Sunday, October 27, 2013

Manna? What Is It?


     Friends, for today's bible study, Brother Bob will explain how the manna that came down from heaven represented our Lord Jesus who was the bread of God which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world. The hebrew definition of manna is What is it? The manna that came down from heaven to feed the children of Israel was mysterious and puzzling to the people, making them say What is it? When Jesus as the bread of life came down from heaven, Jesus also was mysterious and puzzling to the people, making them say Who is this? What is this?

     The story about the above picture of how God provided manna to feed the children of Israel can be found at Exodus 16:13 and says And it came to pass that at even the quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing as small as the hoarfrost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna, for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat. Exodus 16:31 goes on to say And the house of Israel called the name thereof manna; and it was like coriander (defined as a striped grain representing the stripes of Jesus) seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

     Jesus proclaimed that He was the manna or bread of life that cometh down from heaven at John 6:32 that says Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto Him, Lord evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.


     OK, Brother Bob is going to give you several pictures proving that when Jesus came down from heaven, Jesus like the manna, was mysterious and puzzling, making people say Who is this? What is this? For our first example pictured above, notice that after Jesus said peace be still, calming the storm, the disciples were puzzled and said What manner of man is this? Mark 4:41 states And they feared exceedingly and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?

     Today, Jesus like the manna is still puzzling and mysterious to many people. Today, the world listens to us preach about Jesus, the salt of the earth, the light of the world, the resurrection, the life, the Alpha, the Omega, the first, the last, the beginning, the ending, the Son of the living God who was dead three days and was raised again, born of a virgin, and is gone to God's right hand, and will come again to receive us to Himself and take us to a place called heaven and they say Who is this? What is this?

     Friend reading this anywhere, God makes Jesus mysterious so we can all get saved by faith. Ephesians 5:31 defines Jesus as a great mystery and says For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 1 Timothy 3:16 also defines Jesus as a great mystery and says And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; God (Jesus) was manifest in the flesh.

     Friend, today accept and believe the great mystery Jesus with your heart, not your mind, and confess Jesus as God, believing Jesus died for you on the cross, rose again, and get saved. Don't try to figure out Jesus with your mind; just accept Jesus as God by faith with your heart, believing God's Word. Hebrews 11:6 tells us But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Romans 10:10 also tells us For with the heart (not the mind) man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

     Friend believe and accept the above Word of God by faith and not man's ways or thoughts because the prophet Isaiah said that God proclaimed at Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.


     Another example where Jesus like manna was mysterious and puzzling to the people occurred when Jesus pictured above asked his disciples Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am? Jesus' disciples were confounded and didn't know who Jesus was or what He was. Some of the disciples thought Jesus was John the Baptist, Jeremiah, or Elijah. Only Peter recognized Jesus as God and was blessed with the keys of the kingdom. The disciples never met anybody like Jesus. Jesus was as one they never seen or heard of before.

     The story about the above picture can be found at Matthew 16:13 and says When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked his disciples saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am? And they said, some say that thou art John the Baptist; some Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Friend reading this anywhere, Brother Bob prays in Jesus name we all can be like Peter and recognize mysterious Jesus as the Christ (defined as God or Messiah) and be saved, as we all believe that Jesus died for us on the cross and rose again.

     Listed below are two more examples of people who were puzzled at Jesus, the true manna, saying Who is this? What is this? When Simon the Pharisee and his friends saw Jesus forgive the sinful woman that washed His feet with her tears, Luke 7:49 records And they that sat at meat with Him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? Also, the officers who tried to arrest Jesus were astonished when they met Jesus and John 7:45 says Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them; Why have ye not brought Him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived.? Wow, the officers that tried to arrest Jesus got saved and were blessed by the words of Jesus.


