0396. CHRIST, THE TRUE MANNA.

CHRIST, THE TRUE MANNA.

Joh_6:47-51.

There can be no question as to the manna being typical of the character and mission of Christ, for we have the Lord’s own authority for believing it to be so. A beautiful type it is. Like Christ-

I. It was Needed. The children of Israel were ready to perish for lack of bread. There was no help for them in the wilderness. It was so with this world before Christ came. There was a great hunger in the hearts of men for the true bread. The world needed Christ.

II. It was the Gift of God. The manna was not, and could not be, grown or manufactured on earth. The Saviour that man needed could not be man-made. All that the world could give the Christ was a cross. God loved the world and gave His Son. The manna, like Christ, was not deserved, but was the gift of infinite mercy to grumbling, discontented souls.

III. It was Satisfying. The manna was exactly suited to meet all the cravings of hunger. It was prepared by God for this very purpose. So Christ’s character and work, as appointed by God, meets all the needs of a destitute soul. Bread is not more suitable for the hungry than the Saviour is to the sinner. The one is the divinely-appointed remedy for the other.

IV. It was Within the Reach of All. The manna did not fall on the tree-tops, but on the ground, and so was quite within the grasp of every soul in the camp. No price was put upon it. It was free to all. Christ, the Bread of Life, is also within the reach of all who hear the Gospel. We don’t need to climb to Heaven to bring Christ down. The Word of salvation is nigh thee, even in thine heart. Whosoever will may take.

V. It had to be Personally Received. No one could eat the manna to save his brother. It had to be taken into each individual life. So with Jesus Christ, the gift of God. "As many as received Him, to them gives He power to become the sons of God" (Joh_1:12). As every man must breathe for himself if he is to live, so must he believe for himself if he is to be saved.

VI. It was the only Means of Saving their Lives. Not to appropriate this Heaven-sent gift was to die of starvation. There was no alternative but to eat or die. "If ye believe not that I am He," says Jesus Christ, "ye shall die in your sins" (Joh_8:24). There is no alternative but to accept Christ or perish. "There is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." "He that eateth this bread shall live for ever" (Joh_6:58).

Autor: James Smith