Lenten Devotional 3-25-09

www.HopeandHelpCenter.org
Wednesday, March 25th
John 6:27-40

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Creator has set the seal.' Then they said to him, 'What must we do to perform the works of God?' Jesus answered them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in the one whom God has sent.' So they said to him, 'What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, "God gave them bread from heaven to eat."' Then Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Parent who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which* comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.' They said to him, 'Sir, give us this bread always.'

Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Creator gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of the One who sent me. And this is the will of God who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that has been given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Parent, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.'

Bread is a symbol of sustenance and nourishment. Jesus describes himself as the "bread of life". This bread is not like the manna which was the only bread from heaven they had experienced before Jesus came. Manna was to be enjoyed for only a season. Manna spoiled after one day.

When we come to Jesus and believe in his words, we will never hunger nor thirst. This true bread from heaven does not spoil and gives life to the whole world. It is the will of our Creator that we all experience the eternal nourishment of Jesus Christ.

Lord, feed me every day. VJ