The SourceНамуна

What does Jesus being "the bread of life" mean?

The crowds continued to follow Jesus after He fed over 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. When they wanted Him to repeat the miracle, He compared Himself to the "manna" (food from above that God provided to the Israelites as they sought the promised land in the Old Testament). When Jesus says that He is "the bread of life," He is telling the crowd (and us) that what we truly need is Him, not the stuff He can provide. Bread (food) satisfies our body, but only Jesus can satisfy our soul.

What does Jesus being "the light of the world" mean?

Jesus makes this declaration after a conversation with a woman who was caught in sin. Instead of holding her mistake against her, He provides her with a second chance. Jesus' forgiveness angered the religious leaders, and He responds to their anger by saying that the woman (and us) can only truly walk in purity by placing her trust in Him. He is the only light that can provide hope in our dark world.

How To Connect With The Source Through Reading The Bible:

God has given us His Word (the Bible) as the only perfect source of truth. Even though the words were written thousands of years ago, they are still relevant for us today (2 Tim. 3:16-17). When you read the Bible, the S.O.A.P. (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) method can help you better understand and apply what you are reading:

Scripture: Word for word, write down one verse or a collection of verses that "jump out" to you.

Observation: Write down what the verse means in its context (Who is writing? Who are they writing to? What takes place before and after? What was the world like when the words were first written? How do these words connect with other verses in the Bible?).

Application: How does this portion of Scripture change your life today?

Prayer: Write to God, and ask Him to help you walk out this truth.

Big Idea

Jesus is the life and satisfaction we long for, and He is the light we need to escape the darkness in our world. One way to grow closer to Him is through the reading, studying, and applying Scripture.