Hungry? What for? What are you craving right now? Will it satisfy you? Nourish your soul and give you lasting peace? Or will you be left momentarily fulfilled until your next craving? The human appetite is vast and varied. We want what we want, but when we get it, we find that it didn’t deliver what we thought it would. Isaiah under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Posed an interesting question.
“Why spend your money on something that is not real food? Why work for something that doesn’t really satisfy you? Listen closely to Me, and you will eat what is good; your soul will enjoy the rich food that satisfies.”
Isaiah 55:2 NCV
And Jesus also offered a life changing solution of His own. Natural bread and water temporarily satisfies, but the true Bread of life satisfies like none other. Let’s read Jesus’ invitation.
“When the people found Jesus on the other side of the lake, they asked Him, “Teacher, when did you come here?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you aren’t looking for Me because you saw Me do miracles. You are looking for Me because you ate the bread and were satisfied. Don’t work for the food that spoils. Work for the food that stays good always and gives eternal life. The Son of Man will give you this food, because on Him God the Father has put His power.”
John 6:25-27 NCV
Jesus pointed out that the only reason the people sought Him was for the natural bread He had provided, but He was offering something more than a temporary satisfaction. This Bread fills the void caused by spiritual hunger. There are those who eat because they’re depressed and those who eat because they’re happy. But in both cases the choice made to satisfy a temporal need, leaves the opposite results, weight gain lol. Jesus wasn’t offering a replacement meal of sorts, but rather a life changing experience that only He through the sacrificing of His own body, would bring about.
He said receiving Him, would be a permanent solution to a spiritual hunger problem. Was He implying that natural hunger was irrelevant? Of course not! He had supernaturally fed thousands because of their natural hunger. But He wanted them to seek Him for more than that. It’s no different today. Some Christians seek Him for the gifts He offers, but have no desire to make Him Lord. They enjoy the handouts, but not being sold out. That’s why they’re conflicted and often miserable saints. Natural bread will never satisfy spiritual hunger. Jesus knew this, so He offered them more.
He didn’t come to offer them manna, He was manna, He was bread for their hunger. He is today as He was yesterday. And His offer is still the same over 2000 years later.
“The people asked Jesus, “What are the things God wants us to do?” Jesus answered, “The work God wants you to do is this: Believe the One He sent.” So the people asked, “What miracle will you do? If we see a miracle, we will believe you. What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the desert. This is written in the Scriptures: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven; it is My Father who is giving you the true bread from heaven. God’s Bread is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” The people said, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Then Jesus said, “I Am the bread that gives life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:28-35 NCV
They were still thinking with their natural appetites. They wanted their natural hunger satisfied permanently without having to do anything. Still all they had to do was believe. Don’t get caught up in the miracle, get caught up in the miracle Worker. They were asking for more signs, if the multiplication of five loaves and two fish to feed thousands wasn’t enough, what more could He offer in order for them to believe. They had evidence, they ate it to the full. They were stumbling over their supposed knowledge of who He is.
“Some people began to complain about Jesus because He said, “I Am the bread that comes down from heaven.” They said, “This is Jesus, the son of Joseph. We know His father and mother. How can He say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
John 6:41-42 NCV
Don’t allow head knowledge to block your path to revelation and truth. Don’t allow someone else’s opinion of Biblical truth to sway your confidence in Jesus. He is who He says He is, and He delivers on every promise made. David was so excited to discover the Word that he penned with enthusiasm the following:
“How sweet Your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.”
Psalms 119:103 NLT
He had found what Jesus was offering the crowd. True Bread.
“Yes, I Am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the Bread from heaven, however, will never die. I Am the living Bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live forever; and this Bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is My flesh.”
John 6:48-51 NLT
Have you found His promise to be true? Have you been satisfied with the sweetness of this life giving Bread, Jesus Christ? Then you can say with David and me that it’s sweeter, He is sweeter than honey. Your soul is satisfied. If you haven’t, what are you waiting for? There’s more than enough Bread and Water for all of us. We can eat of Him and be full for all eternity.
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
May 5, 2021
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