Bread from Heaven (John 6:41)

Jesus said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven" ( John 6:41), but the Jews who heard Him grumbled. They didn't believe Him and said Moses gave the Israelites manna (bread from heaven). They asked Jesus to give them a miraculous sign to prove who He was. This was soon after Jesus fed more than five thousand people from a boy's lunch of two fish and five small loaves of bread. What more proof did they need? 

Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, and they grumbled because they didn't think they would have enough food to eat. That's when God provided the manna, bread that fell down from heaven (Exodus 16). He did this every day for forty years and instructed the people to gather only what they needed for the day, not to worry about tomorrow. Have you wondered what the Israelites did? Did they cherish the presence of God? Did they hold some of the manna in their hands and praise God for His provision? The Bible says some gathered more than they needed for each day, but maggots grew in the portion they hoarded.

God provided food for physical needs through Moses. He provided spiritual food for believers through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus said, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him" (John 7:37-38). He was talking about the Holy Spirit when He said "streams of living water." The Holy Spirit is the part of the triune God that comforts, counsels and teaches us God's ways.

Think About It
In both Bible stories about bread from heaven, people grumbled. The Israelites with Moses didn't believe God would take care of them, even though He delivered them from slavery in Egypt. Many of the Jews in Jesus' time on earth did not believe He was who He said. He looked like an ordinary man, but He was all God and all man, and mystery we cannot understand but believe by faith.

Pray About It
Holy God, thank you for Bread from Heaven in the person of Jesus our Savior. Thank you for providing for our physical and spiritual needs. Open our eyes to see more of your truth every day. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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