Good morning! The Gospel of John presents seven “I AM” statements describing Jesus’ nature and work. Here, Jesus connects the bread that came down from heaven to sustain God’s people as they sojourned in the wilderness (manna), but that only sustained them for the day. The manna was a shadow of the reality to come.
In the previous paragraph, Jesus had this encounter with the Jewish leaders:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
John 6:25-29
When the leaders noted that Moses provided a sign in the wilderness (manna), they asked for a sign from Jesus, who then told them about a bread that comes down from heaven that will give life to the world. A promising prospect to the Jewish leaders!
The Son of Man would give them this bread–He Himself was that bread. Christ gave of Himself to provide the spiritual sustenance needed both here and in the hereafter. Christ is our everlasting manna!
No material item can bring any sort of sustaining satisfaction. Jesus is enough to bring that sustaining sustenance! Look to the cross and the empty tomb for that promise!
Bare Forests 