Daily Manna

Before discussing our growth and maturing in Christ we discuss the observance of religious traditions. In the Old Covenant they observed many different ceremonies, but had to repeat them because the activities did not help. The obvious point is that if what we do fixes a problem finally, we should not need to repeat it. We can apply this to a constant call for revival among Christians.

But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance of sin every year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin. (Heb 10:3-4).

The same problem occurs today when we think that it is our observance of religious duties that make us right with God, or enables us to ensure some help from Him, or facilitates our growth and maturity in Him. When we feel that we have not fulfilled enough of these duties, or that the efficacy of our last “sacrifices” has worn off, then we must start over again.

This type of worship is according to law. Jesus claimed that it could never work, because we are not able to do enough in this way. This is where we see the difference between the Old and the New Covenant. The New came to do what the Old could never do. Jesus was saying, “I have come to give you what the law could not give you, so you will not need to go over the same ground again and again. It will be done.”

We cannot worship God the Old Covenant way. This is what Jesus stressed and what Paul said, “Cast out the bondwoman and her son (meaning the law and the reliance on the flesh), for the son of the bond woman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.” (Gal 4:30). That is, Isaac and Ishmael cannot dwell together. A believer cannot live by both grace and law.

Jesus portrayed His life by contrasting it with Israel in the wilderness. He said Israel collected manna every day. But they still hungered. So they had to go back each day to collect manna again. He used this as a symbol of Old Covenant religion. He said that in contrast He is the living bread, so that any one who would eat of Him would never hunger or thirst again.

Some have tried to make the New Covenant walk like the wilderness wanderings. They have said each morning we must collect new spiritual manna by observing certain devotional exercises. The problem is this is law. Devotion is from the heart, from relationship. When we make it law, then as soon as we do not fulfil it we have no life. Then we have a “wilderness experience”.

So Jesus explained, “It is the Spirit that makes alive. The flesh profits nothing.” (John 6:63). This was Jesus’ point to Nicodemus. “That which is born of the flesh (what we do under law) is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit (grace) is Spirit (life).” (John 3:6). Jesus was kindly, but brutally, showing Nicodemus that his ministry was no good. Thank God when we are shown such things truly!

Jesus rebuked their religion very abruptly by saying it did not help them. It did not help their sin. It did not solve their problem:

Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead. (John 6:58).

The Old Covenant did not save. It did not meet the need. Just as they collected the manna each day, they repeated their ceremonies each day. But they were not filled. When we live Christianity this way, to be refilled spiritually and emotionally, it shows we are in religion. This is not Jesus. The baptism of Jesus is such that it solves the problem. It meets the need. It is of such a quality that it does not need repeating.

“Of His fullness have we all received…” (John 1:16). Some say, “But Paul said he wanted believers at Ephesus to be filled with the fullness of God.” (Eph 3:19). Yes, to come to the knowledge of their fullness in Christ. Repetitive religion and tradition kept them blinded to it.