A singularly significant message in the life of the Master is "the bread of life" sermon (see John 6). It illustrates His command and use of the scriptures as well as their relevance to us.
The day before He gave this message, the Lord had worked the miracle of feeding the 5,000, gaining more followers (see verses 63–71).
The Master Teacher referred to an Old Testament event to introduce the bread of life sermon:
"Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
"For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world" (Exodus 16).
To which they said, "Evermore give us this bread" (John 6:34).
His answer revealed to the spiritually endowed His divine identity as the Son of God, the promised Messiah and Savior: "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:35).
The Savior then declared the divine doctrine uniting the Atonement and the emblems of the bread and water in the sacrament: "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you" (John 6:53).
We know this sermon strengthened Peter, for he testified, "We believe and are sure that thou art Christ, the son of the living God" (John 6:69). The bread of life sermon is relevant to us, for we too will believe and be certain that Jesus is the Christ when we read, study, and cite—not paraphrase—holy writ to strengthen ourselves and others.