João 6:34

DISCOURSE: 1638
THE LIVING BREAD

João 6:34. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

A FANCIED approbation of the Gospel will consist with rooted enmity against it. But such an approbation always arises from carnal, or partial views of the truth. Many love God under the idea “that He is such an one as themselves.” Thus the Samaritan woman desired the living water, that she might have no more occasion to go to the well [Note: João 4:15.]. Thus also the people, whom our Lord was now addressing, seem to have misapprehended our Saviour’s meaning. They had desired him to confirm his Divine mission by some miracle equal to what Moses had wrought for their forefathers in the wilderness [Note: ver. 31.]. Our Lord assured them that He himself was the true bread, of which the manna was only a type and figure. They, little knowing what they asked for, desired him to give them the bread of which he spake. The petition however, in itself, was good. That you may be led to offer it in a more intelligent manner, we shall set before you,

I. The excellence of that bread—

Our Lord enters very minutely into this subject. He institutes a comparison between the manna, and himself as the bread of life; and shews the superiority of the true bread,

1. In its origin—

[They supposed that the manna had been given them from heaven: whereas it came only from the clouds [Note: ver. 32.]; and was as earthly in its nature as if it had been formed like common bread. But Christ himself was the true bread [Note: ver. 48.]: and He came down from heaven. His abode from all eternity had been in the bosom of his Father. And he was now come down from thence to be the food of his chosen people [Note: ver. 51.]

2. In its properties—

[The manna, like any other bread, was suited only to the body; nor could it give life to that, but only maintain its life; and after all, the bodies which it nourished would die at last [Note: ver. 49.]. But the true bread was intended for the soul. Nor would it merely support it when alive, but quicken it when dead [Note: ver. 33.]. Yea, the soul, once quickened by it, should never die [Note: ver. 50, 58.]. Christ himself being their life, they should live by him here [Note: ver. 57.], and with him for ever [Note: Colossenses 3:4.]

3. In its uses—

[The manna was very confined as to its use. It was for one nation only; whereas the true bread is intended for the use of all mankind [Note: ver. 33. before cited.]. It is more extensively necessary. The Israelites might as easily have been supported by other food. And we can find many substitutes for bread. But without Christ, no man can live [Note: ver. 53.]. Neither earth nor heaven can provide a substitute for him. That bread is equally needed by every child of man. It is also more extensively suitable. Persons may be so disordered as to be incapable of enjoying, or even digesting, common bread. But in whatever state we be, Christ is the proper food of the soul. He is a bread, which is suited both, as milk, to babes, and, as strong meat, to them that are of full age [Note: ver. 54–56.]. Further, it is more extensively satisfying. The manna could supply but one want. Whatever abundance of bread we have, we may need a variety of other things, for want of which we may even perish. But if we have Christ, we have all things. We can want nothing which is good for the body [Note: Mateus 6:33.]; nor any thing that relates to the soul [Note: ver. 35.]. He is food to the hungry, clothing to the naked, riches to the poor, health to the sick, life to the dead [Note: Apocalipse 3:18. 1 Coríntios 1:30.]; He is all and in all [Note: Colossenses 3:11.]

Such a glorious account of this bread being given by Christ himself, it becomes us to inquire into,

II.

The means by which it may be obtained—

Every provision for the body must be obtained by labour; but this for the soul must be accepted as a free gift—
[We are extremely averse to stand indebted to another for our spiritual sustenance. We should be much better pleased to earn it by our own industry. But all our exertions for this end are fruitless. If we were to obtain an interest in Christ by our own works, salvation would no longer be of grace [Note: Romanos 11:6.]. We are therefore cautioned against every attempt to gain it in that way [Note: Gálatas 5:2.]. We are expressly told that the Israelites were left for ever destitute of this bread, because they would persist in these self-righteous methods of obtaining it [Note: Romanos 9:30.]. We are exhorted to receive it freely, without money and without price [Note: Isaías 55:1.]

Nevertheless we are not to decline all kind of labour for it—
[We are to seek this bread in prayer [Note: The text.], and in the use of all God’s appointed ordinances. We are to exert ourselves as much in order to obtain it, as if the acquisition of it were the sole effect of our labour. But we are at the same time to depend as much upon God for it, as if we used no endeavours whatever to procure it. Nor is there any inconsistency in such a view of our duty. Our Lord himself says, “Labour for the meat which the Son of man shall give you [Note: João 6:27.].”]

Application—

[Let us seek it by prayer and faith — — — Let us be thankful that it is sent us in such rich abundance — — — Let us gather it fresh every day and hour [Note: Êxodo 16:16.] — — — Nor once attempt to hoard it for future use [Note: Êxodo 16:19.]. There is a fulness in Christ to satisfy our every want — — — Nor shall we ever be refused if we plead with him as we ought to do [Note: Mateus 15:26.]. Let us remember, that in our Father’s house there is bread enough and to spare [Note: Lucas 15:17.]. And rest assured, that by feeding upon Christ, we shall find him to be meat indeed and drink indeed [Note: João 6:55.]