Everything

John 6:35 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.”

Over the past three years, I have had the opportunity to spend a lot of time visiting and working with people in Nicaragua. This has been a rewarding and enriching experience for my family and me. Many of the lessons and experiences I have had, have profoundly changed me, and have given me a new perspective about the things I have and the things I think I need.

Jesus in this passage is setting forth the same profound insight into the things of life. Everything you need for the living and fulfillment in life is found in Him. There is no lack. One of the beautiful things about visiting a third world country outside the United States is how much your perspective changes. The "stuff" of life is no longer as important, and the basics of living come into sharp perspective.

The reality is that bread and water are symbolic for our spiritual life. We can spend all of our time running from one "spirit" experience to the next yet never finding real satisfaction in these things. They are only the expression of our stated need yet never being able to deliver on the real substance. Jesus is saying that what we really desire is found only in Him. He is the bread of life.

Here is a simple yet profound truth about bread. To enjoy bread in every way, you must eat it. Looking at a freshly baked loaf of bread is nice, smelling the aroma of that bread is sweet, but our experience to this point is only based on past knowledge of what bread looks and smells like. It is only in the tasting of the bread that we enjoy and discover all the unique qualities contained therein.

Jesus is saying of Himself that the only way to discover real life is to experience life fully in Him. This discovery comes with a promise that says, "whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” It is therefore only in the tasting of Jesus that we discover what real life is all about.

I have also discovered that bread is something I need every day. One slice or one taste may satisfy for a moment, but for the endurance of the journey I need bread every step of the way. Jesus is constantly calling us to come and see; come and taste--an invitation to discover fully the bread of life.

Jesus has everything we need. Try Him and see.