John Study 10: 6:35-65

Dear Student of the Word,

It's time once again for your regular dose of Bible study from John's gospel.  This week we almost finish Jesus' sermon in John 6 where He described Himself as the bread of life.  Many were offended by this message and that is exactly the effect that Jesus wanted to have! On the fourth day of this seven-day study, this is what I wrote:

6:47 – Jesus said He who believes has everlasting life.  He would later say that whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood would have eternal life.  So we learn from this that eating His flesh and blood is the same as having faith in Him..  It is not some cannibalistic or super-mystical claim.  Jesus was very clear.  If you believe in Him, you will live forever with Him.  If you don’t, you will live forever, but apart from Him.

vs. 48&49 – Jesus declared Himself to be the bread of life.  Many of the people were following Jesus for bread, but it was not the bread that mattered most.  They were seeking bread like the manna, which would be consumed and then one would die. The bread Jesus was offering, which was Himself, would lead to everlasting life.  It was the bread of faith and obedience.  Are you eating that bread?  Have you put your trust in Jesus for everything where life and godliness are concerned? 

The people wanted someone who could do what Moses did.  Yet what God provided through Moses was only transitory.  It was there one day and gone the next.  What Jesus was offering would last forever.  The manna seemed to figure prominently in the thinking of those who followed Jesus to this point.  Jesus knew they had to go far beyond manna as their spiritual goal.

v. 50 – I wonder if Jesus pointed to Himself when He said, “Here is the bread of life”? Jesus was being direct and clear about the way to eternal life.  He was the source.  He had the key.  The manna was simply a shadow or precursor of what was yet to come in Jesus.  Now the fulfillment or antitype of the typical manna had arrived.

v. 51 – The Jews knew that Jesus was not talking about actually eating His flesh, which was somehow to be considered bread.  They knew what He was saying and it offended them.  Jesus had the ability to promise eternal life and deliver on that promise.  He reiterated this truth so that they would hopefully grab hold of this truth and be saved.  Most were unable to do so, but Jesus kept trying.  Jesus was a great teacher and stayed true to His mission

Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:9-10).

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work (1 John3:8).

Are you true to your mission, the reason that God sent you here?  Do you know what your mission is?  What gifts do you have that will help you accomplish your purpose?  How much do you know about yourself, the way you work, what motivates you and drains your energy? The answers to all these questions are very important as you seek to be effective for the Lord.

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. You can write them or find the studies to Corinthians, Colossians, First Timothy, and Matthew's and Mark's gospels on the site where this week's entry is posted. You can also go there to sign up to receive each week's study.

Plus my website archives contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews and Revelation, along with the unpublished Faith Files.

Download John Study 10

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THE SOPHIA FUND:  We received almost $1,200 this past week for The Sophia Fund. That is just super. Thank you so much for responding. but please don't stop now. The need is urgent and the workers are grateful, but are requesting even more help.  If you didn't read the email below that I received last week from Eddie Adembesa in Kenya, here it is again:

Greetings from us all WEMA widows with the trust that all is well by the grace of God.
 
This is to acknowledge that we have received $1,000 Sophie Fund and $50 St. Paul’s Baptist Church which you sent to us through SARAH NETWORK towards the feeding programme for orphans under the care of WEMA widows.
 
This has not only put a smile on the face of the children but also the widows who have great lack due to the prolonged drought that Kenya is facing.
 
To every single person who made this possible, it’s a big thank you and God truly bless you and enlarge your territories. A good measure shaken together, pressed down and overflowing. I call this a divine connection from God. Let’s continue to pray for one another as we continue noble task. Once again thank you and God bless you.

As I promised, every penny you send is going to feed the poor in Zimbabwe and Kenya. Nothing goes to overhead or administration.  With reports like the one above, won't you consider helping orphans and widows today?  You can read about my rationale for The Fund here (named after my late mother) that will help feed widows and orphans in Kenya and Zimbabwe. 

Please consider a contribution of at least $5 toward the fund and hopefully more.  You can use the "Chipin" widget on the Monday Memo site to contribute, or go directly to my website to contribute there through PayPal, or send a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA  15221.  Make sure you let me know it is for The Sophia Fund. Don't delay; give today and make a difference in the world.

The most recent posted entry about The Sophia Fund is here.

Comments

[Brittany]

Keep up the good work.