Bread of life, light of the world

Okay, I admit it.  These passages are very dry.  Do we seriously need all these details? 

I guess the Israelites did; they had to make these things, after all. 

But for the rest of us in the 21st century…well, I can hardly wait until the action starts rolling again.

Anyway, the symbols here do remind me of two things that Jesus said of himself.

Coincidentally or not, he made these statements in the exact same order as Moses did in the book of Exodus. 

Namely, he called himself the bread of life (John 6:35) and the light of the world (John 8:12).

The bread of the Presence was to be placed on a special table in the tabernacle at all times.  It was a reminder that God was ever present with the Israelites, leading them and taking care of their needs. 

Not only that, it reminded them that he was the one that provided bread from heaven that helped them to survive in the desert. 

But God was also pointing to Jesus, who is the true bread from heaven that gives life to the whole world.  (John 6:32-40) 

Just as bread helps give us physical life, Jesus gives us spiritual life. Anyone who looks to him and believes in him will have eternal life.

The other symbol was the golden lampstand.  It was to continuously be burning from evening to morning, and was a symbol of how God was to be their light. 

He was their light in the darkness as he led them out of Egypt and through the desert by means of the pillar of fire. 

But he was also their spiritual light who showed them the way of righteousness and holiness. 

In the same way, Jesus is the light of the world. 

Jesus shines his light of truth and life in the darkness of this sinful world, and the darkness has not been able to overcome it.  (John 1:5) 

As Jesus said,

He who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.  (John 8:12)

So many people in this world stumble around in life, searching for meaning to their lives. 

But it is only in Jesus that we find our true meaning and purpose in life.

As he shines his light in our lives, we start to see the direction we need to go, and we see the purposes for which he created us. 

After all, if we’re looking for meaning in life, who better to ask than the one who made us?

Are you seeking life beyond what is here on earth?  Then go to the bread of life.  The person who goes to Him, will never be spiritually hungry again.

Are you stumbling around in the dark, looking for meaning in your life? 

Look to the light of the world.  Only in him is the light of life where meaning and purpose is found.