In John 6:48-51, our Lord draws a contrast between Himself as the Bread of life and the manna which Israel ate in the wilderness. The Israelites ate manna in the wilderness, and yet they died. For all of its wonderful properties – ‘the grain of heaven,’ ‘angel’s food’ (Ps. 78) – while sustaining physical life, manna could not impart eternal life. But those who eat the true Bread, shall not die. Those who appropriate Christ to themselves, by faith, who satisfy their hearts by feeding on Him, shall live forever.
In this concept of eating the body of Christ we see the need to partake of Christ in a very real manner. As we consume food, the food becomes part of us – so likewise Christ is to be part of us. However clearly, as the death mentioned here is not physical, so the eating as well is not literal. Here we receive the first hint of our union with Christ. As food only becomes part of you when you eat it, when you receive Him, by faith, He becomes, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27). What a greater Bread this is, and what a greater life!
Finally in John 6:51 Christ reveals to us the whole picture, “and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh” – a clear reference to His crucifixion. He willingly gives His life as a ransom for ours. When we feed upon Christ, we become united with Him in his death, and thus will certainly be in His resurrection (Rom 6:5). It is not a life which is perishable, for “you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3.) It is not a life which ends when our earthly pilgrimage is over, for it is “eternal life.” What has the world to offer in comparison with this?!?
