John 6:35-40, I Am the Bread of Life

35Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39And 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. 40For 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."

Responding to the crowd’s request, Jesus declares “I am the bread of life.” This is the first of the seven (or eight) great “I AM” sayings in John. When Jesus says, “I am,” he clearly alludes to Exodus 3 when Moses asked God his name, and God responds, “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14). Jesus’ declaration describes exactly who he is: he is the one who exclusively meets all human needs. He spiritually satisfies people, who shall never go hungry and never thirst when they come to him.

In the next verse he confirms this is the work of God, who gives people to the Son, their Savior. Jesus accepts all who come to him from his Father. He will lose none because he is perfectly obedient to the Father. In believing this, we can look forward to the last day when he will raise us up into everlasting life with him.

Think about all the needs Jesus meets in your life. Write them down, seeing the awesome sovereignty of the great I AM in your life.