfaction to our spirit, and each thought
that the Bread of Life brings is an endur- of Him that occupies our mind brings us
ing, continuing, ongoing satisfaction. The more into conformity to His image. All of
Lord uses different words and tenses in this is feeding on Christ, the Bread of Life,
the two separate references, and the latter and brings renewed satisfaction so that
refers to a continual appropriation of the we’ll “never hunger” and “never thirst.”
Bread of Life. The one who has initially As important as eating literal food is to our
eaten of the Bread of Life then continues bodies, even more vital is this feeding, for
to feed upon that same Bread of Life the fathers ate manna in the wilderness
for ongoing satisfaction, and presently and are dead, but the one who “eateth of
and forever possesses eternal life, that
abundant life of John 10:10. The believer this bread shall live for ever” (v58).
also dwells, abides and remains (v56) in Throughout this discourse on the Bread
close communion with the Lord Jesus, the of Life, the Lord emphasized that His
Bread of Life. incarnation and birth, and Calvary, are
How, then, does one continually feed on essential to this provision of eternal life.
the Bread of Life? It is profane to suggest He states five times that He “came down
that the “eating” and “drinking” of the from heaven” (vv33,38,50-51,58), thus
flesh and blood of Christ are literal, either showing His incarnation and birth as a
in the initial or continual sense. And while true man, that “the Word was made flesh,
it may be tempting to see the Lord's words and dwelt among us” (1:14). And as “God
as referring to the believer’s ongoing so loved the world, that he gave his only
participation in the Lord's Supper, that’s begotten Son” (3:16), so also the Son said
not what the Lord was referring to. Each in this discourse of chapter 6: “The bread
believer has a God-given, Spirit-driven that I will give is my flesh, which I will give
appetite for Christ to develop and nurture. for the life of the world” (6:51). The One
Just as our body draws nourishment from who is the Bread of Life gave Himself to
the physical food we eat, and that nour- the death of the cross so that we might
ishment becomes an essential part of our enjoy eternal life and “never hunger” and
body and gives us strength and energy, so “never thirst.” Well might we join with
it is spiritually; the continual feeding on the Psalmist and exclaim, “Blessed be the
Christ, the Bread of Life, brings spiritual
nourishment, sustenance and satisfaction. name of the LORD from this time forth
and for evermore” (Psa 113:2).
In our daily reading of the written
Word, we search for Christ. In our ha- We trust this brief article on Christ as
bitual prayer life, we return to God in the “Bread of Life” has led you to a deeper
worship what we’ve gleaned of Christ in love for Him. We could also explore Christ
our reading. In our regular meditations, as the “Bright and Morning Star” (Rev
we direct our minds to expand on what 22:16), and consider the Old Testament
we’ve “eaten” and “drunk” of Him in references to Him as the “Branch.” May
our reading and worship. Each morsel we all resolve to learn more of Him and
of truth related to His Person makes us to ever be more like Him!

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