I Am

From Heaven

During the Exodus, while Moses was leading God’s people out of Egypt, the people of God cried out for food. IN this passage Jesus claims to be the bread (Manna) from heaven. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 6:51). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. When God talked to Moses at the burning bush, Moses asks God who he should tell the people he is, 13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ex 3:13–14). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Jesus then adds a metaphor to the story as he states that the bread is his flesh. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 6:51). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

English Standard Version Chapter 6

31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

What is Jesus saying to the people (us included)? At this moment Jesus tells the people that it is no longer the Father who gives the bread but Jesus himself who has provided.

Jesus is focusing on the verb here in verses 51-58. (esthio) or to eat. The ancestors were given Manna to eat which met their immediate needs. The Bible tells us that these ancestors died because the Manna only met these immediate needs. The bread from heaven that Jesus speaks of now goes farther than immediate sustenance , but gives us all our needs, and by all I mean human needs.

What does Jesus mean by his flesh though? 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 1:14). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

What is important about the words of Jesus here? What happens if you do not eat. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 6:53). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

English Standard Version Chapter 6

54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

This passage clearly tells us that we must partake of the offering of His body and the payoff is eternal life. If you want Jesus to raise you up in the last days you must come to partake. The Hebrews during the Exodus became hungry, and I tell you all humanity hungers to this day for His flesh. During the Exodus God gave them sustenance so that they could carry on, but it was not spiritual life giving.