     For our next picture we see four men getting ready to lower their friend through a roof to be healed by Jesus, causing the religious people to be amazed at mysterious Jesus, the true manna, and say We never saw it on this fashion. The story is seen at Mark 2:10 where Jesus says But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins, He saith to the sick of the palsy, I say unto thee arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

     When Jesus walked before the people, Jesus touched the blind, their eyes would open, He touched the deaf, their ears would open, He touched the dumb, their tongue would speak, He touched the lame, they'd leap and carry beds on their back and shout for God's glory; He touched the withered hand and it would stretch forth; He cast legions of devils out of people; He cast seven devils out of Mary Magdalene; He had power over the demons, devils, sicknesses, and all manner of diseases. He healed people and called Himself God and the people said What is this? Who is this? We've never seen anything like this before.


     Friends, as you look at the above picture, we see yet another example of how Jesus, like the manna, was mysterious, as he walked through the midst of the Pharisees, and did not allow them to throw Him headlong off a brow or cliff. Luke 4:28 tells us And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath and rose up, and thrust Him out of the city, and led Him unto the brow (cliff) of a the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong. But He passing through the midst of them went His way.

     Another time after Jesus proclaimed to the Pharisees that He was God, saying Before Abraham was I am, mysterious Jesus walked through the midst of the Pharisees, and did not allow them to cast stones at Him. John 8:58 says Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was I am. Then took they up stones to cast at Him, but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

     The people just couldn't do anything to Jesus. They couldn't throw a rock at Jesus. They couldn't throw Jesus off of a cliff. Jesus was mysterious like manna, making one say Who is this? What is this? Friend, the reason no one could kill Jesus was because Jesus loved you and gave His own life on the cross for you so you could live. Jesus came to this earth to die on the cross for all sinners, and no man could prevent Jesus as God from dying on the cross.

     People tried to kill Jesus before the cross unsuccessfully. Man tried to poison Jesus with vinegar, but Jesus tasted the vinegar and did not swallow the vinegar, staying alive. The Roman soldiers did not break the legs of Jesus and kill Jesus at the cross because Jesus had already given up the ghost and layed down His life for all sinners. Before the cross, no man could kill Jesus even if they strapped dynamite to Jesus. It was God's plan to save sinners by having the Lord Jesus give His own life at the cross of Calvary.


     To end up today's bible study, look at the above picture and let's study how the manna that the children of Israel ate was mysterious, making the people say What is it? When the children of Israel woke up one summer morning, they saw snowflakes of manna, like little biscuits, wafers, and flakes of cookies, tasting like honey. The people said What is it? How can it rain bread or snow biscuits? How can cookies fall out of heaven? Did an airplane have a crash and bust open and drop its cargo?

     As you look at the little girl above eating a small, white, round flake of manna, we can see symbols of Jesus represented by the manna. The small manna was symbolic of Christ's humbleness and humility. The manna was round, little round wafers, biscuits, like cookies with honeycomb taste, an emblem and symbol of Christ's eternity, without beginning, without ending, just a continuous circle. The manna was white, representing Christ's purity, His holiness, and His cleanliness. King David called the manna angels' food and said at Psalm 78:24  And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. Man did eat angels' food; He sent them meat to the full.

     Moses instructed the children of Israel to daily gather the manna and not gather two days storage of manna. If the people gathered more that one day's supply of manna before the sabbath, that manna would spoil. The only day the people could gather a two day supply of manna was before the sabbath day because God provided no manna on the sabbath as God rested. Jesus is like this manna that we need daily to survive. Unfortunately, a lot of people try Jesus like a six month's dose, or a two day revival, or a six week escapade, or turn over a new leaf, or get a new lease on life, or we'll try to live a better life; No, Jesus is an everyday, day by day necessity; you must have Jesus daily to survive; In the wilderness of the world, we must daily eat the true manna Jesus by faith, as we daily meditate on the Word of God that is Jesus.

     As always, it has been a blessing writing this bible study and give the gift of Jesus to my many friends in the many nations. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. I pray in Jesus name that these bible studies bless all my friends everywhere greatly. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.

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