March 16
John 6: Jesus, the Manna Leading to Life
Exodus 27; John 6; Proverbs 3; Galatians 2
After Jesus feeds the 5,000 (John 6:1-13), the crowds rightly think of Moses (14). After all, here they are being fed with bread (and fish) from one who claims to be from heaven. But the name “the Prophet” signifies that they think he’s something greater - he’s THE Prophet - something akin to Moses and Elijah, wrapped into one. On this they are also correct. After all, where Moses fed them “manna,” this Jesus - just as he did with the wedding wine at Cana (John 2:10) - produces something superior.
At this point we might be tempted to criticize the people, since Jesus says they only want to follow Jesus because their bellies were full (26). Thus they bum-rush Jesus to make him their king, so aggressively that he must duck away (15). But in this impulse the people are not wrong, only misinformed. Jesus intended to make superior wine and bread. For his kingdom is superior to the old. And He is and will be enthroned as their King. And the Psalmist commands us to “taste and see that the Lord is GOOD!” (Psalm 34:8).
So Jesus explains the meaning of his feeding them the loaves and fishes, because, well, they don’t know it. The manna in the wilderness was not given by Moses; it was given by Jesus’ Father (32). His feeding them the loaves and fishes were a sign for what’s happening right before their eyes, and they need to see the symmetry of it. While it’s understandable that they would see Jesus as a greater Moses, that’s not what’s happening. Jesus is the greater manna. The bread he just fed them is its own sign, pointing to Jesus.
While the manna was given from heaven, it had to be eaten that day and then again the next day. Yet having eaten the manna, the Exodus generation still eventually died (49). But this Bread, if anyone “eats” of it, he will never die (50). To the point:
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. 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 imagery is graphic: we are to “eat” Jesus’ “flesh.” Yet by this Jesus means “faith.” A man eats food for two reasons: because there is pleasure in it and because he trusts that it will bring him nourishment to live. So too with this faith in Jesus: the life he gives is mere life, victory over death. And yet it is purely pleasurable, overflowing life - resurrection with him, forever (55-56).
For now, the disciples don’t get it (60). But at Pentecost, they will (62-63).