This month you will following me through the alphabet for a writing challenge that I’ve decided to be part of. Sometimes it’s nice to know that I have something in mind to write about. This month is going to be just like that.

Yesterday I wrote about the “A” Names of God. Abba, Father, Almighty God, and Ancient of Days. As my day progressed, I could see that my plan for the month was going to be thrown out the window. Using the verse I presented yesterday, I wondered if I could come up with a Name of the Lord for each letter of the alphabet. Guess what? I believe I can!

So now, I’m working toward two challenges. Blogging A to Z and finding all the names of the Lord that I can by the alphabet. So sit back and enjoy April. It’s going to be a great month!

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 – NIV

Bread used to be much more important than it is in our world today. Bread was a staple. It was sustenance. It was sometimes all there was to eat.

Now days, we just run to the grocery store if we run out of bread, but in the past, it wasn’t as easy.

Perhaps you’ve heard of pioneers carrying yeast starters across the wilderness. Some of these starters have been “fed” for hundreds of years. Why? Because if they had this starter, they could survive. They could add a little flour to it and make bread.

Think of the account of the feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew 14:13-21. What were the foods Jesus used to feed the crowd? Fish and loaves of bread. The Israelite nation celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 13:3-10). Manna provided by God was a bread substitute while the Israelite nation wandered in the dessert (Numbers 11:6-9). In the temple, there was a place for bread as well. The Table of Shewbread (that’s what I grew up calling it) or the Bread of Presence (Exodus 25:23-30). Jesus even used bread in His example prayer for us in Matthew 6:11.

So when Jesus used this term to refer to Himself, the people of that time knew what He meant. In John 6, Jesus used the word bread and the image it evokes four times. Let’s look a little closer at the Name Jesus gave Himself.

Bread from Heaven

“I tell you the truth, 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.” (John 6:32 – NIV)

Bread of God

“For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:33 – NIV)

Bread of Life

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35 – NIV)

Living Bread

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread of my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51 – NIV)

It’s clear that when Jesus used this Name for Himself, He wanted His followers (including us) to understand that it’s only through Him that we have spiritual life. Jesus is our sustenance. Jesus is the way to spiritual fullness. Through Jesus we have life. Eternal life. Abundant life.

Jesus also used bread analogy on the last night with His disciples. Jesus handed Judas a piece of bread just before Judas betrayed Jesus (John 13:26-27). And in Matthew 26:26 (NIV), we find these words. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’”

After Jesus spoke these words, He was betrayed, denied, beaten, mocked, tried falsely, sentenced to death, and hung on a cross to die. The Living Bread died.

But it is through the resurrection of Jesus that we see the eternal meaning of His bread analogies. Resurrected Jesus brings life. Resurrected Jesus provides. Resurrected Jesus satisfies.

Jesus, the Bread of Life is exactly what you need to make it through your day. Do you partake of this life-giving Bread on a daily basis? Do you know Jesus as your provider? Is your life in the hands of the Living Bread? If not, perhaps today is the day to call upon the Bread of Life.

I pray that you know all that Jesus can provide for your life.

I pray that you will find all your heart desires today by being in the presence of the Bread of Heaven.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna