WORD OF GOD, 4

             John 1:1, 14 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

            John 6:26-27, 31-35, 41, 48-58 – Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” … “Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. … At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” … “I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”

            In the Word of God series attention has been given to the healthy balance of remembering the elementary truths of faith and developing greater faith, the importance of placing God’s word in the inner court of your being, and God’s word being a tool for the spiritual transformation of your life. The Bible is more than a rule book or textbook.

            A study of the Word of God is not complete without viewing the Incarnate Word. The ultimate Word of God is Jesus.

            Part of your spiritual experience involves gathering at the Lord’s Table, partaking of bread and the fruit of the vine, and experiencing spiritual Communion. Knowing Scripture is beneficial to this spiritual experience.

            The gospel of John contains seven “I am” statements of Jesus – “I am the good Shepherd… I am the door… I am the way… I am the resurrection… Before Abraham was, I am… I am the true vine.”  John 6 records Jesus saying, “I am the bread of life.”

            Two ordinances are celebrated by the church, water baptism and communion.  Water baptism is done once, right after conversion.  Communion is done regularly, throughout the converted life.  Water baptism gives testimony of new life; communion gives testimony of nourishing life.

            Bread, as an element of communion, speaks of nourishment.  Spiritual life must be nourished to continue.  As physical existence needs earthly food so spiritual existence must have heavenly food.

            John 6 is devoted to the theme of bread.  The first fourteen verses record the feeding of 5000 people. The rest of the chapter is a discourse Jesus gave about bread.  Included are phrases such as, “the living bread… the bread of God… the bread of life… the bread of heaven… the true bread.”  What is meant by true bread?

            Two words are translated “true” in the New Testament.  The word “alethes” carries the idea of unconcealed; truth is apparent and not hidden. When something is “alethes,” it is honest and without error. The opposite would be a lie or something false. The word speaks of historical fact, something being authentic, credible and reliable. In John 6:55 Jesus said, “For my flesh is true (alehtes) bread and My blood is true (alethes) drink.” His sacrifice on the cross is authentic and reliable. He is the honest meaning behind the “bread” of Communion.

            The other Greek word translated “true” is “alethinos” and carries the idea of being dependable and real. The word defines the limits between real and unreal.  In John 6:32 Jesus said, “It is My Father who gives you the true (alethinos) bread out of heaven,” and then says, “I am the bread.”  He is ultimate reality. He is more than a credible sacrifice, an honest sacrifice and a historical sacrifice; He is the dependable sacrifice and the reality of life.

            Jesus, the Incarnate Word, brings you into honest reality. To not follow Jesus is to live an illusionary life.  Believers get accused of not living in “the real world.” On the contrary, those who follow Jesus are the only people living the real life.          

Bread in the Wilderness (Exodus 16)

            Jesus made reference to Israel’s “forefathers” who “ate manna.” (John 6:31) Communion is better understood by noting what happened in the wilderness journey of Israel.

            The people of Israel found it difficult fully comprehending the things that were happening. For four hundred years they lived in Egypt. Initially they were treated well by the Egyptians. Joseph, one of twelve sons of Jacob, was sold into slavery by his brothers and eventually became influential in Pharaoh’s court, rescuing the nation from total ruin. When his family came for aid he provided for them.

            As Jacobs’s family grew into the tribe of Israel, the Egyptians forgot the good things Joseph had done and enslaved them. Being an oppressed people, Israel began to cry out to God for deliverance. Moses, after being away for 40 years, returns from a distant land and announces the Lord is about to set them free.

            Some remembered stories about Moses, a Hebrew boy rescued from the Nile River and raised in Pharaoh’s palace. Included in the story was an account of an Egyptian being killed, Moses being accused and him fleeing the country. A generation had passed and Moses returned. (Archeological findings indicate those constructing the pyramids lived only to around 35 years of age.)

            Moses was used of God to bring deliverance. Through a series of plagues, climaxing with the death of all first-born Egyptians, the Hebrews were allowed to leave. By the time they got to the Red Sea, the Egyptians had changed their minds.

            The sea became their baptism. The waters divided before them, they left a life of bondage and began a journey to God’s promise.

            In the wilderness of Shur they became thirsty. The water was unfit for human consumption. Moses sought the Lord and was told to cast a branch into the water. God healed the water and their thirst became satisfied. The Lord revealed Himself, not only as their Deliverer from Egypt, but their Healer during the journey.

            In was wilderness of Sin they became hungry. The people grumbled and reminisced about life in Egypt. They moaned, “This prophet brought us here to die.” (According to the Army’s Quartermaster General, to sustain the Israelites in the wilderness would take 1,500 tons of food each day delivered by two freight trains, both a mile long.)

            Moses told the people, “In the morning, when you awaken, and when the dew evaporates, you will find a fine flake-like thing – like coriander seed, white; and its taste is like wafers with honey.  It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.  Gather as much as you can eat for that day, and twice as much the day before the Sabbath.”

            God, the Deliverer and Healer, revealed Himself as the Provider of heavenly bread. For forty years, until they came to inhabit the Promise Land, the Lord gave the bread that sustains life.

Bread in the Plain (John 6:1-14)

            The Gospels also record a bread incident. A Man who reportedly came from Nazareth spoke of deliverance from sin. Wherever He went He would heal the sick. Large crowds began to follow Him.

            News got to Him that Herod executed His cousin John. He slipped away on a boat to be alone. The crowds were determined to be with Him and traveled on land to where the boat was heading.

            The region Jesus went to was a desolate place, similar to the wilderness of Sin. The people were hungry and Jesus commanded that they be fed. The disciples grumbled, “How can we possibly feed these many people?” Taking what was available, Jesus asked the Heavenly Father to once again provide the bread of life. Before their eyes, the bread was multiplied and everyone ate as much as they wanted.

            God’s Son, who delivers from sin and heals diseases, became the provider of bread.

Bread in the Believer (John 6:15-58)

            The people came back to Jesus the next day for more bread. It was long believed the Messiah, like Moses, would renew the miracle of the manna. “And He rained down manna upon them to eat, and gave them food from heaven.” (Psalms 78:24)

            When they came to the plain where 5000 were fed, Jesus was gone. Finding Him in Capernaum, they expected bread, as if to say, “We are here, Jesus, give us this day our daily bread.”

            Jesus responded, “You seek Me for tangible bread?  Seek food which endures to eternal life.”

            They replied, “Our forefathers ate manna in the wilderness, we ate bread on the plain, if you are who you say you are then provide for us now.”

            Jesus declared, “My Father gives you true bread.” Real bread; not like what was given in the wilderness or on the plain. The people grumbled when Jesus said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.”

            Manna in the wilderness of Sin and 5000 fed by the Redeemer of sin were only shadows of God’s eternal bread. The crowds, filled with the loaves He provided, wanted Jesus to give a permanent supply of bread. He did! He gave Himself as the everlasting sacrifice; the true bread, the honest reality of eternal life.

            The bread of God endures for eternity. Manna was temporal and symbolic. The feeding of 5000 was temporal and symbolic. Jesus, the Bread of life, is eternal and fulfilling.

            To eat and sip of the true food and true drink, to partake of the elements of His atonement, is to participate and fellowship with the Deliverer and Healer, sent from the Father. Jesus is the Bread of life, He is the living Bread. By appropriating Jesus as Lord of your life, you experience real life. He sustains, maintains and nourishes your life forever.

            Moses’ final instruction to the people in the wilderness included, “And He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your father know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.”  (Deuteronomy 8:3)

            In Jesus’ wilderness, after being baptized by John (similar to Israel passing through the sea), He rebuked the devil by quoting Moses, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”  (Matthew 4:4)

            In your spiritual wilderness, as you hunger for honest and true reality, Jesus extends to you an invitation: “He who believes has eternal life.  I am the bread of life…This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that you may eat of it and live forever.”

            Jesus is the Deliverer, Healer and Provider. Follow Jesus, honest and real life.