Bread From Heaven

A. Manna: Bread from Heaven – Exodus 16

1. Two months into their journey out of bondage in Egypt, headed for the ‘Promised Land’ of Canaan, the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron. (Exodus 16:2-3)

2. The Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you.” ~ Exodus 16:4

3. God provided daily meat (quail) and ‘bread from heaven’ (Manna) sustaining the people 40 years.( v.35)

B. Jesus taught that He is the ‘Bread from Heaven’ – John 6

1. Following the miracle feeding of the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish (John 6:1-14), people came looking for Him, seeking more bread.

• Jesus turned the conversation to their need for everlasting life, instead of ‘food that perishes.’ (v.27)

• They sought a sign from Jesus, referring historically to God’s provision of ‘manna- bread from heaven’ (v.31)

2. Jesus said, I am the bread of life, come down from heaven, to give everlasting life to all who believe. (John 6:35-40)

3. Jesus then spoke to them about the pathway to ‘eternal life,’ moving beyond the physical/material understanding to the spiritual reality. (v.43-59)

4. I am the bread of life. (v.48)

• This is not like the bread that was eaten by their fathers in the wilderness…

• This is the bread that brings LIFE.

5. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. ~ v-51

• ‘Living bread’… If you eat, you’ll live forever… the bread is My flesh, which I shall give…

6. Difficulty Understanding… (v.52-59)

• Jesus referred to “eating His flesh and drinking His blood” numerous times in these verses.

• The Jews were thinking in the realm of physical and material…

• Jesus was speaking spiritually, using figurative language – illustrating the realm of the spiritual and eternal.

• Jesus was trying to help them ‘see’ beyond the natural. His words were challenging, confounding and difficult to grasp as He taught in the Capernaum synagogue.

• Simply stated, ‘eating His flesh and drinking His blood’ represents believing in Christ; the whole fact of His humanity, sacrifice on the Cross, redemption and salvation, by faith.

• Key verse in this chapter: It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (v.63) The spiritual meaning of these words, by which God giveth life. The flesh - The bare, carnal, literal meaning, profit nothing. “The words which I have spoken, they are spirit “- Are to be taken in a spiritual sense and, when they are so understood, they are life - That is, a means of spiritual life to the hearers.

C. Jesus and the ‘Last Supper’ – Institution of the Lord’s Table, Communion - Matthew 26:26-28

1. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ~ Matthew 26:26-28 - Bread/body… Wine/blood

2. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. ~ 1Corinthians 11:26

Jesus is, the Bread from heaven!