We learned last week that we need to seek Jesus for the right reason – by faith, not works. He is the Bread of Life and was sent by God from heaven to give life to the world. There are no lists of rules and regulations we have to do to have eternal life. All we have to do is believe and trust in Jesus.
John 6:41-51 – The Skeptics
The Jews rejected Jesus because of His claim of divine origin. Six times Jesus said that He ‘came down from heaven’. They knew Joseph and Mary as His parent, but just couldn’t recognize His divinity. Jesus’ words were too hard to understand and they began to grumble and complain. They had sufficient proof of Jesus’ origin through the Scriptures. They also had the Old Testament prophecies that pointed to Jesus as the Messiah. They had seen all the miracles He had done. They even saw God’s approval when He was baptized. Still they asked, How could He have the authority to give eternal life?
It is very important to believe in Jesus’ heavenly origin because He is the only way to God. If you don’t believe in Him and who He says He is, you will not have eternal life.
The Scriptures have an important part in us coming to faith in Jesus. They point to Jesus. They tell us about Him and they convict us of sin. Scripture is God’s living Word.
Jesus told them to stop grumbling. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him and I will raise him up on the last day.” – John 6:44. This is called election or predestination. This is hard to understand. God chose us for salvation even before we were born. “He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.” – Eph. 1:4-5 God draws individuals to Jesus and gives us to Him. He chose us all, but God holds us responsible for our refusal to accept and believe in Jesus. God is merciful. He made salvation available to us all.
In John 6:46 and 14:6-12 we learn that only Jesus has seen the Father. He is the only way to God. To see Jesus is to see God. He is God.
He has great love for us because He came to earth and died for us.
In John 6:47-48 Jesus said that He is the true bread from heaven and whoever believes in Him has everlasting life. To believe means to trust in, rely on, and cling to Jesus. No other person ever said ‘believe in me and find everlasting life’.
In John 6:49-50 Jesus’ mentioned 2 kinds of death – physical death and spiritual death. The Bible tells us we all will die a physical death and our bodies are perishable, but God promises believers that we will have imperishable bodies and will live eternally with Him forever. (John 6:44, 50-51; 11:25; 1 Cor. 15:54-55)
Where will you go when you die?
Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” – John 6:51
Principle: Unbelieving skeptics need to realize that Scripture is the only source for truth about Jesus.
John 6:52-59 – Flesh and Blood
Jesus explained what He meant by bread. Jesus said His flesh, His life is the bread. He would give His life for the life of the world. Eating and drinking of His body and flesh are symbolic and refers to the Passover Lamb ceremony. It also points to the sacrifice of the Lamb of God on the cross.
Jesus taught about His flesh and blood. The Jews began to argue even more. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.” – John 6:53-55
Our bodies need food and drink to survive. It gives us energy and fuels our bodies. Jesus gives us energy and fuel. He encourages us. He nourishes our souls and sustains us forever. So when we read, study, and obey Scripture, we are taking in His Words, His characteristics, His attributes, and even acting on them. Then we live by His example.
In Exodus 12 we learn about the first Passover. The Israelites were to put the blood of an unblemished lamb on their doorposts and as God would pass through the land of Egypt, He would destroy all the firstborns of the land both man and beast. If the blood wasn’t on the doorpost every first born would be killed. The blood of the Passover lamb would protect the people from God’s judgment.
Are you a believer in the Lord Jesus?
How are you being nourished by Jesus?
Principle: Feeding on Jesus by faith is necessary for eternal life.
John 6:60-66 – Hard Truths
Many of His followers could not accept what He was teaching and stopped following Him. His words were too hard to understand and accept. He didn’t preach to please people. Jesus asked the disciples if His Words offended them. He said that they would see Him ascend to heaven where He was before. He said that Spirit gives life and flesh counts for nothing. He said He spoke in spirit and His words are life. He knew there would be those who would not believe. Because He is God, He knows the hearts of all people. He asked the 12 disciples if they wanted to leave Him, too. Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” – John 6:68
In John 6:63 Jesus said, “The spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.” I think He meant that simply seeing or touching food is not enough. It must be consumed. In the same way, faith means receiving Jesus in the deepest parts of ourselves. The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing and does not give salvation.
The flesh will rot away, but the Spirit last forever. His Words are Spirit that gives life. In other words the Word of God is life. Hearing and receiving His Word will bring you to believe and have the results of eternal life. God’s Word is truly living and life-giving. It is the Holy Spirit who makes us alive to understand. The Holy Spirit gives life, convicts us of sin, teaches us, guides us, helps us to know the truth, regenerates the spiritually dead, and empowers us to be obedient.
People don’t read their Bibles because it’s sometimes hard to understand and accept, but we should not reject its truth. Instead we should ask God to help us to understand and to reveal its lessons to us personally.
Do you find God’s Words too hard to understand?
Principle: We must submit to hard truths and go against worldly beliefs.
John 6:67-71 – Commitment
Peter knew the Jesus’ Words were true and that He was the Messiah. He was like the psalmist in Psalm 73:23-28. Where would he go? Only Jesus can give him eternal life. He knew Jesus was the Holy One of God. Many religions claim they have the way to God, but Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me.” – John 14:6
Jesus knew one of His disciple would betray Him. “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” – John 6:70. He meant Judas who would later betray Him. He chose the twelve and He chooses us even though we have to freedom to accept or reject Him as Judas did.
There are people today who see miracles and hear God’s Word, but still reject Him. Judas saw Jesus’ miracles and heard His teaching, but rejected and betrayed Him.
Why do people reject Jesus and the truth? I think some reject the truth because they misunderstand it, some are opposed to it, and some are just plain blind to it. Some want to experience what Jesus has to offer, but don’t want to surrender and commit. Some go to church and even serve God for what they can get out of it. Many churches are growing today because many have watered down the true doctrine.
In what ways do you betray Jesus?
Principle: Jesus Christ alone is the Holy One of God and worthy of commitment.
Next week we will study John 7. Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site. – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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Resources:
Bsfinternational.org
Bibleref.org
Enduringword.com
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