Click here to find out more about Christian Mission to Gaza.
A Lent devotional on John 6:30-35
So the crowd asked Jesus, “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.
Bread became a staple food around 10,000 years ago during the Neolithic period, and as well as being baked, it is also steamed, fried and even boiled in some cuisines. According to the Federation of Bakers, there are over 200 varieties available in UK shops. And did you know that around 12 billion sandwiches are eaten every year in the UK, or about 380 every second?!
In John chapter 6, Jesus makes a very interesting claim about himself - that he is the Bread of Life. The day after Jesus fed 5,000 people near to the Sea of Galilee, the crowds following Him demanded a sign comparable to the provision of manna in the book of Exodus. However, Jesus accuses them of doing so just because he gave them a free lunch - they wanted Him to satisfy their physical needs.
But, as he often did, Jesus turned this misunderstanding into a lesson about the Kingdom of God. It’s very easy for us know when we need food, especially when our stomach starts to growl. But Jesus encourages those present to consider working not just to satisfy their temporal physical needs, but their eternal needs also. Clearly stating that those who come to Jesus will never be spiritually hungry or thirsty again.
In John 13, Jesus continued to talk of eating his flesh and drinking his blood at the last supper. For many, this was too hard to comprehend, and they turned away from him. We know, however, that as he said in verse 51, he would offer up his body (the bread) for the entire world. In saying this, Jesus was foreshadowing what was to come when he instigated communion as a remembrance of his sacrifice on the first Good Friday. Isn’t it amazing that the Bread of Life will bring us eternal life and satisfy us forever.
Our newest ministry partner, Christian Mission to Gaza, has been providing food, including bread, and other essentials to innocent victims of the conflict between Israel and Hamas and who have lost everything as a result. Their work ensures that the very small number of Christians in Gaza do not get forgotten and their witness ensures that those who do not know Jesus are exposed to the opportunity to experience the eternal life that Jesus offers. To find out more about their work, please click here.
Your Lent 2025 Prayer Challenge:
