"Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life."
John 6:68
Part 4
Yesterday:
Before He taught the “Bread of Life” message, He answered their questions to prepare them for what He is about to teach them. They will find His words to be challenging to accept.
Today:
Jesus continues teaching the crowd His “Bread of Life” sermon (John 6:41-59).
First, Jesus will address the multitude who had accepted Him but are now rejecting Him.
Jesus tells them why their change of heart (John 6:41-46). The Jews had a problem with Jesus saying, “I am the bread from heaven” (John 6:33-35; 6:41; 6:48; 6:51). The “Bread of Life” means the “bread that gives life.” The idea is similar to the “tree of life” (Genesis 2:9; 3:22; 3:24) and in Revelation, the “water of life” (Revelation 21:6; 22:1). Jesus told them that He is the one who can provide for them this “bread that gives life.”
“I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
To get this eternally satisfying “Bread of Life,” one must go to Jesus for it. He alone can save! Jesus will “keep” everyone that the Father has sent to Him to save (John 6:37-40).
In the work of salvation, God the Father draws sinners to Jesus for this “Bread.”
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44).
“And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father” (John 6:65).
“We like to feel as though we are in charge and that we give ourselves to God. In truth, He calls, and we come. This understanding of God’s initiative in salvation should make us more confident in evangelism, knowing that God is drawing people, and we can expect to see those whom the Father draws come to Him.”[1]
“…draw him. Those thus drawn are defined in John 6:37 as ‘all’ those who are given (without exception)”[2] (Bullinger).
Second, Jesus explains to them about this true bread from heaven (John 6:47-59).
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life” (John 6:47-48).
“This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eats of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:50-51).
The people cringed at this, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” (v. 52). They clearly did not understand His metaphor. Many people today do not understand Jesus’ words either, as they have applied them literally to the elements of “communion.” They take the passage to mean that the elements literally become flesh and blood of Jesus. There are significant problems with that wrong doctrine.
This “bread” that Jesus offers is far greater than the manna in the wilderness. That bread was given to sustain physical life to the Children of Israel on their trek to the Promised Land. Jesus said that they all ate it, and they are all dead.
“Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead” (John 6:49).
The difference between “manna” and the “Bread of Life” is those who partake of Jesus’ “living bread” are made alive spiritually and can never be separated from God, ever. This bread gives eternal life!
“This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever” (John 6:58).
It takes genuine faith to partake of this “Bread.”
“He who eats this bread will live forever: Jesus offers us heavenly bread for eternal life, but we must eat it. Faith in Jesus is not compared with tasting or admiring, but with eating. We must dig in! Jesus says that we must have Him within us, and we must partake of Him.”[3]
Jesus has laid out the truth in plain words. How will His audience respond to this truth? Tomorrow we will find out. See you then!
Quote: “God forbid that I should travel with anybody a quarter of an hour without speaking of Christ to them”[4] (George Whitefield).
[1] Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] E.W. Bullinger, The Companion Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] Enduring Word Commentary, ibid.
[4] Whitefield’s quote Downloaded: Monday, August 17, 2020. From: https://www.christianquotes.info/top-quotes/17-amazing-quotes-power-words/.