Scripture Study Course - Contents
Scripture Study Course Reflections by Don Schwager.

Meditation 11: The True Bread from Heaven

Exodus 16:4,15 and Psalm78:23-25 (RSV translation)

God gave them the bread of heaven

Exodus 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 

Exodus 16:15  When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. 

 Psalm 78:23-25  Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven;  and he rained down upon them manna to eat, and gave them the bread of heaven.  Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. 
 

John 6:22-35 (RSV translation)
“The Holy Spirit will teach you all things”

22 On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 However, boats from Tiberias came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29  Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30  So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? 31  Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus 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. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34  They said to him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” 

35  Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.
 

Some questions for reflection
  1. Why were the Israelites slow to understand that the manna was given to them by God as their daily bread from heaven (Exodus 14:4)? 

  2. Why does Jesus say “my Father gives you the true bread from heaven” and why does he call himself the bread of life (John 6:32,35)? 

  3.  
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[Don Schwager is a member of The Servants of the Word and author of the Daily Scripture Reading & Meditation website.]
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