Some context before we get into this. This story starts in John 6:22 Jesus is talking to the people he just fed by multiplying the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. He fed over 5,000 people! But as normal people do (including myself), they got hungry again. They went and found Jesus to try and get more food. That’s where the story picks up. Jesus calls them out by telling them that they are only seeking him because they had their fill of bread. He continues to say that they shouldn’t work for food that perishes but for the food that endures to eternal life. The Jews ask what they need to do to get this food. Jesus said that they need to do the work of God which is to “believe in the one he has sent.” Ignoring the fact they witnessed a miracle the day before. The people ask for another “sign” that might believe. They reference a story in the Old Testament about the Jews receiving “mana” or bread from heaven to eat while they wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Jesus responds by saying that there is new bread from heaven that would give eternal life. The people respond with “Give us this bread always.” This is where Jesus says “I am the bread of life.”

So what does that mean? When Jesus was tempted with food by the devil in Luke 4. He responded by saying “Man does live on bread alone; but on the living word of God (Deut. 8:3).” Meaning the ultimate source of life is God and his word. Not bread. Jesus said to the people that he was the new bread that has come down from heaven. The quote is “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst (John 6:35).” He taught that whoever consumes his flesh and drinks his blood will never hunger or thrust again. To the Jews, this sounded like cannibalism. “How are we supposed to consume his flesh?” This is a good question. We have to remember that this is a metaphor. The entire conversation has been about what is needed to live… food. It is what sustains life. Jesus is providing spiritual food that will lead to eternal life.

What’s spiritual food? It’s anything that we try to fill our lives with. Everyone in some form is seeking fulfillment in their lives. Some seek it through money, relationships, careers, status, etc. These are types of spiritual foods that we consume to try and find fulfillment. What Jesus is saying is that he is the true food that you need for fulfillment. Everything else is just spiritual “junk food” so to speak. Why? Well from my own experience, and others who have shared with me, just like regular junk food it tastes good and might satisfy me momentarily; but it’s terrible for me. I feel horrible afterward, I’ll be hungry again in a few hours, and if I have enough of it I’ll get sick and die. It is the same with spiritual food. Anything other than Jesus will leave give temporary satisfaction. But it won’t last long, I’ll be hungry again and will ultimately end in death. Jesus is the spiritual food that we need to consume. So how do we consume Jesus? By doing the work of God. Which Jesus said is to believe him. To believe him is to have a relationship with him. We consume him by following his commandments, praying, reading the Word, and practicing other spiritual disciplines.

Jesus would give us a picture of what consuming him looks like at the Last Supper in Matthew 26 17-30. Where he breaks bread with his disciples. He says to them that the bread and the wine are his flesh and blood. This became known as the Eucharist. A tradition where we remember that Jesus’ flesh was literally beaten and his blood was literally shed for the sins of the world. So that our sins may be forgiven and that we can have literal eternal life in heaven. Jesus is saying that he is the ultimate sustainer of life. That believing in him leads to eternal life and ultimate satisfaction.

So I leave you with a few questions.

What are you hungry for?
What are you trying to find fulfillment in?
Have you considered following Jesus?

Hope this helps!