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The Bread of Life Discourse: John 6
The Bread of Life Discourse: John 6
The sixth chapter of the Gospel of John stands as a profound and pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus Christ, often referred to as the "Bread of Life Discourse." It is here that our Lord systematically unveils His divine identity and the exclusive means of salvation, challenging the carnal perceptions of the multitudes and separating true believers from those who sought only temporal gain. Occurring shortly after the miraculous feeding of the five thousand and His walking on water, this discourse confronts the very motives of the crowd, redirecting their focus from perishing food to the eternal sustenance found only in Him.
The Context: Following for Loaves and Fishes
The discourse in John 6 is initiated by two remarkable miracles. First, Jesus feeds a vast multitude of five thousand men, besides women and children, with just five barley loaves and two small fishes (John 6:9). This demonstration of divine power over creation, reminiscent of Elisha's miracle (2 Kings 4:42-44), left the crowd astonished and convinced that He was "that prophet that should come into the world" (John 6:14). Their immediate desire was to make Him king by force, driven by the prospect of a Messiah who could provide for their physical needs.
Immediately following this, Jesus walks on the Sea of Galilee to meet His disciples, a further testament to His sovereignty over nature, revealing His divine authority even to the elements. Yet, when the multitudes sought Him again the next day, crossing the sea to Capernaum, Jesus discerned their underlying motivation. They were not seeking Him for the profound spiritual truths revealed by His signs, but for the continued provision of physical food.
And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
This blunt assessment sets the stage for the entire discourse. Jesus immediately shifts their focus from the temporal to the eternal.
The Invitation to Seek True Bread
Jesus' initial command to the crowd was a call to re-evaluate their priorities:
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
The crowd, still thinking in terms of works and physical sustenance, asked, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" (John 6:28). Jesus' answer is foundational to the gospel:
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Here, Christ clearly defines the singular "work of God" required for salvation: faith in Him. They then demanded another sign, specifically referencing the manna their fathers ate in the wilderness, effectively challenging Jesus to surpass Moses (John 6:30-31). Jesus corrected their understanding, stating that it was not Moses who gave them bread from heaven, but His Father, who now gives the "true bread from heaven."
This leads to the glorious declaration that forms the core of the discourse:
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Jesus presents Himself as the ultimate satisfaction for the human soul, the source of eternal spiritual nourishment. To "come to Him" and "believe on Him" are presented as synonymous actions, both leading to the cessation of spiritual hunger and thirst.
The Divine Source and Purpose of the Bread
As Jesus continued, the murmuring of the Jews became evident. They could not reconcile His claim of coming down from heaven with their knowledge of His earthly parents, Joseph and Mary (John 6:41-42). Jesus addressed their unbelief by emphasizing the sovereign work of God the Father in drawing individuals to Him:
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
This verse highlights the necessity of divine grace in salvation. It is not merely a human decision, but a response to the Father's drawing. Jesus reiterates His divine origin and His purpose:
- He came down from heaven not to do His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him (John 6:38).
- The Father's will is that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life (John 6:40).
- He is the living bread, superior to the manna, which only provided temporary sustenance (John 6:49-50).
Then, Jesus introduces a more challenging aspect of His identity as the Bread of Life:
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
This statement prepares the way for the most controversial part of the discourse, linking the "bread" not just to His person, but to His sacrificial death.
Eating His Flesh and Drinking His Blood
The declaration that He would give His flesh for the life of the world immediately provoked contention among the Jews: "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" (John 6:52). Jesus did not soften His words but intensified them, making it clear that spiritual life is inextricably linked to His sacrifice:
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
This passage is not to be interpreted as advocating literal cannibalism, nor is it primarily a reference to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, though that ordinance beautifully symbolizes the truth expressed here. Biblically, "flesh and blood" often refer to one's humanity and life. Jesus' flesh represents His incarnate life, given as a sacrifice, and His blood represents His atoning death, the shedding of which cleanses from sin and seals the new covenant (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22).
To "eat His flesh and drink His blood" means to:
This spiritual consumption of Christ is the only way to possess eternal life and to be raised up at the last day, as He reiterates throughout this section.
The Hard Saying and the Departure of Many
These teachings were indeed "hard sayings" for many of Jesus' disciples (John 6:60). They were still thinking carnally, unable to grasp the spiritual depth of His words. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, clarified the spiritual nature of His discourse:
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
This verse is crucial. It underscores that the life Jesus offers is spiritual, not physical, and that His words, understood by the Spirit, convey this life. The carnal mind cannot comprehend spiritual truths (1 Corinthians 2:14). Jesus also revealed His foreknowledge of those who would not believe and who would betray Him (John 6:64).
The consequence of this discourse was a dramatic sifting: "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him" (John 6:66). They were unwilling to accept the spiritual demands of discipleship and the necessity of His atoning sacrifice. Jesus then turned to the twelve, asking, "Will ye also go away?" (John 6:67).
It was Peter who, by divine revelation, articulated the profound conviction of the true disciples:
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
This confession highlights the exclusivity of Christ as the only source of salvation and eternal truth. There is no other way, no other bread of life. Despite this faithful confession, Jesus solemnly acknowledged that even among the chosen twelve, one was a devil, referring to Judas Iscariot, who would betray Him (John 6:70-71).
Conclusion
The Bread of Life Discourse in John 6 is a cornerstone of Christian doctrine, powerfully articulating Jesus' identity as the sole provider of spiritual life. It moves beyond the miraculous feeding of the multitudes to reveal the profound spiritual reality that Jesus Himself is the ultimate sustenance for the human soul. He is not merely a prophet or a king who provides for physical needs, but the divine Son of God who descended from heaven to give His flesh for the life of the world.
The discourse serves as a critical test, separating those who sought Him for worldly benefits from those who, by the drawing of the Father, truly believed in Him as the Christ, the source of eternal life. To "eat His flesh and drink His blood" is to embrace by faith His atoning sacrifice on the cross, to rely wholly upon Him for salvation, and to enter into a living, indwelling union with Him. This is the only way to possess everlasting life, to never hunger or thirst spiritually, and to be raised up at the last day. The words of Christ are spirit and life, and only by believing them can one find true, eternal nourishment.
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