God’s 411 had a meme on how Jesus represents the four basic elements needed to survive. The four elements are water, air, food, and light. This devotion looks at Bible verses that say Jesus is living water, the breath of life, the bread of life, and the light of the world.
Nuggets
- Jesus is the fountain of living waters because He and God are one.
- Even though made in God’s image, man would have been nothing if He had not breathed into him.
- Jesus, on the other hand, was the Bread of Life that gave eternal life
- Jesus is the light that pierces the darkness caused by Satan’s machinations.
Every once in a while, we hear about science trying to prove or disprove the Bible. That happened with God’s 411 meme. It was about how Jesus represented the four basic elements for survival.
The Bible does have verses that support that. Let’s take a look.
Living Water
“Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water’” (Jn. 4:10 ESV).
The first element needed for survival is water. The passage that jumps into mind is Jesus’ discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well.
There are other verses as well. John 7: 37 says, “… Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (ESV). Jesus provides us living water.
Jesus is the fountain of living waters because He and God are one. Jeremiah 2:13 says, “for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me [God], the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water” (ESV).
Jeremiah says the same thing in Jeremiah 17:13 “O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water” (ESV).
Breath of Life
“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33: 4 ESV).
The second element is air. Jesus was with God when man was created: “then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature” (Gen. 2: 7 ESV).
God purposefully made man. He formed him in His image (Gen. 1: 26). Still, man would have been nothing if He had not breathed into him.
We see life in this fallen world. We cannot see how life would have been had Adam and Eve not sinned.
Suffice it to say that life would have been way sweeter than we can imagine.
To read a related devotion, click the appropriate button below.
Bread of Life
“‘I am the bread of life,’ Jesus told them. ‘No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again’” (Jn. 6: 35 CSB)
God provided manna to the Wilderness Wanderers (Ex. 16: 12). However, they had to gather that daily except for on the Sabbath.
Jesus, on the other hand, was the Bread of Life that gave eternal life. “This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh’” (Jn. 6: 50-51 CSB).
Let’s roost in verse 51 a second. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh’” (Jn. 6: 51 CSB).
God, the Creator of the universe, is our Father Who wants to have a relationship with His people. God Sent His Son Jesus to be the Redeemer of mankind. Jesus was born of a virgin, making Him 100% God and 100% man.
Jesus gave His life on the cross for us so that His blood could pay the price for our sins. Because of God’s great might and power, Jesus rose from the grave, conquering death and paying the price for our sins.
Because Jesus paid the price for our sins — when we admit those sins, believe on Jesus as our Redeemer and confess God as our Sovereign Lord — we are regenerated.
The ABCDs of Salvation
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
Regeneration is the change in us that God brings about when we go from being spiritually dead to spiritually alive. It is where God breaks Satan’s hold on us. Only God has the power to do that, and He only does when we admit our sins, believe on Jesus as Redeemer, and confess God as Sovereign Lord.
This happens because we figuratively eat the Bread of Life. We accept the gift of salvation because we accept Jesus as the One Who paid for that salvation. We take that acceptance to heart and make changes in our character and lives to conform to God’s laws and commandments.
Light of the World
“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine” (Isa. 9: 2 NLT)
We talked about Jesus being the Light when we walked though Ephesians. I am not sure I made all the connections there. Let me try again.
Satan is the ruler of the darkness. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6: 12 NASB emphasis added).
We also know that Satan is the ruler of this world. “You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires …” (Jn. 8: 44 CSB).
People who have not ABCDed are spiritually dead. They reside in the darkness of this world.
Jesus is the light that pierces the darkness caused by Satan’s machinations. “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life’” (Jn. 8: 12 NASB).
He is the Light of life just as He is the bread of life. Do we need to step through the God — plan — Jesus — died — blood — saved — regeneration steps again? If you are still a little shaken on it, reread the Bread of Life section again.
If you are still shaky after rereading it, email me.
It is really, really important that you get this. “Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself” (Jn. 12: 31-32 CSB emphasis added).
The only time you have for making the decision is while you are in this world. You die — the decision has been made. Jesus returns — the decision has been made.
Making the Connections
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like winter. I don’t like the cold, dreary days where the sun doesn’t shine. I go batty in the darkness. Jesus provides light when I feel the battiness coming on inside of me.
These fronts that come through to change us from the nice fall days to the dreary winter days go straight through my head. The effect is usually a stopped up nose and trouble breathing. Jesus is the air I breathe.
I’ve been thinking about supper for the last hour or so. Oh, I have my water beside me, but stomach is starting to say the throat has been cut — where is food? Jesus is the bread and water I need to survive.
And survive, I will because Jesus is the provider of life — spiritual life. No, we are not taking about water, air, bread, and light of this physical world.
God doesn’t categorize this world as a priority. It is going to end when He ends it. This physical world is temporary.
What is permanent is spiritual death or spiritual life. We need to choose spiritual life.
How Do We Apply This?
Yes, choosing spiritual life means changes have to be made. They are worth it. Choose wisely.
If you have not admitted that your relationship is not right with God,
have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior,
and have not confessed your sins,
please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
Gracious Heavenly Father. You have provided all we need in Jesus. Through Him, You are the Giver and Sustainer of eternal life. Forgive us when we prioritize this world above You. Help us to change to be more like You. Amen.
What do you think?
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