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Commentaries
English
John
  
30So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform?31Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven, to eat’ "32Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.33For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world."


Jesus’ demand for full surrender on the part of the crowd came as a rude shock. They felt that Jesus had demanded something from them that could be offered only to God. So they asked him for a text to justify his claim. As if they were saying, "Give us proof of your deity, Moses gave bread (the Manna) to the people in the wilderness, daily renewed. But you have given us bread just once. Moses gave bread to hundreds of thousands, you gave to a mere five thousand. Show us a further miracle and then we shall believe." This is human malady. Man refuses to yield to Jesus’ love unconditionally, but insists on proofs first. But Jesus says, "Blessed are those who believe and have not seen. Those are the ones who honor me with their trust."
Jesus is the supreme guide, who led his hearers step by step from legalistic thinking to a clear faith in him. He freed men from a craving for food, and illumined them; he is himself God’s great gift.
As part of this gradual clarification Jesus freed them from their false fancies on the meaning of Scripture, as if it had been Moses who had given them the Manna. It was God, in truth who had done this, the giver of all bounty. He brought them to a standstill to realize that God gives them the finer bread and the heavenly food that never perishes. By paying attention they would perceive that Jesus was proclaiming himself the Son of God, for he called God his Father. The crowds, however, continued to think of material food, coming down from heaven by Moses’ hand.
Jesus lifted their perceptions to understand that God’s bread was not one to be swallowed into the belly, but was the Person of Christ who satisfies man’s hunger for truth and abundant life. The One who bestows has come down from heaven loaded with God’s blessings and much power. God’s bread is not material and perishing, but spiritual and abiding. It did not spring from the ground as did the Manna, but came from God, enough for all mankind throughout the ages. It is not limited to Abraham’s seed. God the Father cares for the whole world.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, keep us from selfish activity. Create in us a humble faith, to listen to what you will have us do, and work in us by your power. Impel us to full union with you. Satisfy the hunger of our hearts by your presence in us. Preserve us to life eternal. We thank you, Father, for coming to us, granting us power and blessing.
Question
How did Jesus lead people from a desire for bread to faith in himself?