We continue our study of the Gospel of John. Picking up at verse 47 of Chapter 6, we read the Holy Spirit inspired words of the Apostle as he quotes our Lord, Christ Jesus.
“Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. I AM the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the LIVING bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6: 47-51
Jesus is in conversation with the Religious Leaders. What He is saying here, He has already stated. He continues to proclaim that He is the Bread of Life. He continues to proclaim that He came down from heaven. He is saying if you believe what I am saying, and receive Me into your soul as you receive bread into your flesh, you will have eternal life.
He says it in these passages, and He says it again in the conversation that follows. He is not just throwing it out there once and moving on; this is life changing Truth that He is hoping the Jews, and all mankind, will hear and believe and receive. He continues to tell them that He came down from Heaven to bring them this truth, and now He is saying that He Himself is the bread of life – not just for them, but for all. He said, “For anyone may eat this bread and not die.”
Then He adds for the first time, “I am the LIVING bread that came down from heaven. This bread is my flesh which I will give for the life of the World.”
Jesus comes into us as a Living Being. Just as the Holy Spirit tells us about the Word in the Book of Hebrews, “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. Jesus comes into our life to GIVE Life. He is the LIVING bread. He is the LIVING WORD in our life.
We take food, manna, into our mortal body which our body processes into the things it needs. It brings LIFE into our being. We must have it to live. But even then there comes a time when it will not keep our mortal body alive. Jesus is saying, “Eat the Living bread I offer you, and you will not die.” He is saying we are more than the body we see. He is saying there is a soul within us, and in it we will live forever if we believe and receive Him into our Being as the sustaining bread of Life.
We will hear how He brings this to pass as we continue our study. May you and yours have a wonderful week, God’s Beloveds. May you be blessed with Abundant Life by receiving His life giving bread through the Word each day, and in the many ways He feeds our soul. You are greatly loved, and highly blessed in Christ Jesus.
Poppa B.