Dining Place

Where is your habitual dining place, the place from which you receive daily food and drink? Let me share some relevant, interesting and life-stirring Scripture with you.

A large crowd of people have been tracking Jesus and when they find Him on the other side of the lake, they are curious to know how He got there and asked, Rabbi, when did you get here? John 6: 25b. Jesus’ answer is most intuitive and frank. He tells them that they have been looking for Him, not because they saw the signs He performed, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. John 6: 26b. At that, they asked for a sign and informed Jesus of this fact. 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: 31 – 35.

Have you heard Jesus? Is His word no longer relevant for you and me? Is He no longer the Bread of Life? Jesus was not the Bread of Life only for those disciples long ago. He was the Bread of Life, He is the Bread of Life and He will always be the Bread of Life. So let’s itemize what He has told us, as the Bread of Life.

The word, whoever, is used. Whoever, gives freedom and right to all people – rich or poor; saint or sinner; Jew or Gentile; male or female – to come to Jesus the Bread of Life. Doesn’t this mean that anyone can come to Him? Now we are told that whoever comes, will never go hungry. Is that so hard to accept and believe? This means that as long as you live, short time or long time, hunger will never be your problem. My mind goes to the fast food worker who never goes hungry for food is available every day. The person will go hungry if he or she refuses to eat the food prepared on a particular day. Think of it. For forty years, no Israelite had to go hungry unless he or she refused to eat the daily manna and quail. Verily, truly Jesus has said this, whoever comes to me will never go hungry.

The promise continues to all who will believe in Jesus. When you believe in a person, you have no fears, no doubts and no problems in trusting that person. Do you know of people who don’t only believe in a certain doctor, but seriously swear by him or her? This is the belief that trusts someone implicitly, regardless. To believe in Jesus is to trust Him, accept Him, and leave all to His working. Be not deceived! The devil believes in Jesus, but he does not know these promises of Jesus. Why is that so? Simply because he does not obey and follow the Lord’s rule. When your belief encompasses all of you, when you are no one else’s but the Lord’s, then you are able to receive all that the Lord promises.

Our Lord’s absolute continues when He announces that anyone who believes in Him will never be thirsty. Thirst, like hunger, is a condition of lack or want. If fresh drinking water is before you every single minute of the day, why would you be thirsty? No believer has to go hungry unless he or she refuses to drink from the fountain of life. Verily, truly Jesus has said this, whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.