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Jesus declared Himself to be the living bread of God. He came down from Heaven to give eternal life to the world. John 6:33.
He proclaimed to the unbelieving people in His time an important message.
As God had given them manna to preserve their lives, so He had sent to them His Son.
Thus through faith in Him they can obtain immortality.
This post unpacks the bread figure, used by Jesus to teach spiritual lessons.
Table of contents
The Heavenly manna
The people also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
They said unto him, What sign will show thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? What will you do?
Our fathers did eat manna in the desert. As it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
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. John 6:24, 30, 31, 32.
For more, read in context chapter 6 of John.
Manna was a type of the living bread from Heaven – God’s beloved Son Jesus Christ.
The ancient Jews honored Moses as the giver of the manna. They ascribed praises to him. Thus they lost sight of Him by whom it was done.
They spoke of manna as if the supplying of that food was a greater miracle than Jesus had done.
But He declared unto them that the temporal food then given from Heaven was an insufficient gift.
It was nothing compared with the blessing of eternal life which He now offered them.
I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. John 6:48-50.
The food eaten then sustained their lives’ strength. But it did not:
- Prevent the approach of death.
- Give the assurance of eternal life.
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About the author
Bojko Belovsky – founder of God’s Love Gateway
My promise to you: Always genuine Christ-centered messages for your life growth now leading to eternity.
The Bread of life
The bread that the Son of God offers to people is death-destroying, giving at the end an immortal life.
I am the living bread. If any man eats of this bread, he shall live forever. John 6:51.
My Father gives you the true bread from Heaven now. This bread of God is I who come down from Heaven, and give life to the world. John 32, 33. (paraphrase is mine).
And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one who sees the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life.
And I will raise him up at the last day.
The people then murmured at Him, because He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. John 6:40, 41.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
No man can come to me, except the Father who hath sent me to draw him.
Every man that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, comes unto me. John 6:43-45.
For more, listen to the chapter 6 of John.
What is the meaning of His words?
They claim God as their Father. But, they haven’t learned of Him and didn’t recognize His Son in Jesus.
Moreover, they reject God’s Son’s testimonies and miracles. They would not believe that this man was any other than a common man.
For more, watch the video – How Did People React To Jesus Declaring Himself The Messiah
Jesus also declared boldly:
I and my Father are one. John 10:30.
Thus with a daily communion with Jesus we learn and understand the character traits of God.
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The bread symbolism
We need food to nourish our bodies and sustain physical strength.
In like manner we need Christ – the Living Bread – to sustain our spiritual life.
As in the natural realm, so in the spiritual.
This principle helps us to understand the bread metaphor here. Moreover, to comprehend other symbolic meanings from Jesus’ lessons given in parables.
The body is continually receiving the nourishment that sustains life and vigour.
Likewise the soul must be constantly:
- Communing with Christ.
- Feeding on His Word.
- Depending wholly on His Spirit.
Jesus used bread as a figure. Thus He illustrates the vitalizing power of His Word on the soul aided by the work of His Spirit.
The one sustains physical life, while the other renews the heart and strengthens the moral powers.
Christ said: It is the spirit that quickens. The flesh profits nothing.
The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
But there are some of you that believe not.
From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. John 6:63, 64, 66.
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Conclusion on Jesus as the “Bread of life”
Jesus gave the bread of life to all who hunger for spiritual knowledge.
As we assimilate His teachings, we are eating this bread, which gives spiritual vitality.
The love of God had provided inexhaustible resources in Christ.
If any man eats this bread, he shall live forever. John 6:51.
It is my prayer that none of us will ever hear Christ’s words:
You also have seen me, and believe not. John 6:36.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is Jesus the true bread of life? Jesus is the Divine Son of God, the member of the Godhead. The truth originates in God. He gave to people God’s true spiritual food trough His life and teachings.
- What is the “living” bread definition? It is a God’s teaching of receiving eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. Only He can prevent the approach of death and give the assurance of immortality.
- Why does God want you to live by daily bread? We need food daily to nourish our bodies and sustain physical strength. In the same manner we need Jesus’ bread daily to grow and advance in our spiritual journey
- How does the bread of life connect to Jesus’ Divinity? Jesus – the Divine Son of God in human nature declared Himself to be the living bread of God. He came down from Heaven to give eternal life to the world.
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Where to go from here
- Read Deuteronomy 8 in KJV BIble – Full chapter study, Jesus referencing in John 6.
- Test your knowledge on the Seventh day Bible Sabbath – Where are you on your journey? (manna and Sabbath relation).
- Grow in Christ category – Feed daily on Jesus as the “Bread” of eternal life.
- God’s Love Content Hub – All Christ-centered teaching in one place.
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References
2SP 276, 281; DA 385 – The Ellen G. White Estate
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