Jesus, we read last week, declared Himself to be the ‘Bread of Life.’ Today as we look at John 6:41-59, more tough words surface. These words caused a stumbling block to the Jewish people in the synagogue of Capernaum. They quarreled among themselves who this man really was, and Jesus spoke tough words, speaking of life and the Father.
Questioning Who Jesus Was
The words Jesus spoke caused the Jews to quarrel among themselves. “How could He say that He had come down from heaven, that He was bread? Was this not Joseph’s son? We know his parents. Don’t his brothers and sisters live among us? How can He make such claims?” They relied on their natural eyes and could not grasp what He was saying.
Jesus Spoke Tough Words
Jesus then scolded them for their quarrelling. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me, draws Him.” For one, He told them He was sent by the Father. Secondly, it was the work of the Father to bring them to Himself. Jesus further explained what the prophets meant when they wrote, “And they shall all be taught by God.” Basically, if they had heard from the Father, they would come to him. He continued to explain that He alone, had descended from the Father, and had seen Him.
Tough Words about Life and the Father
Jesus continued to explain Himself as the bread of life. This bread is different than the manna in the wilderness, where all who ate the manna died. This is not the case with the living bread that comes down from heaven. “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.”
At this point Jesus confounded them when He stated; “the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” As they discussed among themselves how such a thing could be conceived, Jesus boldly proclaimed: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” It was the only way to be a part of Him. It would give to those who believed, the power to have eternal life and be raised on the last day. As Jesus lived because of the Father, so would the world live by feeding on Him. These were tough words.
They quarreled among themselves who this man really was, and Jesus spoke tough words, speaking of life and the Father. What was the reaction to His tough words? We will reflect on the answer next time.