A Study of John's Gospel. Pt. 34 Jehovah in the flesh is that Bread of Life from heaven.

Good morning to each of our Readers....

We appreciate all of you so much. God alone receives the glory for leading people to this Bible study blog. We  know that when His Word goes out, it will not return void. God's word is alive and it transforms each person when they have surrendered their lives to our Sovereign Lord. I look forward to the day when all the born again believers will be singing and praising our Savior around His throne. What a joyous time that will be!

The 1st of Seven "I Am" statements of Christ.

John 6:35  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. 

I want to keep the key verse of this long discourse of Jesus with the religious Jews in front of us so that we do not miss its full impact. 

Let us think a moment about Jesus' declaration that "I am the bread of life" because this is the first of 7 instances where Jesus applies the Old Testament name of Jehovah to Himself. This divine name is translated "I Am that I Am" in Exodus 3. This name was so sacred to the Jews that they did not pronounce it. 

When Jesus says "I am" in showing the people that He is God in the flesh, what did the people remember about this particular Divine Name? 

• First, they would know that Jehovah is the I Am, the self existent God who dwells in eternity. 

• Second, they would remember that the name Jehovah is uniquely connected to the salvation of God's people in every age. 

• Third, they would remember that this high and holy God chooses to meet with those who have humble hearts and contrite spirits. 

• Fourth, they would recall that Jehovah is the covenant keeping God who will always do what He says He will do.

Thus, Jesus corrected their wrong thinking. When Jesus said "I am the bread of life" He was speaking of Himself, not a food commodity. When Jesus said "I am the bread of life" He clearly meant that when you are rightly related to the Father through the Son, Jesus Christ, you will find a satisfaction and joy that are eternal instead of temporary. 

Jesus knew their complaining thoughts.

John 6:43-44  Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44) 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. 

In the preceding verses Jesus revealed that all mankind is so stuck in the quagmire of sin and unbelief that unless God draws them in they are in a hopeless condition. 

In this text Jesus rebukes the people for their obstinate unbelief and warns that continuing to turn a deaf ear to the gospel may lead to eternal condemnation. God is willing to save anyone but that individual must be a willing hearer of the gospel. Jesus reminds them again that He will raise the dead at the resurrection of life because the Father has put all judgment and things related to the resurrection under the authority of Jesus Christ. 

They shall be taught of God!

John 6:45-47 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46) Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 

What a dynamic statement we read from the words of Christ. Jesus reached back to the prophets as a way to teach this people that He was indeed, the Son of God, born of a virgin and living on the earth to save us from our sins.

Isaiah 54:13  And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. 

This is the text from Isaiah that Jesus referenced. What does it mean when Jesus says they will all be taught of God? It is that inward work in the heart of man whereby God opens our minds to the realities of Christ so that we might hear and accept the truth. Every person who is listening and  learns from God will accept the invitation of grace and come to Jesus and believe on Him.

Jesus then says that the only One that has seen the Father is the One which is of God. This ties in with the times where Jesus asserted that He was sent into the world to do the Father's will (John 3:13; 3:17 & 4:34 for examples).

Those who have come and sat at the feet of Christ are those who were taught of God and they came and believed, therefore they have eternal life. 

Now, don't miss this truth. The name "Jesus" means "Jehovah saves." Jesus just invoked the name Jehovah in the first "I Am" statement He made in John's gospel. Look again at Isaiah's words. Who is going to teach the children of God?  When the name "LORD"  is in all capital letters, it always refers to Jehovah. Jesus Christ is the great "I Am" who came to the earth in a body of flesh to save us from our sins. 

Jesus, the bread of life will grant eternal life to all who believe.

John 6:48-50  I am that bread of life. 49) Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50) This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 

As a point of continued emphasis, Jesus says it again "I am that bread of life." He then makes the contrast between manna and Himself. Their Hebrew ancestors ate manna for 40 years but they all died. Jesus is the bread of life come down from heaven so that all who eat will not die.

Remember, Jesus is not speaking about literally eating His flesh and drinking His blood. He is speaking of a Divine Person, the Son of God, the conqueror over death, hell and the grave by His death, burial and resurrection. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Knowing God is only possible by having a relationship with Jesus Christ. There is no other way to approach God.

Jesus made His first "I Am" statement in connection to offering Himself as the bread of life, the truth bread of God from heaven, offering eternal life to all who will believe. 

Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? He paid the sin debt of all humanity on His cross in order that we might come to the Father through Christ. 

If you partake of the bread of life by believing on Jesus Christ, you have entered into a lifelong relationship with God through His Son that will always satisfy the deepest longing of your soul. This is an eternal relationship. All believers who are in the graves at Christ's return will hear His voice calling them to a resurrection morning. What a glad day that will be!

Bob