"They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest 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."
John 6:30-35
"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."
John 6:30-35
The people that had gathered around Jesus were wanting to see a sign from Him that would prove that what He was saying was true. As an example, they wanted something like what the people in the wilderness had seen when being led by Moses. When the people were hungry, God sent a form of bread, called manna, to fall on the ground. They could eat what they needed to survive, but they couldn't try to keep any extra. Anything that was stored would rot.
But, there were two points that got in the way of anything like this happening. One, Jesus was not here to provide their daily groceries. That doesn't mean that He couldn't have done so if He so desired. But, He was sent to show the people that the things of this mortal life are not what is of eternal importance.
Second, the whole purpose of the life and teachings of Jesus was to give power to faith in the life of each believer. As soon as you give a proof that can be touched, tasted or the like, then it is no longer faith that is at work.
Jesus told these people that the REAL bread of life was Himself. Manna could keep the body alive for a day. Jesus could provide life forever.
However, this statement was being lost on most of these people. They were too wrapped up in the "now", and not able to grasp the "evermore" of the situation.
This is why they were asking the Lord to evermore give them this bread He was talking about. They were not wanting to be saved. They were wanting free groceries, so to speak. They wanted the needs of the flesh; the needs of the day, to be taken care of.
This led to one of the most important statements that Jesus ever made.
But, there were two points that got in the way of anything like this happening. One, Jesus was not here to provide their daily groceries. That doesn't mean that He couldn't have done so if He so desired. But, He was sent to show the people that the things of this mortal life are not what is of eternal importance.
Second, the whole purpose of the life and teachings of Jesus was to give power to faith in the life of each believer. As soon as you give a proof that can be touched, tasted or the like, then it is no longer faith that is at work.
Jesus told these people that the REAL bread of life was Himself. Manna could keep the body alive for a day. Jesus could provide life forever.
However, this statement was being lost on most of these people. They were too wrapped up in the "now", and not able to grasp the "evermore" of the situation.
This is why they were asking the Lord to evermore give them this bread He was talking about. They were not wanting to be saved. They were wanting free groceries, so to speak. They wanted the needs of the flesh; the needs of the day, to be taken care of.
This led to one of the most important statements that Jesus ever made.
"I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."
For those that were given the ability to hear and understand this statement, an offer was being presented unlike any before. Jesus was showing that, by "feeding" upon Him (as in, taking in those things that the spirit and soul hungered for) a person would find eternal life.
Jesus promised to fulfill the needs of all those that would partake of Him. The promise of never being hungry nor thirsty again was beyond simple food and drink. It was the power to be with Him forevermore.
Today, if you will hear His call in your heart, you too can join Him at a table that never runs out.
You may starve to death in this life, but Jesus will take care of your needs for all eternity. This life is but a blink of an eye compared to the future that awaits those called to be His people.
If you are being called to repentance by the Holy Spirit, do not try to fight the call. Instead, put down your fleshly life, take up His cross, and follow Him.
Grace and Peace....
Jesus promised to fulfill the needs of all those that would partake of Him. The promise of never being hungry nor thirsty again was beyond simple food and drink. It was the power to be with Him forevermore.
Today, if you will hear His call in your heart, you too can join Him at a table that never runs out.
You may starve to death in this life, but Jesus will take care of your needs for all eternity. This life is but a blink of an eye compared to the future that awaits those called to be His people.
If you are being called to repentance by the Holy Spirit, do not try to fight the call. Instead, put down your fleshly life, take up His cross, and follow Him.
Grace and Peace....
