Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
The Jews had an expectation and quoted Psalm 72:16 to prove that the Messiah would be a greater Moses and give them manna once more. This was the current expectation of the Messiah. II Baruch 29:8 says, “It shall come to pass…that the treasury of manna shall again descend from on high, and they will eat of it in those years.” A Midrash stated “As the former redeemer (i.e. Moses) caused manna to descend, as it is stated, ‘Behold, I will cause to rain bread from heaven for you’ (Ex. 16:4), so will the latter Redeemer cause manna to descend, as it is stated, ‘May he be as a rich cornfield in the land’ (Psalm 72:16).
Strangely, Jesus had just given them a sign of this type with the giving of bread to feed the 5000. There were some differences, though. The bread only happened once, but the manna came 6 days a week for 40 years. The bread only fed 5000, but the manna fed about 2 million (600,000 men plus women and children). The bread was ordinary earthly bread, but the manna was very different indeed and has never been seen since. The bread came from bread already there, but the manna was created out of nothing (or from a heavenly source).
“he” = Moses. They thought Moses had given the manna and were unfavorably comparing Jesus with him, somewhat in the manner the woman at the well in chapter 4 had compared him unfavorably with Jacob. The manna accredited Moses, and the Jews were demanding that Jesus do the same.
Does Jesus always meet our expectations of Him? Does He always come through in exactly the way we think He should? When He doesn’t, who is at fault? What expectations do you hold of Jesus that He has not yet met or conformed to? Are you open to any changes He would like to make in your view of Him?