John 6:35-40

Jesus feeds the five thousand, then slips away before they can take him by force and make him king (v15).  He then goes one step further by making it across the sea while having the crowd believe that he is still on the same side.  When they finally catch up with him, he tells them that they are seeking him for the wrong reason: they ate their fill of the bread (v26).  He tells them that they are to work for food that endures to eternal life instead of food that perishes (v27).  He tells them that the work of God is to believe in the one whom he has sent (v29).  Finally, he tells them that he is the bread of life (v35).


The Bread of Life: Meaning

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 6:35

In his own words, Jesus says he is "the bread of life".  One might wonder what Jesus meant when he said that.  Well, he does give a bit of an explanation.  Jesus tells them "whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."  To never be hungry and never be thirsty again is an amazing thing.  Jesus is the cure to the world's hunger problem, isn't he?  Actually, if you've been following along you probably already know that Jesus wasn't talking about physical hunger.  First of all, he told them not to work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life (v27).  If being "The Bread of Life" has something to do with physical food, then why would he tell them not to work for that same food that perishes?  Secondly, Jesus and his disciples ate food and were hungry at times.  If he was talking about physical hunger, why would he and his disciples ever get hungry?  Thirdly, he had just performed a miracle by feeding the five thousand with physical bread and fish, yet they are still coming to him asking for more.  They were obviously still hungry.  Jesus was talking about spiritual things.  He meant that you would never hunger again spiritually.  He was talking about never thirsting again spiritually.  Jesus is so satisfying that you will never need to eat again, spiritually speaking.


The Bread of Life: Seeing is not Believing

But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.

John 6:36

Jesus begins to address the crowd and their situation.  They were fed when he miraculously fed five thousand with only a five loaves and two fish.  They were searching diligently for him and have finally caught up with him.  Will they hunger no more because they are coming to him?  Unfortunately, the truth is that the crowd does not believe in Jesus.  In spite of all they've seen, they still do not believe.  Jesus says this himself.

But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.

John 6:36

Jesus tells them plainly that they have seen Jesus and yet they do not believe in him.  Just because you see Jesus doesn't mean that you believe in him.  Looking back at verse 35, we can conclude that since they do not believe, they will not have their thirst satisfied.

One may object, citing the fact that the crowd came to Jesus.  Based on what Jesus says in verse 35, they should be ones who don't hunger.  However, it is very clear from the text that they are still ones who hunger.  They are ones who are working for food that perishes and not for food that endures to eternal life (v27).  What is meant by "come" in verse 35 is more than just physically coming to Jesus.  Jesus already addressed their reasons (v26).  Why you come to Jesus matters too.


The Bread of Life: Those Who Come

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

John 6:37

Jesus has already told the crowd that they are ones who see and do not believe.  These people seemed to be seriously seeking after Jesus.  Unfortunately, they still hunger spiritually and they do not believe.  Does this mean that Jesus is denying those who come to him?  This is not the case and Jesus makes that very clear.  Jesus tells them "whoever comes to me I will never cast out".  This means that the crowd is not truly coming to Jesus.

Jesus' words are quite comforting.  If he will not cast you out, you should not have any fear of being rejected.  Jumping ahead, we see even more comfort in verse 40: "everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day".  If this is what Jesus does for those who believe in him, isn't it comforting to know that Jesus is inviting people to believe in him?  This is the work of God that he mentioned to the crowd earlier (v29).  Come to Jesus and believe in him.  He will satisfy your hunger and quench your thirst.


The Father: All that The Father Gives

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

John 6:37

It is certainly comforting to know that all whoever comes to Jesus will not be cast out.  However, what did Jesus mean when he said "All that the Father gives me will come to me"?  Jesus is addressing the fact that the crowd has seen Jesus and do not believe in him.  Why did they not believe when they saw Jesus when others saw Jesus but instead believed?  The answer is that they were given by the Father.

It can be quite concerning that those who come to Jesus are given by the Father.  Some may wonder whether they are those in the "given" category or not.  People may wonder whether or not life is worth living if you are simply in the "not given" category.  First of all, Jesus follows up these words by saying "and whoever comes to me I will never cast out".  Take comfort in the fact in these words.  You shouldn't worry about which category you're in, but you should instead be encouraged to come to Jesus.

One other thing that may be worth mentioning is that there aren't many differentiating factors.  In other words, there isn't some sort achievement that needs to be made in order to be given by the Father.  It's not as if God gives those who are smarter or bigger or richer.  In fact, it is often the opposite.  Throughout the bible you can see many stories of God choosing those who are low to do his mighty works.


The Father: The Will of The Father

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

John 6:38-40

Why does Jesus do what he does?  Why will he not cast out those who come to him?  The answer is that Jesus is doing the will of The Father.  All that he does is as a result of him following the will of The Father.  This shows Jesus' obedience and selflessness.  It's not about what he wants, but it's about what The Father wants.

So what is the will of The Father?  Jesus actually gives two answers to this question.  The first answer is found in verse 39:

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.

John 6:39

The Father's will is that Jesus lose nothing of all that has been given to him by the Father. Those who have been given will not be lost and they will be raised up on the last day.  Jesus will accomplish it and he will not fail.  This is the will of The Father.

The second answer is found in verse 40:

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

John 6:40

The Father's will is "that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life".  Both answers actually go together quite nicely.  Not wanting Jesus to lose any of those who have been given and having everyone who look and believe in the Son have eternal life is one in the same.  Both are solved by Jesus raising them up in the last day.  I guess that's why both verses end with that.


Conclusion

Come to Jesus.  Truly come to Jesus.  Believe in him.  He is the bread of life.  He will satisfy your hunger and your thirst.  He will not cast you out.  Come to Jesus.