Study Text: John 6:25-59
Text to memorize: John 6:35 “Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst”
Greetings brothers, with the glorious peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this reflection we will address the theme “Jesus the bread of life”. We try that from this study we recognize Jesus as the bread that gives life, understanding that today we are in need of this bread, just as the manna that fell from heaven gave life to the Israelites in the desert, likewise the church needs this bread. It is important to continue teaching the message of Jesus, and his word. Let us keep in mind that Jesus is the bread of life.
JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE, THE PURPOSE OF FOLLOWING HIM (V 25-27)
Jesus the bread of life
They did not see him cross the sea with his disciples and he had not come with them. When, then, and how did he arrive? Jesus wasted no time answering his question, but he immediately told them what they should hear.
Not only the feeding of the five thousand, but also the healing of some (v 2), “but because you ate the bread and were satisfied”. Again Jesus demonstrates his deity by reading the thoughts and purposes of the people. He knew that their interest was not spiritual. They followed him not because he had taught them, but because he had fed them; They did not follow him for his love but for the bread they ate, but they did not understand that Jesus, the bread of life, was what they needed.
They did not appreciate the significance of the miracles of healing the sick and multiplying the loaves and fishes as a sign from God indicating Jesus’ divine identity as the savior of the world. If they had, they would have prostrated themselves before him, seeking the salvation he offers and worshiping him.
Jesus reads the thoughts of those who approach him. He knows the thoughts, secrets, purposes of everything. He sees every form of hypocrisy. He not only hears our songs, sermons and prayers, but he also knows our hearts. Nobody can fool you.
Jesus the bread of life, the food that abides in eternal life
Although the food that lasts to eternal life is of much more value than the food that perishes, unfortunately the latter is what most men seek. Even many who profess to be Christians must examine their hearts and stop working so hard for food that they perish. Jesus the bread of life is that food that never perishes but gives us eternal life.
Brothers, in these times that we are living, people are looking for mega churches where they are offered better conditions and not spiritual ones. This is how it happened in the time of Jesus, we as a church preach the message unconditionally presenting Jesus as the model par excellence for us. Jesus is the bread of life and therefore the food of the soul.
Of course, Christians are generous and benevolent, as many texts teach. Churches are to send help to saints in need (1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8:9). As an organized church that we are, we help the brothers (as) both locally, district and nationally.
JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE, THE FOOD THAT DOES NOT PERISH
WORKING FOR FOOD THAT DOES NOT PERISH: JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE (V 28-29)
Are we to work for spiritual food? Understanding the true nature of grace, there will be no difficulty in understanding the need to work for food that does not perish (salvation), because God’s grace provides salvation, and man accepts salvation.
Obeying, serving, in short, working, is simply the acceptance of the gift of God. Those who do not work refuse to accept it “Then they said to him: What must we do to put into practice the works of God?” (ergazometha, in Greek literally means to work). This question is similar to that of the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16).
The scribes and Pharisees required purifications, etc. (Matthew 15:2); “They bind heavy and difficult loads, and put them on the shoulders of men” (Matthew 23:4).
Other works required by men are pilgrimages, penance, vows, fasting, hard treatment of the body (Colossians 2:23). These are means invented by men to put God’s works into practice, but “in vain do they honor me, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9).
We as a church work for a life closer to God by not putting a heavy load on our brothers, we make an effort to carry them equally.
What must we do to carry out the works of God? John 6:29 “Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
Man is responsible for his salvation. He has to do something to be saved. He cannot provide a savior, but he can believe in the savior that God provides, and obey what he commands. We have to pay the price, salvation is for everyone who seeks it, but we do have to work on his work, there is no excuse my beloved brothers, the payment will be when he calls us to account. Jesus exhorted the people who followed him to work.
JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE, THE TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN
THE RESISTANCE TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE, IS THE TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN (V30-33)
V 30 “Then they said to him: What sign, then, do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you do? When did they ask this question? A single day after the miracle of multiplying the loaves and fishes !
Such is the carnality of those who seek signs. They want cue after cue and are never satisfied. No wonder Jesus said, “The wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign; but no sign will be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet” (Matthew 16:4). Today, when enjoying the multiple daily blessings of God, many ask, And who is God for us to believe in him?
