John 6:34 “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘from now on give us this bread.’ Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.’”

For a moment, a crowd that had been asking Jesus all the wrong questions seemed to get some clarity. They finally ask Jesus for something that made sense.

This was a wholesome and helpful request. Just give us the bread we need from God. Perhaps they didn’t understand yet what it was, but at least they asked for the right thing.

Jesus confirmed rather than confronted the wholesome request. “He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” I have often said that when I first experienced a hospital devotion on the receiving end, when my son was in the hospital as a baby fighting for his life, having that Word of God was like food. Then my pastor was not teaching me theological truths I had never heard before. He didn’t come and teach a Bible class. He certainly wasn’t there to attempt a miracle and heal my son.

 He brought me and my family Christ. For a few precious minutes he led us to the foot of the cross, where Jesus disposed of all our sins and restored our place in God’s family under his love. He took us to the empty tomb where we could be sure that whether my child lived or died, he would live forever, and we would live forever with him. In those brief words of promise I was not looking for an education, or advice, or proof. I just wanted my Savior. I wanted Jesus. And that is what I found, enough bread to fill my hungry soul and drink to satisfy its thirst.

That is still the reason worth coming to Jesus for. May God give us an appetite always hungry for this Bread of Life, and always satisfied by the Savior who meets our need.