DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
March 17, 2026
READ: John 6:35 & 41-51
MEMORY VERSE
“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. “John 6:35 nlt
BACKGROUND
In the African American home I was raised in, meals often included scrumptious “soul food.” The term originated in the mid-1960s when “soul” was a common term used to describe African American culture.
Soul food menu items included fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, greens, sweet potatoes, corn bread, and more. Desserts were a bonus; the “tastebud-tickling” peach cobbler was the most satisfying to me. What a feast!
Feasting in different cultures looks different, but because food is essential for life, Jesus’ words in John 6:35 are significant for all people: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Such claims as these would be outrageous if they were made by a mere human being. But Jesus, the Christ, could make such astounding claims because He’s the very Son of God.
He told “sign-seekers”—those seeking immediate, short-term benefit (see vv. 2, 14, 26, 30)—that satisfaction of physical hunger wasn’t enough. As the Son of God, Jesus is the source of true life (14:6) and the sustainer of life.
All those who believe in Him for the forgiveness of sins through His death and resurrection (11:25-26) share His life. Jesus is the essential food for the soul. Life, nourishment, and true satisfaction are found in Him alone.
Arthur Jackson
INSIGHT
The events in John 6:35-51 occur the day after Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand with only five loaves of bread and two small fish (vv. 5-14). Because of this astonishing miracle, the crowd “intended to come and make him king by force,” but Christ eluded them (v. 15).
When the crowd caught up with Him the next day (v. 25), Jesus knew they were there because of the multiplied loaves of bread. He said, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (v. 27).
True satisfaction and spiritual nourishment are found only in Christ.
Tim Gustafson
APPLICATION
How does Jesus nourish and satisfy you? What’s keeping you from seeking the one who says, “I am the bread of life”?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“True satisfaction and spiritual nourishment are found only in Christ.”
PR’s TAKE
“For He satisfies the longing soul and the hungry soul He fills with good things.” Psalm 107:9
“Because we were not created for things, money, status or other people to satisfy us, nothing on this earth will ever be enough…God created us in a way that the only way we would find true satisfaction…fulfilling satisfaction that lasts is through Him.” Caroline Harries
“Thou hast made us for Thyself, O God, and our heart is restless until it finds rest in Thee.” St. Augustine
PRAYER
“Dear Jesus, You’re the giver and sustainer of life. May I find satisfaction in You.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“JESUS IS ALL THE WORLD TO ME”
Jesus is all the world to me,
My life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day,
Without him I would fall:
When I am sad, to him I go,
No other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, he makes me glad,
He’s my friend.
Jesus is all the world to me,
My friend in trials sore;
I go to him for blessings, and
He gives them o’er and o’er:
He sends the sunshine and the rain,
He sends the harvest’s golden grain;
Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain,
He’s my friend.
Jesus is all the world to me,
And true to him I’ll be;
Oh, how could I this friend deny,
When he’s so true to me?
Following him I know I’m right,
He watches o’er me day and night;
Following him by day and night,
He’s my friend.
Jesus is all the world to me,
I want no better friend;
I trust him now, I’ll trust him when
Life’s fleeting days shall end:
Beautiful life with such a friend,
Beautiful life that has no end;
Eternal life, eternal joy,
He’s my friend.
