John 6:49,50 - Yet they died

6:49

Jesus contrasts the Old Testament with the New. The people, and the leaders in particular, were so focused on the Law. Now see how Jesus uses common sense here. The Israelites in Exodus did indeed eat the manna, but they also all died. This could be referring to death in general, or to the fact that most of them died in the desert because of their unfaithfulness. The manna did not give eternal life.

6:50

In contrast, the bread from heaven, i.e. Jesus, was sent by God that “that one may eat of it and not die”. A much greater reward was on offer from God. Note that it is God’s purpose that we have eternal life. Yet we will so easily settle for something far less. We will do this through religion, as the religious leaders of the day were doing, and religious leaders ever since have been prone to do. We need to be aware of the greatness of the gift of God.