Bread for all

Good morning, friends. Its Monday, and though these are often tough to get through, I hope you enjoy yours!

“For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:33

This morning, I read about Jesus feeding the five thousand people (plus some according to Matthew 14:21) on the mountainside in John chapter 6. Following this miracle, Jesus and the disciples headed out for Capernaum. Many followers met Jesus on the other side of the lake and began to engage with him about the feeding miracle and other miraculous signs. This exchange is what we are going to unpack together today.

Inclusivity. According to Oxford Languages Dictionary, it means “the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized.” God has been laying this concept in my heart lately; the idea that he is an inclusive Father, calling all people to know him. This seems like such a simple concept, and in many ways, it is. However, it seems that our Christian culture often forgets this truth. I believe the enemy uses division to distract the church more often than any other tool. We were created to connect with God and with each other, so what better way to deceive us from our purpose and God’s character than to separate us from both.

In John 6:35, Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” So, to set the stage, during this conversation among Jesus and the followers, he explains to them that he is the bread of life, given by God to man. Jesus is speaking figuratively here. We are physical creatures, and our physical bodies need to eat and drink regularly to survive. Likewise, we are spiritual creatures, and our spirit requires nourishment. This is what Jesus is referencing here when he claims that he can satisfy that spiritual need for nourishment. And oh, how he can my friends!

Verse 57 reads, “Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” Jesus came to give us life. Eternal life with the Father, yes; but also, life here on earth. When I say life, I don’t mean this by the definition, the opposite of death. I mean the difference in the notion of ‘being alive’ and really living. Jesus wants to share the goodness of this life with us here on earth as well. He wants to share peace, love, forgiveness and acceptance. Romans chapter eight talks about how God’s intention for us is “good”. Genesis 1:31 tells us that our Creator called us “good”.

So, in summary, Jesus is life and brings life to us. This life that he brings nourishes our spirit and produces love, peace, redemption and acceptance. These products of life through Jesus are good.

Now, where does this idea of inclusivity come in?

In verse 37, Jesus said “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” Never drive away. Jesus does not reject us when we seek to connect with him. He said whoever comes to him is offered this message of acceptance. Notice the only stipulation here is our desire to connect with him. Not whoever comes to me without sin, or whoever comes to me with it all figured out. Nope, just whoever comes.

Why? Well, Jesus tells us in verse 40, “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 him up at the last day.” There is that word I love so much: everyone.

Think back to the story I referenced in the beginning of this post when Jesus fed the five thousand plus. It was miraculous because he did so with five loaves of bread and two fish. Another message I believe he is sharing here, though, is that they all ate. He provided enough for all of them. Not only the men, who were the only ones counted, but the women and children in attendance as well. Meaning, those that man (as in mankind) merited worth counting and those that man did not were all fed.

The Bread of Life can feed us all. We serve an inclusive, loving God who is relentless in reaching for us. For all of us. The only credentialing we need to seek and be found by Jesus is simply being.

Thank you Jesus for grace, love and your seal of ownership on us all.