REF: Exodus 3 ~ Exodus 16 ~ John 6

Yesterday was the “opening night” for Omaha Bible Churches new south campus (obcsouth)  here in Bellevue Nebraska. Many small groups are meeting in homes of qualified men studying the I AM declarations of Jesus found in the Gospel of John. This first one being the “I AM the bread of life.”

This emphatic statement by Christ should cause your memory to flip to the pages of your Old Testament with extreme prejudice. First, the I AM name that belongs only to the Self-Existent one Himself (Ex 3). That name that was so revered and sacred that when the scribes wrote His name they would have to replace their pen with every mention. And second, Bread of Life. The bread that came down from heaven by God’s own supernatural provision. You know the narrative of the grumbling nation of Israel, who’s deep soled sandals still leave traces of straw in their tracks; find themselves complaining against God that He done nothing more than deliver them out of Egypt to let them die in the Wilderness of Sin (yes an actual place).

Can you see it? Their hands still stained with the blood of an innocent lamb. Slaughtered so that its blood should be used to provide a covering for God’s wrath. Their eyebrows still singed from the pillar of fire that kept Pharaohs army at bey. Their cloths still dampened by the waters of the sea that was parted for their escape to the promised land. Their grumblings reach God’s throne and He yet descends to show them His glory. God then tests them and gives them a bread not of this world, but from heaven. He fills and sustains their multitudes for 40 years on what the Israelites called Manna.

So when we come to John 6:2 we see similarities. Multitudes of people following Christ in the wilderness of Israel. Seeing the signs and wonders which he had graced them with. Healing those who were sick. Then (v5) Christ seeing a large crowd coming to Him and knowing that they were without food to eat; performed a miracle which would…

Provide for their temporal need for food

Demonstrate His absolute deity

Reveal His misson as the one who would provide everlasting satisfaction

But like so many. They wanted Jesus around to stock the buffet line as soon as it got empty. There are those who appear to do anything to get there hands on Jesus to have their needs met. Except believe. They saw His wondrous miracles. Their supper hand delivered on sacred hands. They knew that He managed to get across the sea of Capernaum with the aid of a boat or His disciples. Like their ancestors, they would need even a greater gift. The gift of faith. That gift that comes only from God (Eph 2:8) to His particular people. We see that in the rest of John 6. Those who come to Christ by faith and those who come with satanic motives.

I pray that you will be satisfied in nothing else but Jesus. Feed and fill yourselves with the wonderful bread that came down from heaven.

I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which Iwill give for the life of the world is my flesh.