John 6:56-59 (WEL) “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 “Just as the living Father has sent me, and I live because of the Father, so the one who eats me, likewise will live because of me. 58 “This is the bread, which came down from heaven, not like the manna, which your ancestors ate. They died, but the one who eats this bread will live forever.’” 59 These things he said in the synagogue as he taught in Capernaum.
V56 “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
Jesus is illustrating, not telling them to be cannibals. The flesh, the physical, needs physical food and water. The soul/spirit, the immaterial, needs spiritual food and spiritual water. Only God provides this food (Matthew 4:4) and water (Isaiah 55:1-2). Compare John 6:35 and Deuteronomy 8:3.
Christianity is not a one-time event; it is an event that lasts forever. Fellowship with God is extremely important.
Utley: “True response is validated by a continuing response. This emphasis on perseverance is the missing element in American evangelicalism. One must not only start in faith, but finish in faith.”
Constable: “Because Jesus’ person is what truly satisfies and sustains life, those who believe in Him remain (Gr. meno, abide) in Him. This is a new term in the discussion, but it is synonymous with having eternal life. Jesus was saying that believers continue to possess eternal life; they will never lose it. Believers remain in Christ, and He remains in them. Jesus was not speaking here to His disciples about the importance of believers abiding in fellowship with God as He did in chapter 15. Here He was speaking to unbelievers about entering into a saving relationship with God.”
V57 “Just as the living Father has sent me, and I live because of the Father, so the one who eats me, likewise will live because of me.
Jesus makes a comparison. God the Father sent Jesus (Isaiah 9:6 and Galatians 4:4) to be the Messiah, the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7).
“I live” refers to God’s power in the incarnation (Luke 1:35).
Jesus teaches clearly that He is not speaking of physical life but is speaking of spiritual life. Jesus is the only provision for eternal life.
V58 “This is the bread, which came down from heaven, not like the manna, which your ancestors ate. They died, but the one who eats this bread will live forever.’”
Manna, God’s given food, was for the physical life of Israel, but Jesus, God’s given food, is for the eternal spiritual life of those who believe in Him. Everything He says and does is food for our soul to build us up, make us wise, and make us fruitful in spiritual offerings to God.
V59 These things he said in the synagogue as he taught in Capernaum.
John was an eyewitness and was present when Jesus taught these things.
We learn:
- Jesus alone is the source of spiritual life.
- A person must partake of Christ to be saved. Partake equals faith in Jesus alone. Compare Romans 11:17, Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 6:4, and 1 John 5:12.
Questions:
- Have you partaken (believed the Gospel) of Jesus Christ?
- Do you read and study the Bible every day?
- Do you have fellowship with God every day?