From the desk of Pastor Ben.
Manna Compared to the True Bread

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, 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. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”         (John 6:32-33)

Our Lord proceeded to rebuke the people for their misunderstanding of manna as it related to the true bread.

First, the people did not realize that it was God rather than Moses who gave their ancestors the bread out of heaven.” In Exodus 16:4 “the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you.’” Moses simply told the Israelites God’s instructions for the gathering of the manna (Exodus 16:15-30).

Second, the people did not understand that manna had not ultimately been the true bread from heaven. Jesus’ words indicate that the true bread was not the manna of long ago, but what God presently gives. The manna, though an actual physical bread from God, merely foreshadowed the ultimate true bread from God — His Son, the Lord Jesus.

Third, the crowd did not discern the life-giving differences between manna, which gave physical life, and “the bread of God,” which gives spiritual life. Manna provided physical nourishment to sustain the people in the wilderness, but Jesus Christ is the one and only giver of spiritual and eternal life (John 5:29; 6:53; 10:10; 14:6).

Finally, the people did not grasp that whereas manna came only to Israel, the true bread from heaven comes to the world. Salvation through Christ’s death is for all who believe (John 3:15-16, 18, 36; 5:24), regardless of nationality (John 4:39-42; Romans 1:5-6, 16). Thus, Jesus is the true bread from God and infinitely superior to Moses or anyone else!

Ask Yourself:
We have a tendency to look to others for our feeding — to anyone who keeps us spiritually taught and mentored and encouraged. What are the dangers of putting unrealistic hope in the teachers of truth rather than its Source?