This is the next in our series this week of 8 lessons explaining Jewish History as Christian Prophecy. Each day is a story connecting the Jewish Passover with the work of Jesus. You can follow along by making your own ornaments or drawing pictures or you can purchase our set of wooden ornaments based upon my hand-stitched set here. The introduction can be read here.
The Bread of Life
Story Significance:
In the same way that God provided manna in the desert to disobedient, wandering Israel, Jesus is the Bread of Life, offered as nourishment to sinners in need of direction.
Activity for Today:
- Hang the Basket of Manna Ornament: This basket represents the bread that fell from the sky during the Exodus (Manna) and Jesus offering Himself as the Bread of Life!
Bible Overview:
It was near the time of the Passover and a large crowd had followed Jesus because they had seen the signs that He was doing on the sick. As Jesus saw the large crowd coming toward Him, He asked, “Where are we to buy bread for, so that these people may eat?” Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to even get a little to eat.” One of the disciples, Andrew said, “There is a boy here with five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus had the people sit down on the grass. Jesus then took the loaves and the fish and when He had given thanks, He took them and fed 5,000 people! And when they all had eaten as much as they wanted to, the disciples gathered up 12 baskets with the bread that was left over!
When the people saw this sign, they said, “Indeed this is the prophet who was predicted to come into the world! The next day the people found Jesus on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus met them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for food that spoils, but for the food that endures to eternal life which I will give you!”
The people, then asked Jesus, “Show us a sign that we might see and believe You. Our fathers in the wilderness ate bread from heaven. As it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread that God gives is His Son who came down from heaven and gives life to the world! I am the bread of life who comes down from heaven; whoever comes to Me will not hunger or thirst. Everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and they died. I am the living bread that comes down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread they will live forever.”[i] The Passover following this Bread of Life Sermon, Jesus would lift up the unleavened bread and say “this is my body which is broken for you!” and he took the Passover cup and said “this is my blood that is shed for you!”
REFERENCES:
[i] John 6:1-51
Prophecy in Christian tradition encompasses a wide range of genres, including oracles, visions, dreams, and symbolic actions, each conveying God’s message in unique ways.