BIBLE READING: Exodus 14-16
“… “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” (John 6:35). Those were the words that Jesus spoke to the crowd that had followed Him across the sea after the feeding of the five thousand. They were following Jesus, not because He was the Son of God but because they were hungry and wanted another free meal. Jesus’ statement was in response to their misunderstanding of manna in Exodus 16. They were under the impression that Moses had given them the “bread from Heaven” and were seeking to see what Jesus was going to do for them. Jesus was quick to correct them saying, “… it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.” (John 6:32). In fact, He is still giving them bread, yet this time it is in the form of Jesus. We must realize the importance of what Jesus meant. In the days of Moses, as they Israelites were wondering around in the wilderness, they were starving. God, being gracious to them, gave them the bread from heaven they called manna. The manna continued for over forty years; everyday but the Sabbath they could go outside of their tents and collect this bread that was to provide them sustenance and energy to live out their day. God was not going to lead them out of Egypt to allow them to die of starvation in the wilderness. The manna was God’s way of saying to the Israelites, “I am your provider, you must be dependent upon Me. Everything you have and need comes from Me”. In essence, that is exactly what Jesus was trying to tell the multitude that had followed Him looking for a free meal. “I am the bread of life. “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. “This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” (John 6:48-51). Truly, Jesus is all we need!