When I was growing up as a teenager in my Dad's house we, like most families struggled with finances, and keeping enough food in the fridge and cupboards to feed everyone. I remember him jokingly making the statement... "boy, if we just didn't have to eat." as an expression of frustration, of not being able to get ahead financially because of the cost of food. Thinking that with everything else he had to pay for, not having to pay for food, would have helped a lot! And not only that, but food that had to constantly be replenished in a house with seven people. Below we see the point right after Jesus had miraculously fed the five thousand with only what was once just five loaves of bread and two fish. And afterward the Apostles go across the Sea of Galilee by boat to Capernaum. The crowd didn't see Jesus go with them, and not knowing where Jesus was, they followed the Apostles...
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 are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” - Gospel of John 6:25-27
Here, in this section of Scripture we see (as in other sections of Holy Scripture) that Jesus answers the question that they didn't ask. He answered the question that they should have asked of themselves. 'Why are we seeking this Jesus?' Jesus was fully aware that there was a lot of excitement around him, and they were only seeking after the physical food, and not the more important spiritual signs, or the more important reality of who He is, and the blessing that comes with that understanding. By telling them that they were really only seeking a physical blessing, He exposed their hearts. But then swooping down to lovingly tell them the truth. "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life". Later in the chapter He tells them, I am the bread that came down from heaven.
In Holy communion, while it is still just bread and wine, we do receive the Body, and the Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. This is the food that endures to eternal life. Christ Himself. "Every good and perfect gift is from above." We believe that Christ fed (to the full) 5,000 men, and we likewise, by faith, receive his flesh and blood. He came down from heaven, to give us his body, and his blood, in the flesh, to be the one, all encompassing sacrifice for the atonement of the sin of the world. As we read in the Gospel of John 6:47-51 when Jesus himself, says... 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Jesus fed the five thousand, from what was only five loaves of bread and two fish. He miraculously gave them the food that fills now, and the food that "endures to eternal life", His own flesh and blood, by speaking to them the Word of His Gospel! Even though at the time (before Christ's Crucifixion, death, and resurrection) they might not have fully understood it. They would eventually come to understand His words, and what His miracles meant to them, and to the world.
One of the Hymns that I have recently heard is called "What is this bread?" The first verse says this...
"What is this bread? Christ's body risen from the dead: This bread we break, this life we take, was crushed to pay for our release. Oh, taste and see -- the Lord is Peace."What can be said, about the Love of our Savior who would lay aside his majesty, and power, and go to the Cross, to pay for our release with his own body, and blood? It will take an eternity I'm sure! The Apostle Paul with inspiration of the Holy Spirit does exceedingly well...
"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" Romans 11:33
(Ezra in Prayer)
