Jesus gave himself a number of unlikely names. Most pertain to either His Godly character or His redemptive work, but the ‘Bread of Life’ stands out as an invitation for mankind to be nourished by Him, even more – ‘to enter into Him’.
Jesus used the term ‘Bread of Life’ after the feeding of the 5000. He used it to distinguish between His ability to provide for our earthly needs through His miraculous touch – filling our bellies, and His desire that mankind would go beyond coming to Him to have their needs met – and actually partake of the life that defines His being.
We Christians can essentially relate to Jesus on 2 levels, both are supernatural, but only one is a ‘high calling’ .
Level 1. Once we are saved by His grace we automatically become participants in His great and precious promises, 2 Peter 1:4. That means we can partake of the Bread of Life to sustain us in our life, especially when the unexpected hits and we can’t manage on our own resources. We can partake by faith in all of the wonders that were released to us at the cross – health, well being, prosperity, in fact anything that requires His nourishing touch here on earth… when we need help beyond ourselves. These are a supernatural outcome of our salvation.
Level 2. This is a road less traveled. It is more akin to an adventure in the wild, than to a well worn path. It is pressing on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, Phil. 3:14. This is deciding to live from the Bread of Life for everything, even when other resources are accessible… to choose to feed on Him. And when needs arise, this is resting in the knowledge that the great nourisher of the world will sustain you because you decided long ago that He is good – it is what defines Him. This also is supernatural, but it is more than that – it is devoid of the natural. Maybe this is what Jesus was talking about in John 6:63 “The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing”.
We have 3 score and 10 years of walking around in these earth suits (maybe a bit longer), we only get one adventure and in the scheme of things a relatively short one. I’m thinking we need to cut ourselves loose from the safe harbours, I’m thinking we need to pull up anchor, hoist the rigging and set sail with the Holy Spirit on the tiller.
The Living Bread said that if we eat of Him we will live forever… lets eat.
Graeme
Well said, Graeme. So few take God up on all he offers. I pray I’ll be willing to cut loose from my comforts. Judy
I guess people don’t get that they are the winners if they let go of the world, cheers, G