Hungry for His Presence
Hungry for His Presence
Aaron Rios | Garden City Church | June 29th, 2025
John 6:35 NIV
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
There is a hunger that every soul carries. It is deeper than appetite, stronger than desire, and more enduring than emotion. It is the ache for something eternal—something real.
We were created with this hunger—not to be filled with distraction or temporary pleasure, but with the very presence of God.
In John 6, Jesus addresses a crowd who had just witnessed a miracle—the feeding of the five thousand. But when they returned the next day, it wasn’t because they understood the significance of what had happened. It was because they were physically satisfied. Their stomachs were full, but their spirits were still starving.
Jesus, knowing their motives, lovingly confronts them and offers something greater:
“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)
Jesus Didn’t Offer More Bread—He Offered Himself
This was not the message the crowd expected. They wanted another sign. Jesus offered sustenance for the soul. He wasn’t presenting a religion, a rulebook, or a ritual—He was offering relationship and radical communion.
Then He says something deeply challenging:
“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53)
This wasn’t a call to literal action—it was a call to intimacy and dependence. It was His way of saying: “You cannot receive life unless you fully partake in Me.”
Many were offended. They walked away. But one stayed. Peter’s response echoes through the centuries:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)
Peter didn’t stay because he understood everything. He stayed because he was hungry. And he recognized that only Jesus could satisfy.
Hunger Without Direction Leads to Destruction
We live in a generation that is spiritually hungry but often feeding on the wrong things. When we fail to discern the true source of nourishment, we fill our souls with things that only leave us emptier—relationships, substances, distractions, and even religious activity.
Unfocused hunger can lead to compromise. Cravings without discernment can lead to chaos. But when our craving is Christ, that hunger becomes holy. It moves us toward repentance, renewal, and revival.
So I ask: Is your hunger driving you toward Jesus… or just toward relief?
Jesus Is the Bread—And the Body
In ancient times, bread was not optional—it was survival. To eat was to live. Jesus wasn’t using poetic imagery; He was making a definitive statement:
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” (John 6:51)
When we receive Jesus, we don’t just observe His life—we participate in it. His life becomes our source. His death becomes our freedom. His body becomes our nourishment.
This is why the Church matters so deeply. We are called the Body of Christ—not a random gathering, but a living, breathing, unified people meant to reflect His presence. And if we love the Bread, we must also honor the Body.
Let us not be a church that feeds on gossip, criticism, or division. A body that consumes itself is a body in crisis. We are called to build up, not break down.
Following When It’s Hard
Peter’s confession in John 6 is profoundly honest. He doesn’t claim to fully understand Jesus’ teaching. But he recognizes the truth: “You have the words of eternal life.”
This is discipleship—not having all the answers, but being unwilling to walk away from the One who does.
You may have questions. You may not understand every part of the journey. But you can still choose to stay. You can still choose to trust. That’s what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
So—Are You Hungry?
Not for church activity. Not for blessings. Not for answers. But for Him.
Has anything you’ve chased truly satisfied your soul? If not, perhaps today is the day to stop striving, and start craving the one thing that never runs out—the presence of Jesus.
This hunger is not a flaw—it’s an invitation. And Jesus never turns away the hungry.
He draws near. He fills. He transforms.
Let us be a church that is not known simply for our programs, personalities, or even our preaching—but a church known for one thing: We are a people hungry for His presence.
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
There is a hunger that every soul carries. It is deeper than appetite, stronger than desire, and more enduring than emotion. It is the ache for something eternal—something real.
We were created with this hunger—not to be filled with distraction or temporary pleasure, but with the very presence of God.
In John 6, Jesus addresses a crowd who had just witnessed a miracle—the feeding of the five thousand. But when they returned the next day, it wasn’t because they understood the significance of what had happened. It was because they were physically satisfied. Their stomachs were full, but their spirits were still starving.
Jesus, knowing their motives, lovingly confronts them and offers something greater:
“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)
Jesus Didn’t Offer More Bread—He Offered Himself
This was not the message the crowd expected. They wanted another sign. Jesus offered sustenance for the soul. He wasn’t presenting a religion, a rulebook, or a ritual—He was offering relationship and radical communion.
Then He says something deeply challenging:
“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53)
This wasn’t a call to literal action—it was a call to intimacy and dependence. It was His way of saying: “You cannot receive life unless you fully partake in Me.”
Many were offended. They walked away. But one stayed. Peter’s response echoes through the centuries:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)
Peter didn’t stay because he understood everything. He stayed because he was hungry. And he recognized that only Jesus could satisfy.
Hunger Without Direction Leads to Destruction
We live in a generation that is spiritually hungry but often feeding on the wrong things. When we fail to discern the true source of nourishment, we fill our souls with things that only leave us emptier—relationships, substances, distractions, and even religious activity.
Unfocused hunger can lead to compromise. Cravings without discernment can lead to chaos. But when our craving is Christ, that hunger becomes holy. It moves us toward repentance, renewal, and revival.
So I ask: Is your hunger driving you toward Jesus… or just toward relief?
Jesus Is the Bread—And the Body
In ancient times, bread was not optional—it was survival. To eat was to live. Jesus wasn’t using poetic imagery; He was making a definitive statement:
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” (John 6:51)
When we receive Jesus, we don’t just observe His life—we participate in it. His life becomes our source. His death becomes our freedom. His body becomes our nourishment.
This is why the Church matters so deeply. We are called the Body of Christ—not a random gathering, but a living, breathing, unified people meant to reflect His presence. And if we love the Bread, we must also honor the Body.
Let us not be a church that feeds on gossip, criticism, or division. A body that consumes itself is a body in crisis. We are called to build up, not break down.
Following When It’s Hard
Peter’s confession in John 6 is profoundly honest. He doesn’t claim to fully understand Jesus’ teaching. But he recognizes the truth: “You have the words of eternal life.”
This is discipleship—not having all the answers, but being unwilling to walk away from the One who does.
You may have questions. You may not understand every part of the journey. But you can still choose to stay. You can still choose to trust. That’s what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
So—Are You Hungry?
Not for church activity. Not for blessings. Not for answers. But for Him.
Has anything you’ve chased truly satisfied your soul? If not, perhaps today is the day to stop striving, and start craving the one thing that never runs out—the presence of Jesus.
This hunger is not a flaw—it’s an invitation. And Jesus never turns away the hungry.
He draws near. He fills. He transforms.
Let us be a church that is not known simply for our programs, personalities, or even our preaching—but a church known for one thing: We are a people hungry for His presence.
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