Jesus is the real food we need.
The Gospel of John: John 6.41-59
Read and meditate on John 6.52-54.
The murmuring and muttering has degenerated into arguing and quarreling. Stubborn unbelief can get really ugly. Meanwhile, Jesus pours it on.
52The Jews began
to argue, saying to themselves, “How can
this Man give us His flesh to eat?” 53But He
explained, “I say to you, unless you eat
the flesh of Him Who is the Son of Man,
and drink His blood, then you in no way can
have life in you. 54Whoever eats My flesh
and drinks My blood, shall certainly be blessed
with life eternal; on the last day, I
will raise him.
– John 6.52-54
Reflect
1. This verb began to argue is quite strong. It borders on a fight breaking out. But note: They weren’t arguing with Jesus. They were quarreling with one another. Why? Complete this prayer: Lord, I should not be afraid of people who get angry when they’re confronted with the Good News. Instead, I…
2. It’s obvious the Jews were stuck on the literal meaning of Jesus’ words. But Jesus does not appear to be helping them much. Into the midst of their confusion, He reinforces His insistence that they must eat His flesh with the statement that they must also drink His blood. Drinking blood of animals would have been regarded by the Jews as unclean and unacceptable (Lev. 17.10). Why is Jesus doing this (Lev. 17.11)? My life is only in You, Lord Jesus, in Your flesh and blood. Thank You that…
3. Jesus’ use of “eat” and “drink” and “flesh” and “blood” is deliberately intended to cue up the Old Testament sacrificial laws, in which – drinking blood excepted – this is what people did to realize forgiveness of their sins. How does this help us understand what Jesus is saying here, and why it was an apt metaphor? Help me to see You in every part of Scripture, Lord, so that, as I read Your Word…
4. The Old Testament sacrifices could not give life because they could not take away sin, but merely covered it for a season. But the writer of Hebrews understood what Jesus was saying, and the Biblical basis for His claim. Look at Hebrews 10.1-10. How does this help us to understand what Jesus was saying here? Thank You, Lord Jesus, for offering Your flesh for the life of the world, so that I…
5. What Jesus was saying to these Jews was altogether appropriate, given their religious background. It might be harder for someone not from that background to understand what the Lord is saying here. How would you interpret Jesus’ meaning here to an unbelieving friend? Bring together into one your prayers from questions 1-4.
Summary
“One cannot benefit from the Word of God for eternal life, except through his flesh. For until he was joined to the flesh, all flesh was held under the power of death. But now his life-giving flesh has been given. It nourishes the whole human race to life through the power suspended in it and joined in likeness to those who share the same physical nature.” Apollinaris of Laodicea (310-392 AD)
By eating a sin offering, an Old Testament Jew ate the flesh of an animal that forfeited its life to atone for his sins. This is the point Jesus is making, but with a significant difference related to the idea of blood. What is that difference?
Closing Prayer
The fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works,
there is none that doeth good.
The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men,
to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy:
there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge?
who eat up my people as they eat bread,
and call not upon the LORD.
There were they in great fear:
for God is in the generation of the righteous.
Psalm 14.1-5
Psalm 14.4, 5 (St. Anne: O God, Our Help in Ages Past)
None understands, none seeks the Lord; they all have turned aside.
Deception leads them from God’s Word who have His grace denied.
The workers of iniquity consume God’s sheep like bread;
They trust not in the Lord, and He shall fill their hearts with dread.
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.
