Good morning and welcome to "A Word from the Vine." I’m Pastor Loren Christensen of Danish Countryside Chapel, and I’m delighted to be with you today. In this episode, we’ll be diving into the first part of our series on "I Am the Bread of Life," focusing on understanding our hunger—both physical and spiritual. Our scripture today comes from the Gospel of John, chapter 6, verses 26 to 27.
Let’s read together from John 6:26-27:
"Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.'"
In this passage, Jesus addresses the crowd that had followed Him after the miraculous feeding of the 5,000. He points out a fundamental issue: they are seeking Him not because they understood the deeper meaning of the miracle, but because they had their physical hunger satisfied.
Even if you are not a farmer, as many of you in my two congregations are, most of you understand the importance of physical sustenance. The grain farmers harvest from their fields, transfromed into bread, is essential for daily life. But here, Jesus is drawing a distinction between physical hunger, which is temporary, and spiritual hunger, which can only be truly satisfied by Him.
Jesus says, "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life." This is a profound statement. While physical bread nourishes our bodies for a short time, the spiritual nourishment Jesus offers leads to eternal life.
Think about the effort put into cultivating those fields—the early mornings, the hard labor, the dedication. Now, imagine putting that same effort into seeking the spiritual nourishment that Jesus provides. He is telling us that this spiritual food is far more important because it endures forever.
In our daily lives, we often chase after things that provide temporary fulfillment—whether it's food, possessions, or even achievements. Like the crowd seeking more bread, we sometimes focus on the immediate and the perishable. But Jesus offers us something infinitely greater: lasting satisfaction.
He invites us to come to Him and find the fulfillment of our deepest spiritual needs. When we seek Jesus and the eternal nourishment He offers, we find a peace and contentment that nothing else can provide.
As we reflect on today’s scripture, let’s challenge ourselves to seek the food that endures to eternal life. Let’s not be consumed by the temporary, but rather, let’s focus on the lasting satisfaction that comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus, the bread of life. Help us to understand the difference between physical and spiritual hunger and to seek the eternal nourishment that only Jesus can provide. Guide us to put our trust in Him and to find our deepest satisfaction in His presence. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Thank you for joining me on "A Word from the Vine." I look forward to exploring more about Jesus, the bread of life, with you in our next episode. May God bless you and keep you.
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