BREAD

On my first cruise, the evening meal was served with every type of bread you could imagine.  The bread basket held delicate white rolls, hearty wheat rolls, herb rolls, and other rolls with spices I could not name.  I just knew that the bread offered was amazing!!!  My bread plate was never empty.  The moment I took my last bite, the server would add a new roll to complement my meal.  And I would waddle away from the table, full to overflowing.  Swearing I would never need to eat again.

Never eat again?  Sounded good until our seating time rolled around, the next evening.  I wanted to run to the table and begin partaking of the evening bread.  Just the memory of that bread made me smile.  I was not disappointed.  When I sat down, the server put a roll on my plate saying, “I do believe this was your favorite last night.”  Oh, a hot roll with butter!  The evening meal could begin.  The entree would change each evening, but the bread was the highlight.  An unending basket of bread held the favorites and new breads to try.  I was in heaven……

…..  until about 3:00 PM the next day.  My tummy would growl.  My mind would picture those sweet rolls.  I knew I would generously tip our server.  He had supplied my bread each evening.  Bless his heart.

BUT then, I had to get off the ship and go home to sliced bread out of a plastic wrapper.  I sure did miss that basket of bread.  I remember reading something in the Bible about bread.

When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.  Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.  For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

 

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

John 6:25-35

NEVER GO HUNGRY?  NEVER GO THIRSTY?  I ate bread until I was full, but full was just an illusion … a fleeting feeling.  The bread I went after every day would eventually spoil.  Is that the bread I want?  Bread that tastes amazing, but does not last?

NO!!  I want the bread that fills my soul and gives me eternal life.  I want the true bread so I am never hungry or thirsty.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Guess that bread, on the cruise, wasn’t that great after all.