The salvation of Jesus has cosmic implications.
The Gospel of John: John 6.41-59
Read and meditate on John 6.46-51.
Jesus insists that He comes directly from the Father with His message of life for the world. He Who lived in heaven came down from heaven with the life of heaven for all who will forsake the hopes of the flesh and “eat” the heavenly Bread.
46No one has ever seen the Father,
except Him sent by God; He has the Father
seen. 47Truly do I say to you, he who
believes in Me shall never die, but to
eternity shall live. 48I am the Bread
of life. 49Your fathers, all of whom are dead,
ate manna in the wilderness. 50But this
the Bread which comes downs from the heavens is,
that one may eat of it, and never die.
51The living Bread that came from heaven am I.
Whoever eats this Bread will ever live,
because My flesh this Bread is, which I give
so that the world may live.”
– John 6.46-51
Reflect
1. How can you see that Jesus claimed the very authority of God the Father for His teaching (v. 46)? Why is this important? Complete this prayer: All authority in heaven and in earth is Yours, Lord Jesus, even the authority over my life to…
2. Jesus keeps offering various combinations of the same ideas: Bread of life, believe in Him, have everlasting life. It’s clear to Him that His audience is having trouble processing this information, but He keeps repeating it anyway. Why? How does this counsel us concerning our witness for Christ? Father, just because people won’t listen to the Good News doesn’t mean we should forsake or alter it. What it means for me is…
3. Again (v. 49), Jesus discourages His hearers from thinking in merely materialistic terms. If all they want is more physical bread, their end will be the same as that of their fathers. They need to raise their sights (v. 50). Getting past the limitations of our fleshly desires and merely rational worldview is a challenge for witnesses in every generation. How have you experienced this in your witness for the Lord? How do you deal with it? Lord, I want to be faithful and effective in my witness for You, so help me…
4. How is Jesus using the idea “eat” here (vv. 50, 51)? As we shall see, this only creates more confusion, and Jesus knew it would. But why is this an apt way of thinking about what it means to come to Jesus? Lord, I would feed on You every day by…
5. Jesus said that He would offer His flesh, not merely so that people could have eternal life, but “for the life of the world” (Greek: cosmos). What does this mean? What “life” does Jesus’ death accomplish for the cosmos? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote for questions 1-4.
Summary
“But are we, who eat the bread that comes down from heaven, relieved from death? From visible and carnal death, the death of the body, we are not: we shall die, even as they died. But from spiritual death, which their fathers suffered, we are delivered. Moses and … many who were acceptable to God ate the manna and did not die because they understood that visible food in a spiritual sense, spiritually tasted it and were spiritually filled with it. And we too on this day receive the visible food. But the sacrament is one thing, the virtue of the sacrament another. Many a one receives from the altar and perishes in receiving; eating and drinking his own damnation, as the apostle said. … To eat the heavenly bread spiritually then is to bring innocence to the altar. Though your sins are daily, at least let them not be deadly. Before you go to the altar, attend to the prayer you repeat, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” If you forgive, you are forgiven: approach confidently; it is bread, not poison.… None then that eat of this bread shall die.” Augustine (354-430 AD)
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ – His flesh on the altar of Calvary – brings from heaven the life of the Father to a world languishing in sin and unbelief. This is truly Good News! With whom can you share this Good News today?
Closing Prayer
I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the LORDheard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalm 34.1-8
Psalm 34.1-9, 3 (Alleluia [Lowe]: Mighty God, While Angels Bless You)
I will bless the Lord at all times; I shall praise Him evermore!
My soul makes its boast in Jesus – Him we gladly all adore!
Magnify the Name of Jesus!
Let us lift His Name in praise!
When I sought the Lord, He answered, and from fear delivered me.
Those who look to Him are radiant; shamed their face shall never be.
Magnify the Name of Jesus!
Let us lift His Name in praise!
When I cried to God, He heard me, and from trouble rescued me.
‘Round their camp His angel lingers that they may delivered be.
Magnify the Name of Jesus!
Let us lift His Name in praise!
Taste and see how good is Jesus; blessed are all who in Him hide.
None shall lack for any blessing who in Christ will e’er confide.
Magnify the Name of Jesus!
Let us lift His Name in praise!
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.
We are happy to offer each week’s Scriptorium studies in a free weekly PDF, suitable for personal or group use. You can download all the studies in our series on the Gospel of John by clicking here. Please prayerfully consider sharing with The Fellowship of Ailbe through your giving. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.
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.
