John 6. “Who was Jesus?” is the primary question John is answering in his gospel narrative. With each subsequent interaction, Jesus reveals increasingly more about his identity. There are seven I AM statements in John’s gospel; today we encounter the first of them. 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.” (6:35)

Consider the context of this proclamation: Jesus has just performed the miracle of feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two fish (6:1-15). The disciples are challenged, even tested (6:6), by the needs of the crowd and the miracle Jesus enacts. Awed by this sign (number four, if you’re counting) the crowds sought Jesus out, desiring more miraculous provision. However, Jesus redirects their attention from physical bread to something far greater: spiritual sustenance.

Jesus chooses the phrase “I AM” to define his identity, because it carries significant weight in biblical literature and the Jewish mind. When Jesus says, “I AM the Bread of Life,” he echoes the Old Testament, where God reveals Himself to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). By adopting this phrase, Jesus identifies himself with God, signaling his unique role as the one who can satisfy humanity’s deepest needs.

Are you a bread-lover? (Apologies to my gluten-free friends, I am sure you long for bread!) Think for a moment – what kind of bread would be the bread of life? Sliced bread seems to simple, perhaps a bagel or a croissant? Or maybe a baguette, the staple food group of the Francophone world? Or even pita, the staple bread of the Mideast? Bread has been a feature of the human diet across cultures and centuries. Communities gather to break bread together as an act of fellowship, and the absence of bread is synonymous with hardship or famine.

By declaring Himself the Bread of Life, Jesus taps into this universal symbol. He positions Himself as essential; not a luxury, but the very thing without which no one can truly live. His words suggest that just as bread sustains the body, so His presence and teaching sustain the soul.

Whoever comes to me shall not hunger (6:35). With this promise, Jesus welcomes all who are seeking. The invitation is open – not limited by status, past mistakes, ethnicity, or religious background. Those who approach Jesus with openness and faith are promised that their deepest hunger will be met.

What is this hunger? It is the yearning for meaning, purpose, acceptance, love, and truth. We tend to seek fulfillment in things like wealth, relationships, achievements, knowledge, or even religious ritual. Yet, these sources of satisfaction are fleeting. To come to Jesus is to recognize one’s need, to admit that other things will never fully satisfy. It is an act of humility and trust, an acknowledgment that the answer to life’s longing cannot be found outside of the Creator.

I am the bread of life… I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh (6:48-51). Do you hear the words of the communion liturgy? Take, eat. This is my body which was broken for you.

The declaration “I AM the Bread of Life” is both invitation and promise. Jesus invites all to come, to believe, to partake. He promises fulfillment and satisfaction that surpass what the world can offer. In a time marked by restlessness and longing for purpose and identity, these words speak hope.

Where do you seek fulfillment and identity in life? What is the “bread” that you hope will sustain you? Is it something of the world, or is it found in a relationship with Jesus?