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True Bread From Heaven
True Bread From Heaven
Exodus 16 tells us the story of Manna. With nothing to eat in the wilderness the people faced starvation. They forgot the power of God and His love for them. He had delivered them from bondage to the greatest power on earth at that time. He had led them with the pillar of fire. He had parted the sea to provide a path to freedom. God is a faithful God and is for them. They wake up to 'stuff' all over the ground. "What Is IT?" This is the literal translation of 'manna'. It was special and NOT 'natural'. They could gather as much as they wanted for that day, but any leftover was spoiled by the next day, except on the Sabbath. There was none on the Sabbath and the double portion they gathered on the 6th day did NOT spoil. It appeared regularly until they entered into the land and no longer needed such miraculous food.
Many years later we have the events of John 6. Having fed 5000 men from 2 fish and 5 barley loaves, people sought Jesus for a 'free lunch'. He reminded them that their forefathers were given manna from God, they ate of it, and they all died. Those 5000 who ate of the food Jesus gave that day also would die. Hence He warns them that they need to labor for the food that endures to eternal life.
He then explains that "I AM the bread of life" (Jn. 6:35, 48). He states that "the TRUE bread is HE who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" (Jn. 6:33). He affirms "I am the living bread that came down from heaven" Jn. 6:51). The promise of THIS bread is that to eat of IT will bring eternal life (Jn. 6:40, 47). In fact, to NOT eat means there is no life in you (Jn. 6:53). Just like eating of physical food, such 'eating' is not a one time and done affair. It is an on-going action.
He stated that: "As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me" (Jn. 6:57). Again: "For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me" (Jn. 6::38). He had earlier told his disciples that “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work" (John 4:34). Later He would say that "I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father" (John 14:31).
He teaches those who would follow him to 'eat his flesh and drink his blood'. His food was to do the will of the Father. Our food is to do HIS will. He loved the Father and kept His commandments. We are to love HIM and keep His commandments (John 14:15).
“It is written, ' Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God' " said Jesus quoting Deut. 8:4 (Matt. 4:4).
