Here’s a shocker: sometimes our deep theological doctrine actually matters. We have an official description of who Jesus is that the church has wrestled with for centuries: a hypostatic union of a fully divine nature and a fully human nature united in a single person. But those difficult details actually really matter for us! Because he is fully God and fully man and participates fully in both realms, he is able to be the mediator between a perfect, infinite God and a fallen, finite humanity. Okay, maybe that’s still a little too dense…
The bottom line is this: we were far away from God, but Jesus is the bridge between us. We were made to receive life and blessings and wisdom from the Father, and hallelujah, we are able to receive God’s gifts through the Son of God who dwelled in our midst! In fact the Son explained that to us in this passage. We are in desperate need of resurrection in this dead world, spiritual wisdom for how to navigate it, and the bread of life to satisfy our soul’s hunger, all of which come from God the Father. But when we draw close to Jesus, our friend and companion, we have them all.
This weekend, we are joining with Jews around the world in celebrating the end of Passover week, the same Passover in which this “bread of life” discourse took place. It is a glorious reminder of when God saved Israel out of Egypt and sustained them with manna on their way to the promised land. Ironically, just as those Israelites grumbled when God gave them manna, these Israelites are now grumbling against Jesus, even though he just fed countless thousands of them! But Jesus uses it as a great example of the blessings from God that we have in him. God provided for his people back then, and it was good enough for a time, but they still ultimately died. But now God’s provision has been perfected. His greatest gift has now arrived, a bread that will keep us filled and flourishing for eternity, and its name is Christ Jesus.
Our souls long for Heaven; our souls long for eternal life with the Father. Jesus brought that directly to us. In the incarnate Son of God, our close friend Jesus, the Father’s gifts of grace unto us are now complete. In Jesus, there is nothing we lack. Yes, Jesus has said it multiple times by now, but that’s just because it’s just that important: whoever comes to him and believes in his name has perfect eternal life with the Father. Believe in the name of Jesus who is the bread of life.
