Are you hungry for something?

John 6:32: “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.’”

For the Jews tradition was everything. It was how they received the stories of the wonders that their forefathers experienced, it was how they taught their children, and it was the way they handed down the truth of God’s protection and guidance. Tradition in one aspect is good; it forced them to treasure the facts and customs that were handed down from generation to generation. On the other hand tradition also made them think that they could figure out God, even predict how God would show up in a certain situation. There was no wonder or mystery anymore. Tradition can harden the heart so one might miss the true meaning of what is happening in their lives. They were convinced that they knew it all; Jesus challenged that thinking. Even though the scriptures say that “God changeth not”, it does not mean He may not use different methods to accomplish His will, and so He did with Jesus.

Jesus made it clear to those who were following Him that it was not Moses that gave them bread from heaven, but that it was God, out of His love and mercy, who provided for the people of Israel. During the time after Moses led his people out of the land of Egypt, they were hungry and God provided bread from heaven to give them life so as to prevent them from succumbing to death through starvation. Jesus said this act did not come from Moses but from God. Just as God provided for His people then, God is providing for His people now; however, instead of physical sustenance He is giving Spiritual nourishment and life through Jesus. Jesus proclaims that He is the Bread of Life, and that all who come to Him will never hunger again.
Jesus’ claim is that He alone is the one that provides spiritual life. Again, He is telling His followers it is not the physical things that can save them but the spiritual. He had just finished feeding over five thousand with a small amount of physical food. Now He was addressing their spiritual hunger. Jesus alone would provide a way to fill that spiritual hunger that was inside of them. Once again, God provides a way for His people. His people are hungry for spiritual nourishment, and He feeds them.

When we a focused on just the physical, like the people who came to get fed again, we miss the truth of God’s love. We become so focused on our physical wants that we miss our spiritual needs. Jesus is saying it is not physical food we need, but rather that we need to taste the eternal food that only come from Him. Do not focus of the physical today, but rather on your spiritual health today.
Tomorrows Readings:
Old Testament: 11 Kings 20-21 New Testament John 6:45-71