Introduction
This passage is one of the most challenging and profound in the Gospel of John. Jesus’s language about eating his flesh and drinking his blood caused confusion and even offence among his listeners. However, it’s crucial to understand this passage within its context and through the lens of the Old Testament and other New Testament teachings.
Context
The Miracle of the Loaves
Jesus had just miraculously fed a large crowd with five barley loaves and two fish (John 6:1-14). This miracle demonstrated his power and provision.
The Crowd’s Motivation
The crowd followed Jesus, hoping for more physical food (John 6:26). Jesus, however, wanted them to understand a deeper, spiritual hunger.
Key Points and Explanation:
The True Bread from Heaven (John 6:32-35)
Jesus contrasts the manna provided by Moses in the wilderness (Exodus 16) with himself but manna sustained physical life temporarily, but Jesus, the “true bread from heaven,” offers eternal life. He says, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). The manna was a symbol of God’s provision. Jesus is the ultimate provision, fulfilling and surpassing the manna.
The Bread of Life and Eternal Life (John 6:47-51)
Jesus reiterates that believing in him leads to eternal life. He emphasises that he is the “living bread that came down from heaven” (John 6:51). John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Eating His Flesh and Drinking His Blood (John 6:52-58):
This is the most controversial part of the passage. The Jews questioned how Jesus could give them his flesh to eat. Jesus’s language is symbolic, not literal. It represents partaking in his life and sacrifice through faith.
It has a symbolic meaning. “Eating his flesh” and “drinking his blood” signify a deep, intimate union with Jesus. It represents receiving the benefits of his sacrificial death on the cross. It’s about believing that his death and resurrection provide eternal life.
It has a connection to the Lord’s Supper. While this passage precedes the institution of the Lord’s Supper, it foreshadows it. The bread and wine in communion symbolise Jesus’s body and blood, reminding us of his sacrifice.
In 1 Corinthians 10:16 we read, “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?”
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think the crowd followed Jesus? What were they hoping for?
- How is Jesus different from the manna that Moses gave the Israelites?
- What does it mean to “eat Jesus’s flesh” and “drink his blood”? Why is it not literal?
- How does understanding the symbolism of the Lord’s Supper help us understand this passage?
- How does believing in Jesus give us eternal life?
- How can we “feed” on Jesus daily?
- How does this passage show Jesus’s divine nature?
- How does the old testament foreshadow Jesus?
Practical Application
We need daily dependence on Jesus. Just as we need physical food to survive, we need Jesus to sustain our spiritual lives. We must rely on him daily through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship. Further, “Eating” and “drinking” are acts of faith. We must trust that Jesus’s sacrifice is sufficient for our salvation. Participating in the Lord’s Supper is a tangible way to remember and celebrate Jesus’s sacrifice.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for being the true bread from heaven. We acknowledge that you are the source of eternal life. Help us to understand your words and to partake in your life through faith. We pray that we may hunger and thirst for you more than anything else in this world. Help us to trust in your sacrifice and to live in union with you. In your holy name, Amen.
Blessing
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. And may the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, sustain you always. Amen.
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