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Crisis in Galilee
227
Jesus answered, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on
Him whom He hath sent.” The price of heaven is Jesus. The way to
heaven is through faith in the Lamb of God.
Selfish Hopes Unfulfilled
Jesus had done the very work prophecy had foretold the Messiah
would do, but the people had not witnessed what their selfish hopes
had pictured as His work. In the days of Moses Israel had been fed
with manna forty years, and far greater blessings were expected from
the Messiah. Why could Jesus not give health, strength, and riches
to all His people, free them from their oppressors, and exalt them to
power and honor? He claimed to be the Sent of God, yet refused to
be Israel’s king. This was a mystery they could not fathom. Did He
dare not assert His claims because He Himself doubted the divine
character of His mission?
Half mockingly a rabbi questioned: “What sign showest Thou
then, that we may see, and believe Thee? what dost Thou work? Our
fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them
bread from heaven to eat.”
“Then said Jesus unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses
gave you not that bread from heaven.” The giver of the manna was
standing among them. Christ Himself had led the Hebrews and had
daily fed them with the bread from heaven. That food was a type of
the real bread from heaven. The life-giving Spirit is the true manna.
“For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and
gives life to the world.” RSV.
[256]
Still thinking it was temporal food, some exclaimed, “Lord,
evermore give us this bread.” Jesus then spoke plainly, “I am the
bread of life.”
Moses had said, “Man doth not live by bread only, but by every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord.”
Deuteronomy
8:3
. And Jeremiah had written, “Thy words were found, and I
did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of
mine heart.”
Jeremiah 15:16
. The teaching of the prophets made
plain the spiritual lesson in the miracle of the loaves. Had Christ’s
hearers in the synagogue understood the Scriptures, they would have
understood His words, “I am the bread of life.” As the multitude had