I AM: A Seven-Day Devotional in the Book of John

When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

John 6:25-40

There are many reasons people pursue Jesus.

Some come right before a game asking for help to play well. We’ve all come right before a test asking for mercy when we didn’t study. Some come to church regularly hoping this may convince God to give them a relationship. Some are very religious because they are convinced that if we are good to God, then God must be good to us. At the bottom of all these examples is wanting something from God more than God Himself. We’ve all been there. But Jesus, in John 6 offers a better reason to come.

Jesus had just fed the 5000. It was the first-ever fast-food experience in history, and the people loved it. So much so, they came to Him from all over wanting Him to give them bread. They came to Him wanting something from Jesus more than Jesus. Jesus makes clear He did not come to give them good things, He came to give them the one thing they were made for, Himself. Jesus says, “I am the bread.” Jesus is not here to ensure that we have a good life, He came to be our life.  Jesus didn’t come to give bread, He came to be bread. He does not exist to serve us, He is inviting us to see that we exist to serve Him. But we will not serve Him until we taste and experience how He has served us. It’s His love for us that wins our hearts to belong to Him. We must eat the bread He offers.

On the last night of the life of Christ, we find Him eating a meal with His followers. With bread in His hands, He broke it in half and said to them, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” The next morning His body was broken as He hung on a tree for the sin of humanity. He embraced our death so we could taste His life. This is the bread we’re meant to consume. This bread will satisfy your deepest desires. This bread will save you from your sickness of sin. This bread tastes like love. This bread is better than anything else the world has to offer. Don’t settle for coming to Christ for something from Him instead of Him. He is the bread, don’t miss Him.

Do you find yourself wanting things from God more than you want God Himself?