BREAD FOR THE HUNGRY
"Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food that perishes and decomposes in the using; but strive and work and produce rather for the lasting food which endures continually unto life eternal. The Son of man will give (furnish) you that, for God the Father has authorized and certified Him and put His seal of endorsement upon Him" (John 6:27 AMP).
When asked what are the works that God requires of man, Jesus replied, "This is the work (service) that God asks of you, that you believe in the One Whom he has sent--that you cleave to, trust, rely on and have faith in His Messenger" (John 6:29). Those people went on to ask for yet another sign, before they would trust and cleave to Him. Jesus told them that they had followed Him, not because of the miracle of God providing bread to them when they were hungry, they were chasing after Him for another free meal. Jesus brought up how God had ministered to Israel in the desert and provided manna (bread out of heaven). But there was a far greater Bread that God had now sent--"He Who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world" (John 6:33). The people clamored for this bread (v. 34).
But Jesus was not talking about a "bread made with hands" or even a "bread to be found on the ground in the dew of the morning" (Exodus 16:15). He told them that the Bread of Life was Himself. The purpose of God in sending this Bread was that "everyone who sees the Son and believes and cleaves to and trusts and relies on Him should have eternal life" (John 6:40).
© S.M. Hudson, Hidden Treasure Ministries, December 2003. All rights reserved.
Categories: forgiveness
