Day 17 – The Bread

“Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:32-33 NLT

Bread has been a basic staple in every society, strengthening every nation for the hard work to conquering and taming the harsh wilderness of the early world. But “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). In many places, bread is used as a symbol for speech like when Jesus warns the disciples to beware “the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6). To eat bread leavened by them is to consume corruption, for they lived in disobedience to God.

Jesus identifies himself as the true bread God has sent from heaven. To “eat” of Jesus is to eat the bread of immortality: “This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.” Comparing himself to the manna that God supplied to Israel in their wanderings after escaping from Egypt, Jesus speaks of himself as the true manna of God, bringing a far greater redemption. He came so we might feast again in altogether wonderful peace with God and one another. Jesus has given himself freely for us, offering us all the abundance of His inheritance and bidding us to come, eat, and drink at the table prepared for us.

Prayer: Father, I pray that those who hunger for You accept the offer of the Bread of life. May they join the eternal feast of Your Kingdom. May Your Word fill our hearts and nourish our souls as we digest more and more of You. Amen.

Love, Pastor Iriza