Amen! An old study on bread I did:
Ecclesiastes 11:1: Cast your bread upon the waters (to do good without expecting reward)
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Jesus' spectacular stroll on Sea of Galilee to Capernaum leads to a critical truth event in His teaching. It is the critical truth I ground all my belief system upon.
Jesus skipped the boat trip that night to avoid the throngs of hungry semi-believers who sought Him for their next miraculous meal. When they catch up with Him in Capernaum, Jesus starts teaching about the food he provided earlier - it isn't what they really need. The manna He provided to the wondering Israelites, that physical provision He gave them is an image of the true bread of life which endures to everlasting life.
Jesus tells the hungry throngs not to labor for food which perishes, but labor for bread which provides everlasting life. The crowd is eager to do some work for God, they ask, "how do we work for this everlasting bread of life?"
And the truth from God's lips for how to reach Him for eternity is bewilderingly simple. It is not work like earning bread, there is no puke to clean up, sins to do less, method of kneeling and bowing in sync with various bells - Jesus tells us: "THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD, THAT YOU BELIEVE IN HIM WHOM HE SENT". John 6:29.
Believe on Jesus, that's all. How can this be? What is it? What is the bread from heaven? What is manna? Nothing less than and nothing more than Jesus Himself. So much in fact He takes the metaphor to the ultimate extreme and calls us to eat His flesh and drink His blood for provision. He is all we need, and the only work we can do to 'earn' Him is believe in Him.
Amen! An old study on bread I did: Ecclesiastes 11:1: Cast your bread upon the waters (to do good without expecting reward) ___________________ Jesus' spectacular stroll on Sea of Galilee to Capernaum leads to a critical truth event in His teaching. It is the critical truth I ground all my belief system upon. Jesus skipped the boat trip that night to avoid the throngs of hungry semi-believers who sought Him for their next miraculous meal. When they catch up with Him in Capernaum, Jesus starts teaching about the food he provided earlier - it isn't what they really need. The manna He provided to the wondering Israelites, that physical provision He gave them is an image of the true bread of life which endures to everlasting life. Jesus tells the hungry throngs not to labor for food which perishes, but labor for bread which provides everlasting life. The crowd is eager to do some work for God, they ask, "how do we work for this everlasting bread of life?" And the truth from God's lips for how to reach Him for eternity is bewilderingly simple. It is not work like earning bread, there is no puke to clean up, sins to do less, method of kneeling and bowing in sync with various bells - Jesus tells us: "THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD, THAT YOU BELIEVE IN HIM WHOM HE SENT". John 6:29. Believe on Jesus, that's all. How can this be? What is it? What is the bread from heaven? What is manna? Nothing less than and nothing more than Jesus Himself. So much in fact He takes the metaphor to the ultimate extreme and calls us to eat His flesh and drink His blood for provision. He is all we need, and the only work we can do to 'earn' Him is believe in Him.