Bread of Life

Greetings, Wayne, a servant of God, by the grace of God, teaching truth under the authority of Jesus Christ to any who are willing to receive it, or as Jesus put it, to any who have ears to hear (Mat 11:15).

I will be the words in green. Purple Highlights will be key words or phrases of truth.

Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst.

There is the physical bread which sustains the flesh until we die:

Gen 3:19 In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return unto the ground; for out of it were you taken: for dust you are, and unto dust shall you return.

And there is the spiritual bread which leads to eternal life:

Joh 6:50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Joh 6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

Jesus was essentially saying that anyone who eats (discerns or receives) His words spiritually, will have eternal life (Mat 7: 24,25). And the bread being His flesh given for us is observed during the Passover:

Luk 22:19 And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Continuing:

Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

The blood referring to the wine representing the shed blood of Jesus Christ for our sins, also observed during the Passover:

Luk 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

For more on the Passover, see the teaching: The Passover - According to the truth of God on this website. The Passover is also mentioned in the teaching: God's Holy Days. Continuing with Jesus:

Joh 6:54 Whoso eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Meaning the last day of the kingdoms of the world being ruled by mankind:

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded [with a trumpet (Rev 8:6)]; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.

And the raising of the saints in the first resurrection which will also occur at that time with the last trumpet sound:

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

See, The Feast of Trumpets in this website within the teaching: God's Holy Days for more understanding. Continuing with the Lord:

Joh 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

Joh 6:56 He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him.

Joh 6:57 As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me.

Perhaps the following verses will help put it all in perspective:

Joh 14:6 Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live for ever.

More on spiritual feeding by the apostle Paul speaking to the called and baptised of God:

1Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Some side-study verses to confirm the Rock from the Old Testament was Christ:

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Jesus was making reference to the following verse from the Old Testament:

Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shall you say unto the children of Israel, I AM has sent me unto you.

And one more from the book of Revelation:

Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Referencing the following from the Old Testament:

Isa 44:6 Thus says the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God [gods].

The "King of Israel" referring to King of the twelve tribes of Jacob (Isa 49:6) whose name God changed to Israel (Gen 32:28).

The Hebrew definition for "God" in Isa 44:6 from the Strong's description reads gods, specifically used in the plural form. And this lines up with the context we see three verses down:

Isa 44:9 They that make a graven image [idols representing false gods] are all of them vanity; and their delectable things [delightful to look upon] shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

Back to Bread of Life. Let us go back earlier in Joh 6, shortly after the miracle Jesus performed in feeding the five thousand:

Joh 6:24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither His disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

Joh 6:25 And when they had found Him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi [Master], when came you here?

Joh 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, You seek me, not because you saw the miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

Joh 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him has God the Father sealed.

Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent.

Brings this verse to mind:

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

And we see this same importance of belief for the "King of Israel" in the following from the Old Testament:

Num 14:11 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be before they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them?

And just as ancient Israel had signs given them to encourage belief, so did their descendants:

Joh 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

Jhn_10:38 But if I do, though you believe not me, believe the works: that you may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in Him.

Joh 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Works of course referring to the miracles Jesus had done in the Father's name.

If people can not believe after they have seen, how much harder is it to believe after they have heard only? Yet, there is a blessing promised to any who believe in the Son of the most High God, God the Father, as we saw in Joh 3:16, and as we see here:

Joh 20:29 Jesus says unto him, Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Some encouraging words from the apostle John:

1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true [the Father], and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

And from the apostle Peter:

2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Continuing in Joh 6, we see the lost sheep of the house of Israel seek after a sign:

Joh 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign show you then, that we may see, and believe you? what do you work?

Joh 6:31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

Confirming only following Jesus for the physical food (Joh 6:26). At this point, we will go have a look at the manna account concerning the fathers, which came shortly after their exit from Egyptian slavery, and shortly after witnessing all the signs and wonders from God that led up to their release:

Exo 16:1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.

Exo 16:2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:

If you are familiar with the Exodus account, then you understand that Moses and Aaron represented and carried out the will of God, howbeit, not perfectly.

And neither do I, perfectly.

Exo 16:3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for you have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

We see very early how ways of the flesh and fulness of bread can turn our hearts away from God if we do not stay spiritually connected.

Exo 16:4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

And that is the bottom line for all who profess to believe:

Rom 2:13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

This area in Exodus is rich with spiritual truths of God, including truth about keeping the seventh day Sabbath holy and not working on it.

Exo 16:5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.

Exo 16:6 And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even [sunset], then you shall know that the LORD has brought you out from the land of Egypt:

Exo 16:7 And in the morning, then you shall see the glory of the LORD; for that He hears your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that you murmur against us?

Exo 16:8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD hears your murmurings which you murmur against Him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.

Exo 16:9 And Moses spoke unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for He has heard your murmurings.

Exo 16:10 And it came to pass, as Aaron spoke unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.

Exo 16:11 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,

Exo 16:12 I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God.

Exo 16:13 And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.

Exo 16:14 And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.

Exo 16:15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna [whatness (what is it?)]: for they wist [knew] not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

Exo 16:16 This is the thing which the LORD has commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take you every man for them which are in his tents.

Exo 16:17 And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.

Exo 16:18 And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

Exo 16:19 And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.

Exo 16:20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.

The point of not leaving any left over till the morning was first, a test of obedience, and also to have them gather, or work, six days and rest on the seventh day, the holy Sabbath.

Exo 16:21 And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.

Exo 16:22 And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.

Exo 16:23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD has said, To morrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which you will bake to day, and seethe that you will seethe; and that which remains over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.

Exo 16:24 And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.

Exo 16:25 And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a Sabbath unto the LORD: to day you shall not find it in the field.

Exo 16:26 Six days you shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none.

Trusting in the word of God and having faith and obedience in His commandments should have lead one to remain at rest, content with what he had, and not even bother to see whether there was manna on the Sabbath or not. However:

Exo 16:27 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.

Even so shortly after the signs and wonders in Egypt and in the wilderness, some could not believe enough to obey. And as you read throughout the Old Testament you will see that the some turned into the many.

Exo 16:28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse you to keep my commandments and my laws?

Exo 16:29 See, for that the LORD has given you the Sabbath [Mat 12:8; Mar 2:27], therefore He gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide you every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

Exo 16:30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

Exo 16:31 And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

Exo 16:32 And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commands, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.

Exo 16:33 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.

And so it was, in the ark of the covenant:

Heb 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

Continuing:

Exo 16:34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.

Exo 16:35 And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

Exo 16:36 Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.

Now let us return to John 6 and see Jesus emphasize the spiritual bread from heaven apart from the physical bread:

Joh 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

Joh 6:33 For the bread of God is He which comes down from heaven, and gives life unto the world.

Joh 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst.

Joh 6:36 But I say unto you, That you also have seen me, and believe not.

Joh 6:37 All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.

So you see that it is the Father who decides who goes to Jesus Christ. How then can you know if you have God's Holy Spirit and are in the hands of Jesus Christ?

Act 5:32 And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost [Spirit], whom [which] God has given to them that obey Him.

See the teachings on repentance and baptism in this website for further understanding. Now back to Jesus:

Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him that sent me.

Joh 6:39 And this is the Father's will which has sent me, that of all which He has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

Joh 6:40 And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which sees [discerns; considers] the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Let us conclude with a review of the spiritual aspect of the bread of life:

Deu 8:1 All the commandments which I command you this day shall you observe to do, that you may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD swore unto your fathers.

Deu 8:2 And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, and to prove you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments, or no.

Deu 8:3 And he humbled you, and suffered you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you knew not, neither did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD does man live.

And yet:

Psa 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

Psa 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that does good, no, not one.

Psa 14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD

Pro 28:21 To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

Isa 55:2 Why do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfies not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat you that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Isa 55:3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Mat 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

1Co 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till he come.

1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me has everlasting life.

Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life.

Amen.

Freely I have received, freely I have given.

Farewell,

Servanthood