“Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you aren’t looking for Me because you saw Me do miracles. You are looking for me because you ate the bread and were satisfied.” (1)
Combining an incomprehensible mystery with a metaphor, Jesus teaches a vital lesson.
“Jesus said, I tell you the truth, you must eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood. Otherwise, you won’t have real life in you.” (2) What! How can you eat flesh and drink blood? “When the followers of Jesus heard this, many of them said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?” (3) After Jesus said these words many of His followers left Him and stopped following Him. Jesus ask the twelve followers, “Do you want to leave, too?” Simon Peter answered, “Lord, who would we go to? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One from God.” (4) The disciples must have felt the weight of Jesus’ words as they saw so many followers turning away and refusing to follow Him any more.
What was the principle significance of Jesus’ words?
Was this a call to the unbelievers to wake up and see that salvation was upon them. Peter understood He realized life wasn’t about satisfying the physical crave of hunger but a greater need was at hand, to satisfy the soul’s spiritual hunger. Peter realized he could go no other place but to Christ who alone had personal interest in his care and needs. Christ knew him so well he could quench the longings of his heart. Peter understood and believed. Perhaps Peter remembered John’s affirming words, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.” (5)
Jesus’ teachings
Then Jesus said, “It is the Spirit that gives life. The flesh doesn’t give life. The words I told you are spirit and they give life. But some of you don’t believe…(6) Jesus was teaching that they lacked faith and He also emphasized the sustenance and the necessity of spiritual nourishment. It is partaking with Christ by our commitment to solely and passionately follow Him. Beholding and believing are part of eating soul bread and drinking living, pure, clean water in Jesus, alone, for He is life. Jesus is the bread of life, and the living water. “I am the bread that gives life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty. (7) As God’s children we find our life bound in Christ, sharing in His pains and sufferings. We remember all that He has done through the holy sacraments instituted in the bread and the wine which represents the His body broken for us, and His blood shed for us. As a community of believers, Christ is our life where we are surrender “all” with thanksgiving.
What do we do when we lack faith?
“And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”… (8)
We pray! May we come to God believing, and receiving with a open, teachable spirit.
YAHWEH, You are the MOST HIGH GOD, and I am a seeking servant asking that You would draw me to You with longings to know You better. Lord, increase my faith that I will believe all things are possible. Thank You. Amen.
Footnotes:
1. John 6: 26,
2. John 6:53
3. John 6:60
4. John 6:66-68
5. John 1:14
6. John 6:63, 64
7. John 6:35
8. Mark 9:23, 24 niv
Scriptures are cited from the ncv unless otherwise cited
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