*John 6:41-71
Jesus identifies himself as the bread of life, causing a dispute among the Jews.
- Dispute Among the Jews:
- The Jews murmured against Jesus because he claimed to be the bread that came down from heaven.
- Jesus responds by emphasizing the necessity of belief in him for eternal life.
- He contrasts himself with the manna in the wilderness, stating that those who eat the bread from heaven will live forever.
- The Bread of Life Discourse:
- Jesus elaborates on his previous statements, asserting that his flesh is true food and his blood is true drink.
- This teaching shocks many of his listeners, who struggle to understand how he can give them his flesh to eat.
- Jesus clarifies that his words are spiritual and not meant to be taken literally, emphasizing the importance of spiritual nourishment through faith in him.
- Reaction of the Disciples:
- Many of Jesus’ disciples find his teaching on eating his flesh and drinking his blood difficult to accept.
- Some disciples abandon him, unable to reconcile his words with their understanding.
- Jesus challenges the Twelve, asking if they will also leave him. Peter responds with a declaration of faith, recognizing Jesus as the Holy One of God.
- Despite this, Jesus acknowledges that one of the Twelve will betray him, referring to Judas Iscariot.
John 6:41-71 teaches us the importance of fully trusting in Jesus, even when His teachings are hard to understand or accept. Many people turned away because they struggled with His words, but Peter and the disciples chose to stay, knowing that Jesus has the words of eternal life. This reminds us that following Jesus isn’t always easy, but when we trust Him, we find true life and purpose. Instead of giving up when things are difficult, we should lean on Him, knowing that He is the only one who can truly satisfy our hearts and lead us to eternal life.
John 6:41-71 (WEB)
6:41 The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, “I am the bread which came down out of heaven.” 42 They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does he say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?”43 Therefore Jesus answered them, “Don’t murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up in the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who hears from the Father and has learned, comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father. 47 Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”52 The Jews therefore contended with one another, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”53 Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves. 54 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on me will also live because of me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven—not as our fathers ate the manna and died. He who eats this bread will live forever.” 59 He said these things in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.60 Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying! Who can listen to it?”61 But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62 Then what if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life. 64 But there are some of you who don’t believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn’t believe, and who it was who would betray him. 65 He said, “For this cause I have said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father.”66 At this, many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. 67 Jesus said therefore to the twelve, “You don’t also want to go away, do you?”68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”70 Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve.