out of the ordinary | the food

God frequently works through the ordinary. Through them he shares something of his love for us and reveals elements of his redemption plan. In this devotional series we look at some of the ordinary things Jesus would have encountered as he journeyed towards the cross. We will spend the next few days on one of my favourite subjects, food! We start with bread. Holy Spirit, will you reveal something extraordinary through each food item. Amen.

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35, NLT

I have a bread maker and I love it. I pick a ready-made mix, add it to the bread maker, throw in some yeast and water, close the lid, push a button, and four hours later it produces a perfect, hot loaf of bread. Wonderful!

That’s not how it was done in the Ancient Middle East! The process would have involved crushed grain, thrown and kneaded dough, and then a short, fiery time in an oven or on a hot griddle over an open fire. And because bread would go mouldy very quickly,  people in bible times would only bake enough for the day. Which meant, since bread was essential to their diet, they would have to go through the whole baking process day after day.

When Jesus says he is the bread of life he is making a complex statement. First, he knows, as the bread, he will find himself ground down, thrown and beaten, pushed beyond his limits before and during his crucifixion. I'm always aware whenever I serve communion of the incredible privilege it is to be able to offer someone a piece of bread and say the words, “The body of Jesus broken for you!” Such an important reminder that our salvation cost Jesus everything.

Second, as the bread, Jesus is affirming that he is absolutely essential to life. We might want to limit our carb intake (hands up if you do that!) but we shouldn’t ever think of limiting the amount of Jesus we take in each day.

Finally, Jesus reminds us we need to renew our relationship with him every day to keep it fresh.

Let's pray
Lord Jesus, thank you for life in abundance. Thank you that ultimately, you satisfy our deepest needs and longings and make us feel full and overflowing with blessing. Take me into a deeper, more meaningful relationship with you, Lord. Holy Spirit help me to grow in faith by feeding on the Word every day. In Jesus' name. Amen.