The Gospel of John: John 6.22-40

Read and meditate on John 6.35-38.
You can’t make it any clearer than Jesus did here. The bread they should be seeking is the heavenly bread that endures to everlasting life, and that Bread is Jesus. Wow!

            ³⁵And Jesus said to them instead,
“I am the Bread of Life. Whoever to
Me comes shall hunger never more. He who
believes in Me shall never thirst. ³⁶I said
to you that you have seen Me clearly, yet
you still do not believe. ³⁷All whom to Me
the Father gives will come to Me, and he
who comes to Me, I will not turn away.
³⁸From heav’n have I come down to you today,
and not to do My own will, but the will
of Him Who sent me.”

- John 6.35-38

Reflect
1.  How is Jesus using the ideas of hunger and thirst here? Why are these appropriate ways of thinking about the spiritual needs of people? Complete the following prayer: Lord, do I hunger and thirst for You as I should? Help me to find You to be just what I need each day to…

2.  How should we understand the phrase “comes to Me”? Comes to Jesus for what? How? Today, Lord Jesus, I come to You for…

3.  Jesus offers Himself to the people in terms of a promise of never hungering and thirsting again. Meditate on 2 Peter 1.4. How do the promises of God work in leading you to come to Jesus more consistently and more deeply? Let me know Your promises, Lord, and help me to show those promises today to…

4.  Jesus rebuked the crowd for its failure to believe in Him (v. 36). What were they supposed to believe? What are people supposed to believe today, who want the Bread that endures to everlasting life? Lord, I believe that You…

5.  Jesus came to do the will of the Father, not the will of the people or their religious leaders (v. 38). How can we know what the will of God is for our lives? Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into one prayer.

Summary
“The expression ‘that the Father gives me’ shows that it is no accident whether a person believes or not. It shows that belief is not the work of human reasoning but requires a revelation from on high and a mind devout enough to receive the revelation. ‘Whoever then,’ our Lord says, ‘comes to me, shall be saved,’ meaning they shall be greatly cared for. For to save such as these I took up flesh and the form of a servant.” John Chrysostom (344-404 AD)

The people had rowed and sailed all day to “come” to Jesus. But had they really come to Him? Explain.

Closing Prayer
Bless God in the congregations,
The Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
There is little Benjamin, their leader,
The princes of Judah and their company,
The princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.
Your God has commanded your strength;
Strengthen, O God, what You have done for us.
Because of Your temple at Jerusalem,
Kings will bring presents to You.
Rebuke the beasts of the reeds,
The herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples,
Till everyone submits himself with pieces of silver.
Scatter the peoples who delight in war.
Envoys will come out of Egypt;
Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth;
Oh, sing praises to the Lord,
Selah
To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old!
Indeed, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice.
Ascribe strength to God;
His excellence is over Israel,
And His strength is in the clouds.
O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places.
The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people.
Blessed be God!

Psalm 68.26-35

Psalm 68.26-35, 32, 33 (O Store Gud: How Great Thou Art)
Bless God in all His holy congregations,
Even the Lord, the Fountainhead of grace;
He calls His people forth from all the nations
And gathers them before His glorious face.
    Sing to the Lord, O kingdoms of the earth!
    Ancient of Days – praise Him on high!
    Behold, He speaks; His Word is going forth;
    Ancient of Days – praise Him on high!

To You, O God, are strength and exaltation,
You fill the skies and dwell in holy awe!
To us You give strength, pow’r, and full salvation,
Blessed be Your Name, our strong, majestic God!
    Sing to the Lord, O kingdoms of the earth!
    Ancient of Days – praise Him on high!
    Behold, He speaks; His Word is going forth;
    Ancient of Days – praise Him on high!

T. M. Moore

Jesus is the Centerpiece of all Scripture, as He Himself explained (Jn. 5.39). But how can we learn to see Him there? How do the primary themes of Scripture revolve around Jesus? Our online course, Introduction to Biblical Theology, shows you how best to get at, get into, and get with the Word of God, so that you can grow more consistently in the Lord. It’s free, and you can study at your own pace. For more information or to register, click here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.