John 6:35-51
Jesus speaks for Himself
People of Jesus’ day created a situation in which Jesus had an
opportunity to explain for Himself who He was. Many ideas, opinions, and
reports about Him circulated around the land. Today is no different. All kinds
of things are said about Jesus – in books, lectures, sermons, and
conversations. So what do you think about Jesus? Why not go directly to Jesus
and let Him tell us who He is? Today we see what Jesus says concerning Himself.
What does Jesus tell us about Himself?
1. I am the
bread of life
–v.48 I am the
bread of life. Jesus
is the bread of life and whoever believes in Him has eternal life.
Like the Israelites in the wilderness, the
people murmur against Jesus’ claim that He is the bread from heaven, implying
that He is God’s Son. So who is this Jesus? In the Rock Opera “Jesus Christ
Superstar” Mary claims “he’s just a man…he’s just a man” 50 years later
opinions concerning Jesus Christ will vary. Is He “just a man”? Or
is He more?
2. I am from
heaven – v.41 "Then the Jews began grumbling about him
because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." Repeatedly Jesus said that He was the
Bread of Life that came down from heaven. Here is a claim for divinity. It deals
with the doctrine of the Incarnation.
In his introduction John put it this way, “And
the Word became flesh.” This was hard for Jesus’ contemporaries to accept.
They saw Jesus only as a man and they knew His parents and family. It is still
hard for contemporary persons to accept. Can one be God? Can the Infinite
become finite; can the Spiritual become material? The Incarnation of Jesus
Christ can only be accepted by faith. Thus, Jesus places much emphasis on “he
who believes…” (v. 47)
3. I alone
see God – v.46 I'm saying that no one has seen the Father.
Only the one who is from God has seen the Father. No one has seen God at any
time; the only begotten God who is
in the bosom of
the Father, He has
explained Him. (John 1:18) There is an oneness between Jesus and
the Father. No one can come to Jesus without being drawn by the Father. He who
knows God also knows Jesus as the Son of God.
4. I give
eternal life – v.50
"This is the bread that
comes down from heaven, so that a person may eat it and not die. He who
believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not
see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 6:36) "Truly, truly, I say to
you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and
does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” (John
5:24) A person who believes in Jesus as the bread of life from heaven “has”
eternal life. We do not get eternal life when we die. It begins before death –
“today.”
Now is the time to receive and enjoy life in Christ which is
everlasting. If we are not in heaven while on earth, we never will get to
heaven when we leave this earth.
In the Gospel of John Jesus comes to visit a grieving family. He
speaks to Mary and Martha who were mourning the loss of their brother. Jesus
said, "I am the resurrection and the live he who believe in me even
though they die will live forever. And everyone who lives and believes in Me
will never die. Then He asked them this question, “Do you believe this?"
(John 11:26) This is the ultimate question of which you must ponder. “Is
Jesus the resurrection and life?” The testimony of scripture is
overwhelming. The 1st Century disciples would simply say, “We
are witnesses of these things!” Do you believe, “everyone who lives and
believes in Him will never die”? How you answer that question
determines your destiny.
No comments:
Post a Comment