John 6- 9.2.2021
Scripture - What stood out?
John 6
49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Observation - What does it say?
Jesus was continuing to operate in signs and wonders in this chapter of the book of John. Large crowds had begun following him and the Passover was upon them. Jesus had just fed a large crowd. The bible states approximately five thousand men were counted (this count does not include the more than likely women and children that had come out to be near Jesus as well) among the large group that Jesus would miraculously feed with five loaves of barley bread and two fish. As the apostle Phillip describes in verse seven, ‘Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.’ (One denarius may have been the going rate for one day’s worth of work back then.)
Understanding - What does it mean?
I wonder if there was anyone in the crowd, possibly a pharisee, who heard Jesus and responded in their hearts, ‘What did you say about my manna?’ Moses was held in high regard and specifically anything associated with the first five books of the bible. So I can almost imagine the consternation on some of the teachers’ and leaders’ of that day when out of Jesus’s mouth came those words.
Jesus had already begun establishing himself as a prophet of God not unlike Moses. He had just fed A LOT of people with five loaves and two fish on top of his other signs and wonders. But here he was talking about bread that fell for forty years from God himself, intimating that it could not compare to this new bread, of which Jesus claimed HE was the bread!
And in the midst of all this they were celebrating Passover. The Israelites were remembering God delivering them from slavery. It was unleavened bread which was more than likely what was eaten. And the lack of yeast represented a rush. An expectant rush. The Israelites were expecting God to come quickly that night. There wasn’t enough time for your typical preparation to migrate. There was a sense of urgency because God was coming to save them!
Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?
John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
I have come to develop a greater sense of urgency in my desire to know you God. Thank you for your son Jesus who died for me, who died for us all. Thank you for His body which was broken for us. Thank you for His body that feeds us. Thank you for his blood that was poured out for us. Thank you for His blood that was poured out over us. May I continue to eat Your word daily. May I never take my time here on earth for granted. May I have a sense of urgency as I eat Your bread. May I gladly eat Your unleavened bread today because like the Israelites on that fateful night I too am in an expectant rush. I am on my way to meet you Lord but if it is Your will then please use me along the way - to set some of the other captives free.
In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.
-kenneth lee
