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
The invitation of Jesus is so extraordinary that it almost sounds ridiculous. If you come to Jesus believing he is the bread of life, your soul will be satisfied. Could it really be that simple?
Many people bristle at such a claim. They say, “There must be something required of us. We have to bring something to the table.” That’s because it is incredibly humbling and may even seem demeaning for God to say to us, you bring nothing because I brought everything. It’s like going to a potluck dinner at someone’s home. Everyone is expected to bring something. You wouldn’t show up empty-handed. That would be inappropriate.
The only problem is God doesn’t do potlucks!
God is really into feasting and celebrating. In fact, when he finishes his work of restoring all of creation, he will gather his church around a banquet table. And we will feast (Matthew 26:29; Revelation 19:6-10).
And here’s how God invites people to this feast:
Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Isaiah 55:1-2
Do you see the paradox? Come buy and eat! But buy without money or cost. The only prerequisite is that we come thirsty and hungry. The promise is that our souls will be satisfied in good and rich food.
Jesus makes the staggering promise that when our soul is satisfied in Him as it was meant, we won’t thirst for anything else. He is the end of our search for satisfaction. He is the end of our search for life. Because he is life.
When we trust Jesus in this way, we will find that the presence of his life in us is so satisfying that sin will lose its attraction. In other words, for Christians, the fight of faith is the fight to keep your heart satisfied in Christ. To really believe and keep on believing that Jesus will meet every need and satisfy ever desire.
Christian, do you believe this? You can be sure that sin will offer you many promises today as well. Let’s not be deceived. The “fleeting pleasures of sin” can never satisfy (Hebrews 11:25).
Jesus invites you to feast today. Delight yourself in him through prayer, Scripture, meditation, simplicity, confession, community, accountability, worship. And invite as many others as you can to this glorious feast.
