After the episode of the loaves and fishes, Christ is approached by the
people. They are impressed and want signs as to Christ's nature. They refer to Moses and the manna in the desert.
In the Old Testament God gave manna--every day for a long time--to the Jews wandering in the
desert.
This bread is the dichotomy; it is both physically needed and spiritually needed. Christ is a bit dismissive of their physical preoccupations.
Again Christ distinguishes between physical and spiritual need. But there is more contrast. Christ goes out of His way to distinguish between Himself and Moses.
'So they said to him,
“Sir, give us this bread always.”'
His answer must have knocked their socks off:
'Jesus said to them,
“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”'
Christ is not a Moses, an agent of God. He, Himself, is the gift and the sign.
This bread is the dichotomy; it is both physically needed and spiritually needed. Christ is a bit dismissive of their physical preoccupations.
Again Christ distinguishes between physical and spiritual need. But there is more contrast. Christ goes out of His way to distinguish between Himself and Moses.
'So they said to him,
“Sir, give us this bread always.”'
His answer must have knocked their socks off:
'Jesus said to them,
“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”'
Christ is not a Moses, an agent of God. He, Himself, is the gift and the sign.
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