Jesus, the Bread of Life

John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life…”

We had been excited to discover that wheat berries were sold at Limuru Market.  Some may know that Debbie became interested in baking 100% whole wheat bread while we were stateside.  She went so far as to get a grain mill and grind her own wheat.  Our boys just rolled their eyes – they couldn’t believe Mom was baking bread in the States AND grinding the wheat as well – with a grocery store right across the street!

Limuru, a small town about 30 minutes from our house is located “up the hill”. Surrounded by tea estates and dairy farms, it is a beautiful area; geographically it is at a higher elevation and one feels very much “in the country-side” after the congestion of Nairobi.

This little one was corralled just inside the entrance to the market area.
Amused and befuddled, we couldn't quite make out what was holding her. Then her mother lifted her up and we saw that it was a four-legged stool which had been turned upside-down and covered with several large woven sacks previously used to ship grain. What a good idea – however before too long she will figure out how to escape and Mom will have to come up with a new plan to keep her eye on this little one!

We are greeted by the vendors as we walk around the market. The prices on each commodity are the same, so price-wise it doesn't matter who we buy from; we are in search of the cleanest looking wheat.

Because Limuru is located in the countryside the produce is cheaper and fresher than we would find in Nairobi so we also purchase dried beans, onions, potatoes, tomatoes and other fresh vegetables which are in season. However wheat is the reason why we came and we bought 45 lbs. of it. That should do us for a while!

As we left our grain mill stored in the U.S., we now need to locate a miller to grind our wheat berries. Not hard to find, the millers are conveniently situated near the market.

Milling mostly maize (field corn), this particular lady is also willing to mill our wheat. We ask her to put the wheat through twice to get a finer flour. When she is finished milling the wheat, we buy an additional bucket of maize to grind as a courtesy. This will clear the wheat flour out of her mill and the next customer will not complain about wheat flour mixed in with their maize meal. Besides this stuff makes great cornbread!

We are so blessed. Homemade wheat bread is one of the things we missed during our time in South Sudan; wheat doesn't grow there and only white flour is imported.

However, this bread will only strengthen the physical, temporal, body.   Jesus Christ is the bread of life.
In John 6:40, Jesus says, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise Him up at the last day.” Then Jesus speaking to his disciples in John 6:63 says, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.  The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.”

Oh that we all would believe!

Beseech the Lord today on behalf of those in your circle of influence who do not believe.  Ask God to give you opportunity to bring a word of testimony about Jesus Christ the Bread of life.