John 6:45-50 (WEL) “It is written in the Prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ [Isaiah 54:13] Therefore, all, having heard and having learned from the Father, come to me. 46 “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the one who comes from God; he has seen the Father. 47 “Very truly, I say to you,” The one who is believing in me has everlasting life.” 48 “I am that bread of life. 49 “Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and are dead. 50 “This is the bread coming down from heaven that anyone may eat from him and not die.
V45 “It is written in the Prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ [Isaiah 54:13] Therefore, all, having heard and having learned from the Father, come to me.
God teaches all, but most reject. There are no excuses. Jesus is God the Son who has and is teaching them. Jesus is fulfilling prophecy. While Jesus appeals to the Scriptures, the prophets in this case. The Jewish leaders appeal to their man-made laws and interpretations.
V46 “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the one who comes from God; he has seen the Father.
Jesus clarifies that He is not speaking of God the Father but of Himself who comes from God and brings His message. Jesus is the only one who has seen the Father. Moses saw His back; John, in Revelation, saw Jesus. The Father’s face is not seen by humans until Revelation 22:4.
V47 “Very truly, I say to you,” The one who is believing in me has everlasting life.”
It is faith that God looks for and accepts as the condition for salvation from God’s wrath and everlasting life.
Regeneration comes as a result of believing in Jesus. Regeneration is being born again (2 Corinthians 5:17 and John 3:15-18).
H. A. Ironside: “It is a very notable principle in connection with the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ with men that if a soul came to Him who was honestly, earnestly, seeking to know the truth, He undertook to make that truth just as simple as possible so that the wayfaring man could understand. On the other hand, if the Savior presented something that was difficult for the natural mind to receive, and men, instead of recognizing their need and coming to Him for explanation, assumed a haughty, unbelieving attitude, He invariably seemed to make the truth more difficult instead of making it simpler. That is to say, if men will not have the truth of God when it is presented to them but deliberately choose to follow the path of error, they will be blinded to the very truth itself. This principle runs throughout Scripture. You remember how Pharaoh set himself against doing the will of God. We read that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.”~Henry Allan “Harry” Ironside
V48 “I am that bread of life.
This shows clearly that those who believe that a wafer is that bread are trusting in vain.
It is faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. As it was for the Samaritan woman, who drank the water of life (she believed in Jesus), so it is also for these people who are listening to Jesus. Jesus is that bread of life acquired by faith alone.
V49 “Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and are dead.
Jesus clarifies that the manna in the wilderness was physical food; Jesus is spiritual food.
Note that Jesus states, “Your fathers,” not “our fathers.” This is done on purpose. Jesus is a Jew in every sense of the word, but His father is God the Father.
V50 “This is the bread coming down from heaven that anyone may eat from Him and not die.
Jesus is spiritual food needed for spiritual life. No faith in Jesus, then no eternal life. Jesus also states that anyone can eat from Him (Jesus) and not die.
We learn:
- Jesus states clearly that it is faith that brings regeneration.
- Jesus states clearly that He is the spiritual bread needed for eternal life.
- Jesus states clearly that physical bread, even manna, does not give eternal life.
Questions:
- Have you eaten this spiritual bread?
- Have you believed in Jesus alone for salvation?