Bread of Life

John 6:35
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.

How interesting that Christ should compare himself to bread. It is such a simple food. So basic. Some grain, some water, some fat. I am no scholar and, I am sure many people, much wiser than I am have, written things far more in depth than this.

But these are my thoughts.

Of all of the food Christ could have compared Himself to He chose bread. He chose a basic, humble food. A staple. A food so lowly that it is what prisoners are given. When cupboards are bare and piggy banks are empty there is always bread. Like air, like water, bread meets our most basic of needs in a direct and simple manner.

Just a day before Christ makes this statement declaring he is the Bread of Life he meets the crowds basic need of food. With bread. And they are back. Wanting that same need met again. And here He offers to meet an deeper need, a need that makes all others pale in comparison. With Himself.

He didn't choose a luxury item to compare Himself to. He didn't place Himself out of the reach of those who desperately need what He had to offer. He came to offer the most extravagant of gifts: Grace. And yet He identified Himself with the food of the peasants. He came to meet our most basic need: forgiveness. And He offered it to all. Not the few that were good enough to pay for it. But all. He made Himself accessible to all. Like bread.

The King of Kings stepped off his throne. He joined the ugly, dirty, sinful masses. He lowered Himself to die a criminal's death. He became broken Passover bread. For us. For the poor. To meet our most basic need. He is living water, the bread of life. Broken for us.

1 Corinthians 11:24

And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”