The Only Thing You Ever Really Needed

John 6:32-40, CEB

Jesus told them, “I assure you, it wasn’t Moses who gave the bread from heaven to you, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  The bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

They said, “Sir, give us this bread all the time!”

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.  But I told you that you have seen me and still don’t believe.  Everyone whom the Father gives to me will come to me, and I won’t send away anyone who comes to me.  I have come down from heaven not to do my will, but the will of him who sent me.  This is the will of the one who sent me, that I won’t lose anything he has given me, but I will raise it up at the last day.  This is my Father’s will: that all who see the Son and believe in him will have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

                In the last reflection, we looked at the way the author of John’s gospel highlights how Jesus keeps pointing people to focus on things that are eternal over things that are temporary – living water, food that doesn’t spoil, rebirth from above.  You were encouraged last time to spend some time thinking about what might be those eternal things might look like in  your life in this season of life. 

                Today, Jesus makes it painfully obvious where to look for eternity in the here-and-now – HIMSELF.  He is the source of rebirth, living water, food that doesn’t spoil, the true Bread of Heaven and other eternal titles that He will collect as we move through John’s account.  You truly don’t need anything more than to come to Jesus in order to access the here-and-now eternally-grounded life of God. 

                I feel sure that this is not new information for almost all who would read this.  My assumption is that most of us have heard this truth expressed a hundred different ways on a thousand occasions.  However, my experience is that it is extremely rare to find individuals who actually live like they wholeheartedly believe it is true.  I do not include myself among those who live that way.

                Most of the time, I live like lots of other things are necessary for my life to be what it should be.  There are times when I live like I don’t really believe the eternal things are even accessible right now, even though I have experienced them before.  I hear Jesus speaking directly to me when he says, “I told you that you have seen me and still don’t believe.” (v.36)  I hear His breaking as He says it and I am convicted that I am part of the reason for that heartbreak.  If I may be so bold, you are part of that too. 

                Today, continue to think about the “food that spoils” (6:27) that is included in the things you expend much energy pursuing.  Even more than that, think about how you might shift some of that energy towards pursuing the life that Jesus offers.

Question:  What would your life look like if the only resource you had was Jesus?

Prayer:  Lord, Lord… we are worried and distracted by many things.  One thing is necessary. Help us chose the better part. . . the part that won’t be taken away from us. Amen (Luke 10:41-42)

Prayer Focus:  Focus your prayers today on simply talking to Jesus as you would talk to a friend.

Song:  Only Jesus – Casting Crowns