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.”

When we are in the middle of God’s work, full of his Spirit, he sustains us! Here we have the crowd continuing to want their collective bellies fed, missing the point. It must have seemed strange to have a homeless, wanderer of a teacher, who likely went hungry from time to time, say this. How could he be the source of unending bread? Well, sure, he did just multiply the bread and fish for them — there is that. So we see Jesus again painting a picture of spiritual life through a physical analogy. Bread only sustains us for a short period of time. Water is even shorter. God provides the sun and the rain for the harvest of wheat. He proves the water for drink. He is behind all that grows on this earth. He also specifically provided the Manna from heaven they are referring to here. So it is not surprising that he also is completely behind our spiritual nourishment and spiritual life. We live by eating bread and drinking water. Jesus and his way of life is what we are to seek, develop, and act on in our lives. THIS FOCUS is what FEEDS our good works and makes them acceptable to God. Receive the truth of the Word of God and live a nourished life!