" The BREAD of Life "

 

John 6:26-51 JESUS answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek ME, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the SON of MAN shall give unto you: for HIM hath GOD the FATHER sealed. Then said they unto HIM, What shall we do, that we might work the works of GOD ? JESUS answered and said unto them, This is the work of GOD, that ye believe on HIM WHOM HE hath sent. They said therefore unto HIM, What sign showest THOU then, that we may see, and believe THEE ? what dost THOU work ? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written HE gave them bread from Heaven to eat. Then JESUS said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, 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. Then said they unto HIM, LORD, evermore give us this bread.

And JESUS said unto them, I AM the BREAD of life: he that cometh to ME shall never hunger: and he that believeth on ME shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen ME, and believe not. All that the FATHER giveth ME shall come to ME; and him that cometh to ME I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from Heaven , not to do MINE own will, but the will of HIM that sent ME. And this is the FATHER's will which hath sent ME, that of all which HE hath given ME I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of HIM that sent ME, that everyone which seeth the SON, and believeth on HIM, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. The Jews then murmured at HIM, because HE said, I AM the BREAD which came down from Heaven. And they said, Is not this JESUS, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know ? how is it then that HE saith, I came down from Heaven ? JESUS therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

No man can come to ME, except the FATHER which hath sent ME draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of GOD. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the FATHER, cometh unto ME. Not that any man hath seen the FATHER, save HE which is of GOD, HE hath seen the FATHER. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on ME hath everlasting life. I AM the BREAD of Life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the BREAD which cometh down from Heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I AM the living BREAD which came down from Heaven: if any man eat of this BREAD, he shall live forever: and the BREAD that I will give is MY flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

     JESUS warned about the danger of laboring only for temporary, physical sustenance while neglecting that which is spiritual and everlasting (v.27 pictured above). The Jews to whom JESUS was speaking knew about the bread from Heaven (manna), which GOD miraculously had provided to meet the physical needs of their forefathers in the wilderness. Yet here in their midst stood JESUS CHRIST, the true BREAD of Heaven, teaching them timeless truths; nevertheless, most of them could only respond with insulting questions. They refused to believe in CHRIST and thus enjoy the spiritual BREAD that satisfies completely and eternally. This BREAD of Life was, and still is, a gift. While mankind must labor for that which is temporary, everlasting life is free. What a contrast !

     Our SAVIOR's message was not complicated: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on ME hath everlasting life. I AM that BREAD of Life" (vv.47-48). The Gospel of CHRIST is simple yet powerful; it will save anyone and everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). The WORD of GOD explicitly states that satanically inspired opposition to the Gospel will always exist. Nevertheless, we do not need to soften GOD's message, sugar coat it, disguise it, or embellish it in an attempt to lessen its offense. Paul did not try to alter the Gospel in order to appease the Jews or the Greeks (1st.Corinthians 1:18-25). JESUS CHRIST, the BREAD from Heaven, can be, wants to be, and will be the REDEEMER and SATISFIER of all who come to HIM (v.37). We have wonderfully good news to proclaim ! If the BREAD of Life has satisfied your soul, then share HIM with others. Together with the psalmist, "let the redeemed of the LORD say so" (Psalm 107:2 pictured above). MHR

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

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