John 6:35 "And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.'"

The day Jesus fed the 5,000 with just five loaves of bread and two fishes, the people searched all over for Him, for more miracles and food. Jesus told them they shouldn't have spent so much energy looking for Jesus just for food that temporarily fills the stomach, but that they should have been looking for Him for food that would last for eternal life. The people then asked Jesus, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered them by saying, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." (John 6:28-29) His answer was very simple. Just believe. But the people were not satisfied with that answer and they were not willing to believe. They said,

"They replied, "What miracle will you perform so that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, just as the scripture says, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' " John 6:30-31

Apparently feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fishes weren't enough for these people. They wanted to see more. They pointed out that their ancestors were fed manna every day all those years they wandered in the desert. Therefore feeding 5,000 people was not much of a miracle in their eyes. It wasn't enough to make them believe. Jesus responded to them by saying,

"I am telling you the truth," Jesus said. "What Moses gave you was not the bread from heaven; it is my Father who gives you the real bread from heaven. For the bread that God gives is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." John 6:32-33

Jesus was trying to tell them that the true bread, the bread that would give them everlasting life was Himself. God had send something much more precious than manna, He sent His own Son. The people still didn't understand and they said to Jesus, "Lord, give us this bread always," (John 6:34) Jesus finally said it as plainly as He could.

"I am the bread of life," Jesus told them. "Those who come to me will never be hungry; those who believe in me will never be thirsty.

Now, I told you that you have seen me but will not believe. Everyone whom my Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me, because I have come down from heaven to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me. And it is the will of him who sent me that I should not lose any of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them all to life on the last day. For what my Father wants is that all who see the Son and believe in him should have eternal life. And I will raise them to life on the last day." John 6:35-39

Jesus told the people that He is the bread of life. He is also the living water because all who come to him will never be hungry or thirsty. This is not a physical hunger or thirst. Jesus is talking about a hunger and thirst of the soul. Many people try to satisfy that hunger and thirst with possessions, popularity, moving to another home or town, fun times, or just staying busy. Those things always leave the person still feeling empty, hungry and thirsty for something that will satisfy them. The good news is that hunger and thirst is the God the Father drawing the person to Jesus. The Father does His part to draw people Jesus. Everyone who responds to the Father and comes to Jesus will never be turned away. The Father does not want any of us to be lost so He is at work on every heart, but it's our choice to decide to respond and believe in Jesus. Every person who believes Jesus is the Son of God, and that His death on the cross covered our sins will have eternal life.