Jesus “was astonished at their unbelief” and won’t he be astonished at the unbelief of so many people now? Many people do not want to believe in God, but wholeheartedly believe in witchcraft and other occult practices of the devil.
This confirms that Jesus discovered the thoughts of his heart (v26). The Samaritan woman reminded Jesus of the well that Jacob gave them (John 4:12); here people remind her of the manna that her parents ate.
JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE: THIS IS THE TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN FOR ETERNAL LIFE
God provided the manna to sustain his people during the forty years they were in the desert, but by feeding the five thousand, Jesus not only provided food, but also gave them a sign so that they would believe in him, for Jesus is the bread of life.
The manna was not the true bread, because although the Israelites ate the manna, they died. The barley loaves were not the true bread, because the five thousand men ate it, and the next day they wanted to eat again.
The manna was wonderful. The barley bread was another marvel. Christ Jesus, however, was the wonder of wonders, because he is the true bread from heaven that gives us eternal life. Jesus is the bread of life.
RECOGNIZING THE SPIRITUAL NEED FOR JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE
We need Jesus the bread of life
Jesus presents himself as bread not exclusively for Israel, but for all who believe in him. Our human need makes us say, as the text expresses it, “give us this bread.” Not just the Israelites, but everyone.
Compare John 4:15 “The woman said to him, Lord, give me this water, so that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw it.” They certainly did not want the bread that Jesus spoke of, as can be seen later.
In verse 35 Jesus said to him: I am the bread of life; Jesus also said I am the light of the world, I am the door, I am the good shepherd, I am the resurrection and the life, I am the way, the truth and the life, I am the vine and you are the branches. Christ gave himself to satisfy every need and every desire of the soul.
Jesus himself was the main sign. They had seen him and knew him, but they did not believe and kept looking for signs. Following God is not putting conditions on him, rather it is obeying, loving him. The religious people of Jesus’ time could not understand, which is why the Lord strongly admonished them in his teaching.
In verses 41-42 they were shocked because Jesus said that he had come down from heaven and, therefore, would be greater than Moses and the prophets, priests and kings of Israel. They thought they could refute what he was saying by talking about his family; that is to say, that he is not from heaven but from Nazareth.
In verse 43 Helkusei, is the Greek word that has the sense of dragging like a net “when Jesus refers to the Divine activity of drawing, he uses a term that clearly indicates that this means more than moral influence.
The Father is not limited to begging or advising, bring! it indicates a very powerful activity even, we could say, irresistible. Of course, the man resists, but his resistance is ineffective.
Such a teaching makes God responsible for man’s salvation, not only in providing salvation but also in accepting it (v45).
JESUS IS THE BREAD OF ETERNAL LIFE (V39-50)
Jesus the bread of eternal life
As physical life is sustained through literal bread, eternal life is obtained only through Christ. Of all the more than 600,000 men included in the first census, all died in the desert except Caleb and Joshua.
Thus, although the manna came directly from heaven, it only gave physical life, because all who ate of it died. Joshua 5:12 says that when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and reached Gilgal, “the manna ceased the next day, since they began to eat of the fruit of the ground; and the children of Israel had no more manna, but ate of the produce of the land of Canaan that year.”
God’s blessings do not cease. Do you think so? Christ is the supernatural bread, the food for the soul, which gives eternal life. He who eats this bread dies physically (he will rise to eternal life) but not spiritually, that is, the Israelites ate and died for being disobedient. Our salvation depends on us.
THE EFFICACY OF JESUS CHRIST AS SPIRITUAL FOOD, BECAUSE JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE (V51-57)
Verse 51 refers to his death, which would be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. In this we see that by eating this bread of life, people have to believe not only in Christ but in the Christ who was to die, be buried and rise again to save us from sins. Jesus has here presented to this Galilean crowd the central fact of his atoning death for the spiritual life of the world.
In this text Jesus uses figurative words to emphasize the need to unite with him by believing in him. Everyone knows the importance of bread (physical food) for the body; we also have to understand that the spiritual bread (Christ) is indispensable for the spirit or soul.
Christ speaks of himself as the sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world. To receive this benefit it is necessary that we heartily obey the gospel and be reconciled with God, have fellowship.
In verse 56, the word “remains” is a key term to understand the…