Tag: bread from heaven
Thankful for the Bread!
Scripture reading for November 3rd: John 4-7
Key Scriptures: John 6:32-35 “Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.”
Jesus had just miraculously fed bread and fish to over 5000 men plus women and children. Jesus left that region with His disciples but the people sought to follow Him. They wanted more bread from heaven as a sign that He was from God like Moses. Jesus stated that the Father had given them bread, not Moses. Then He stated that He was the Bread of Life that would fully satisfy their hunger and thirst, not only now but forever.
Thankful for God’s Bread: “The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a handmill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.” (Numbers 11:7-9)
Bread from Heaven!
Scripture reading for April 14th: John 6
Jesus miraculously fed five thousand men plus women and children with five loaves of bread and two fish. The people were amazed and desired to make Him king by force so He withdrew to pray and sent His disciples across the lake in their boat. He caught up with them in the middle of the night, walking on the water! John recorded these miracles for us and went on to share Jesus’ further teaching about this miracle and what it meant.
When the people realized that Jesus and the disciples were no longer there, they also left in boats to find Him. When they found Him they asked how He got there, Jesus responded to them, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for Me not because you saw the miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.” (John 6:26-27) They then asked Him what they must do to do the work God required. Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One that He has sent.” (John 6:29)
“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35) Jesus declared that He alone was the ‘bread from heaven’ that all must believe on to find eternal life. People were working to find a source of bread for food, but Jesus was the most satisfying food and drink that anyone could find. The only ‘work’ that can be done is ‘believe’ in the One God sent! Have you done that?
This is a hard teaching!
Scripture reading for May 11th: John 6:47-71
“I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” (John 6:53-58)
Jesus followed the feeding of the 5000 with some hard teaching. He spoke to them of eating His flesh and drinking His blood. This was not an option, but mandatory to have eternal life. Jesus knew that many of these that were following Him were not placing their trust in Him as the Son of God and did not really believe that He came from the Father. They ate the physical bread that had been miraculously multiplied and were satisfied, but were not yet ready to feed on Jesus as the true Bread from heaven. As their forefathers had eaten the manna and died, they would leave without the true “manna” they needed to live.
“On hearing this, many of His disciples said, “This is a hard teaching, who can practice it.” (John 6:60) Jesus asked these grumblers if His teaching offended them. They would see something even more offensive to the carnal mind: His ascension to heaven! “The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are Life. Yet some of you do not believe.” Jesus knew that some would not believe and one would betray Him! He was actually a devil! (John 6:70)
In this spiritual teaching, Jesus was referring to the Last Supper, the meal where He would give them the bread and cup as remembrance of His death and a reminder of His coming again. The true followers would be willing to eat the bread (representing His body) and drink the cup (representing His blood.) Have you placed your trust in Him?