"I Am The Living Bread"

The vastness of the hungry multitude and the smallness of the food supply stand out in marked contrast (John 6.), but neither factor embarrassed Jehovah's Perfect Servant. Clearly and simply He worked, and the combination of His Power and Compassion made it evident that He was the Sent One come from God. The meal was finished. All were satisfied; and the food left over was more than at the commencement. Little wonder then that the people would have made the Lord their King had He not withdrawn from them.

Arising out of the miracle the Lord speaks an abundance of words, so fully recorded in this chapter. There are words of significant importance; some so mighty and profound that His hearers became amazed, whilst others are beautifully simple and plain. Like a towering landmark the words, "I am the Living Bread," stand out pre-eminently.

To eat bread, whether enjoyed from His own hands in the desert, or from those of Moses as their fathers had experienced in the wilderness, was only to eat of that which perisheth.

But there was the true bread. That was Himself. This bread had come down out of heaven. To eat thereof is to live for ever. Concerning this, the Lord said: "The bread which I will give is My flesh, for the life of the world" (verse 51). That referred to His crucifixion day, when He offered Himself to God as the Living Bread, and gave His Flesh for the life of the world. His blood was shed to impart life, and in giving His flesh there is also the thought that it is for the support of the spiritual life.

With the believer that life begins at the cross. Thenceforward there may be a continual eating of His flesh (the remembrance of Himself in regard to bread and wine is not here in question), and with this His words are inseparably linked, as verse 63 shows: "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit and are life." He has words (see verse 68) now; presently. They are for our perusal, and re-perusal; for our prayerful mediation. As at one time He said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4. 4), 50 is it in regard to the words which proceed from Himself. It is by them that we live. His words abide for all eternity.

unknown | Jan 1932
General