The Bread of Life

…simple joy by simpler living

I am doing a Bible Study studying many of the names of Jesus. When I saw this verse, I had much more of an understanding of this verse than I had years ago prior to learning about real bread made from the whole wheat grain.

To really understand this verse, we need to know what the bread was that Jesus is talking about. Bread was made from start to finish in homes from the whole grain to the finished bread. It is nothing like the bread now available in stores today which is devoid of almost anything good.

Amazing Benefits of the Whole Wheat Grain

The wheat grain, in its whole form, is one of the most nutritionally dense foods. Once milled into flour, nutrients begin to deteriorate and oxidize. In order to prevent this, cooking must be done right after milling.

To prevent flour currently sold in grocery stores from becoming rancid, part of the grain is removed – the part with the most nutrients. What is left is the least nutritional part. Basically all of the gluten and none of the nutrition.

Today, the flour and bread we have in our grocery stores, even “whole wheat “, is not nearly what was found in ancient times. It’s really not even healthy.

So when the Bible talks about bread, it is talking about it the entire whole grain with all its nutrition. This bread is one of the most nutritionally-dense foods with many health benefits. Until about a century ago, this full-nutrient bread was a common and extremely beneficial part of daily meals sustaining the health of people.

The good news is that is bread is still able to be easily made today! You just need to whole wheat berries and a grain mill and you can grind it yourself. With modern appliances, this task is very easily done. I can grind wheat and pop in my bread machine in less than 10 minutes. Three hours later, I have steaming, moist, delicious bread that literally melts in my mouth. Delicious and so nutritious! Because I make and eat this freshly milled bread on a regular basis, I can attest to the difference it makes from store bought bread.

Nutritious, Filling, Satisfying

It satisfies hunger like I have never experienced before. Prior to grinding my own wheat, I was the queen of snacks. My pantry was filled with chips, cookies and other snacks because I was always hungry. After I started grinding my own wheat and making bread with this super food, I was no longer hungry AT ALL between breakfast and lunch. In fact, I stopped eating lunch at noon because I didn’t get hungry until 2 ish.

When I fill upon the best food, my body had more energy, heals up and decreases hunger for less nutritious foods. It seems that our bodies crave nutrients and when we eat it, our other cravings decrease.

Real bread referred to in the Bible is:

• immensely nutritious
• immensely filling
• immensely satisfying

Jesus is the Bread of Life

In John 6:35, Jesus says He is the Bread of Life. Just like real bread made from the whole grain, Jesus is the:

• ultimate spiritual nutrition
• ultimate filling of our souls
• ultimate satisfaction

When He fills our hearts, we no longer yearn for cheaper, lesser things to fill us. Other things pale in comparison to His glory, His love, and His satisfying of our souls. Anything else that we fill ourselves with will only leave us hungry. Whoever comes to Him, shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Him shall never thirst. Jesus is The Bread of Life!