耶西树的枝条贯穿圣经，它为我们提供了一种很有帮助的方式，看到神的救恩计划指向耶稣的到来；而且基督降临的故事并没有结束在伯利恒。耶稣的事工和教导都会帮助我们抓住我们救主降生的意义。
我们今天经文的背景是，耶稣刚刚用几个饼几条鱼，奇迹般地喂饱了五千多人（约 66:1-13）。毫无疑问，人们还想从耶稣身上得到更多，看到更多的奇迹，所以他们跟着耶稣到处走。他们对食物的饥渴给了耶稣一个教导的机会，来谈论属灵生命及其保障。
耶稣宣告说：“我就是生命的粮。”人们由于渴望免费的食物，就忽略了耶稣在旷野中摆设盛宴的属灵意义。耶稣所赐的粮不仅仅提供物质营养——就像很久以前神赐给以色列百姓的吗哪一样——它还指向了耶稣的身体这一属灵的粮。藉着耶稣牺牲的死和祂的复活，祂为神的儿女提供了永生的粮。
粮食是美好的，滋养人的，但它不能喂养我们的灵魂。耶稣的身体为我们破碎，唯有祂能喂养我们的心灵。无论你今天吃什么，都要牢记是谁赐给了你新的生命。
天父，感谢祢赐给我们日用的饮食。感谢祢赐下耶稣，祂能喂养和满足我们的心灵。阿们。
约翰福音 6:25-35
25 既在海那边找着了，就对他说：“拉比，是几时到这里来的？”
26 耶稣回答说：“我实实在在地告诉你们：你们找我，并不是因见了神迹，乃是因吃饼得饱。
27 不要为那必坏的食物劳力，要为那存到永生的食物劳力，就是人子要赐给你们的，因为人子是父神所印证的。”
28 众人问他说：“我们当行什么，才算做神的工呢？”
29 耶稣回答说：“信神所差来的，这就是做神的工。”
30 他们又说：“你行什么神迹，叫我们看见就信你？你到底做什么事呢？
31 我们的祖宗在旷野吃过吗哪，如经上写着说：‘他从天上赐下粮来给他们吃。’”
32 耶稣说：“我实实在在地告诉你们：那从天上来的粮不是摩西赐给你们的，乃是我父将天上来的真粮赐给你们。
33 因为神的粮就是那从天上降下来赐生命给世界的。”
34 他们说：“主啊，常将这粮赐给我们！”
35 耶稣说：“我就是生命的粮。到我这里来的，必定不饿；信我的，永远不渴。
“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." — John 6:35
The branches of the Jesse Tree stretch across Scripture, providing a helpful way to see God’s plan of salvation leading to the coming of Jesus. And the story of Christ’s coming does not end in Bethlehem. Jesus’ ministry and teaching help us grasp the meaning of our Savior’s birth.
In the setting of our text for today, Jesus has just miraculously fed a crowd of over five thousand people from a few loaves of bread and some fish (John 6:1-13). Not surprisingly, the crowd wants more of Jesus and his miracles, so they follow him around. Their hungering for physical bread gives Jesus a teaching moment to talk about spiritual life and sustenance.
Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life.” In their eagerness for free food, the crowds have missed the spiritual significance of Jesus’ feast in the wilderness. The physical bread that Jesus provided not only gave nourishment—like the bread (manna) God gave the people of Israel long ago—but also pointed to the spiritual bread of Jesus’ body. Through his sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus provides the bread of eternal life for God’s children.
Bread is wonderful and nourishing, but it can’t feed our souls. Only Jesus, broken for us, can do that. Whatever you eat today, remember the one who gives you new life.
Father in heaven, thank you for our daily bread. And thank you for sending Jesus, who nourishes and satisfies our souls. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
