16 February 2021 - The Bread of Life

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.”

After feeding more than 5,000 Jesus speaks to the crowd again, this time offering them a different kind of bread, one that would never rot, and would always keep them full. When the people ask for this bread, “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall never thirst’”

Not since the days of manna had someone provided miracle bread like this. Jesus is now proclaiming to be Manna Himself. Not only is God Provider for our physical needs, but His Word made flesh satisfies the needs of our souls.

The Israelites in the desert were required to trust God daily for manna, their literal daily bread. Jesus is imploring believers to put full confidence in Him.

Jesus did not come into the world mainly to give bread, but to be bread.

When God established the wilderness tabernacle for worship among the people of Israel, he gave instructions to build a table called "the table of the showbread." Every Sabbath, the priests of the tabernacle would arrange twelve loaves of bread called "the bread of the presence" on the table. This presentation of the bread symbolised God's eternal, covenant relationship with his people and his constant care and provision. The Bread of Life that Jesus embodies will never perish, spoil, or run out. But like manna in the wilderness, the life-sustaining bread of Jesus is meant to be received daily.

John 6:47-51 (NLT) “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 Yes, I am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

When the Israelites wandered in the desert, there was nothing for them to eat. Yet, in His great mercy, God provided manna. He didn’t give them an abundance of manna; He gave them only what they needed to get through each day. Jesus explained that He was their provision for life, the true and better manna.

Jesus is the bread of life. By truly resting in His presence, believing that He alone is all we need, can we find rest. We can trust Him each day, believing that He alone is all we need.

Natural bread is earthly, but spiritual bread is heavenly. Natural bread is corruptible, but spiritual bread is incorruptible. Natural bread is limited, but spiritual bread is unlimited. Natural bread feeds the body; spiritual bread feeds the spirit.