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Read John 6:51-56
The Lord really emphasizes here that all men need to “eat
his flesh” and “drink his blood” in order to have everlasting
life! But, as we shall see from other verses in this chapter,
he is not speaking of his literal flesh and blood, but he is
speaking spiritually.
DIVINE ILLUSTRATION
John 6:57-58 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the
Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This
is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread
shall live for ever.
Jesus uses the illustration of his Father, who “is a Spirit”
(John 4:24) and does not have flesh and blood. In other
words, Jesus said, “In the same way that I live by the Father: so the man who eateth me shall live by me.” Obviously
Jesus does not live because he eats the Father’s flesh and
blood, because he has none! He lives by the Father’s Spirit!
In the same way those who live by Jesus Christ live by his
Spirit. They have “come” to him and have “believed” on
him (John 6:35), and have “received” the Holy Ghost (John
7:37-37; 14:16-17; Rom. 8:14-15; 1Cor. 2:12; Gal. 3:14).
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so
be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any
man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of
his” (Rom. 8:9).
Jeremiah wrote, “Thy words were found, and I did eat
them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing
of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD
God of hosts” (Jer. 15:16). Surely you don’t believe that
Jeremiah was literally eating the parchment and ink of the
word of God! He was spiritually ingesting God’s word. He
was receiving and acknowledging it. In the same manner,
men who believe God’s word concerning Jesus Christ consume it and believe on it in their spirits. In other words,
Jesus said, the “bread which came down from heaven” is
eaten, “not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead.”
Jesus Christ is not eaten AS the physical manna, but AS the
spiritual “bread from heaven” (John 6:32).
Read John 6:59-62
Regretfully some of his disciples murmured, but they failed
to ask Jesus for an explanation. Their hearts were hardened. How would they eat the flesh of the Son of man if he
ascended up where he was before? Their blinded hearts
gave them a physical interpretation which was ridiculous!
Since they didn’t ask, Jesus makes the interpretation of his
words very plain in the next verse.
SPIRITUAL WORDS
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and
they are life.
Though it is very foolish to think such a thing, but if it were
possible for you to actually eat the physical flesh of the Son
of man and drink his blood it would profit you NOTHING!
MANY WENT BACK
Read John 6:64-66
The unbelieving “disciples” were “carnally minded” (Rom.
8:5-8). They probably went back to their “religion” and continued to try and work their way into heaven, who, “being
ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted
themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Rom. 10:3).
THE BELIEVERS STAYED
John 6:67-69 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go
away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom
shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we
believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the
living God.
All but one of the disciples, who stayed, believed and were
“spiritually minded” (Rom. 5:6). Later, after Jesus Christ’s
resurrection, the disciples who believed on Jesus received
the Holy Ghost (John 20:22). All those today who receive
Jesus Christ by genuine faith, believing in their hearts that
God raised Jesus from the dead (Rom. 10:9), have been
“sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13) and
have the Spirit of God dwelling in them (Rom. 8:5-9).
JUDAS
Read John 6:70-71
We’ll take a closer look at Judas Iscariot in another sermon
outline. Only Judas and the “man of sin” are given the title,
“the son of perdition” (John 17:12; 2Thess. 2:3)!
If you have not been “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8), I
pray that you will acknowledge your great need and that
you will come to Jesus Christ and receive and believe on
him today (John 1:12-13; 6:35; Rom. 10:9-13; Acts 16:3031).
Published April, 2010.
“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest
not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1).
THE TRUE BREAD
A SERMON OUTLINE FOR BIBLE STUDY
by Bill Pierce
Lighthouse Baptist Prison Ministry, 1345 Skyline Drive, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Text: John 6:28-71
I pray that God will give you light and understanding through
his word as you read this difficult passage on “the bread of
life.” You will not understand the passage unless God gives
you light on it. Even some of Jesus’ own disciples could not
understand it. When Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto
him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he
enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be
born?” (John 3:3-4). Jesus was not speaking of being born
again physically! He was speaking of being “born of the
Spirit” (John 3:8). In a similar way, when Jesus revealed
himself to these Jews as “the bread of life” (John 6:35),
which must be eaten for eternal life, the Jews mistakenly
thought he was referring to eating his literal flesh! Such a
misinterpretation has led to many false, slanderous, and ridiculous teachings. May God make his word clear to you
today.
Jesus warned the people, who were seeking him because of
the bread he had fed to the multitude the day before, saying,
“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” (John 6:27).
THE WORK OF GOD
John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we
might work the works of God?
Sinful man is a very prideful and religious creature. He thinks
there is something he can do to earn salvation from God!
Every religion—except true biblical faith in Jesus Christ—
has some form of “work” the participant must accomplish
to earn eternal life! Even some so called “Christian” religions require some form of “work” to obtain eternal life,
such as church membership, attendance to certain services,
partaking in communion, water baptism, confirmation,
completion of catechisms, recitation of certain creeds, service as a missionary, and many other “works.” But, thank
God, the word of God is clear that no one could ever earn
eternal life by working for it! The only thing you will get
from God through the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21) is
death: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God
is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom.
6:23). Salvation is clearly not of works:
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to his mercy he saved us, by the
washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through
Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by
his grace, we should be made heirs according to
the hope of eternal life” (Tit. 3:5-7).
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works,
lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).
Sinners must be convinced that they are bankrupt and worthless before God before they will realize their need to trust in
the righteousness of another. It is God’s will to give every
lost sinner repentance to acknowledge the truth (2Tim. 2:2426; 2Peter 3:9). First, you must acknowledge that there is
nothing good about you or any other naturally born sinner:
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not
one” (Rom. 3:10).
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do
fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind,
have taken us away” (Isa 64:6).
Secondly, you must acknowledge that you need the righteousness of Jesus Christ before you can be accepted by
God, and that Christ’s righteousness is received by faith in
God’s word.
“21 But now the righteousness of God without the
law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and
the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God
which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon
all them that believe: for there is no difference”
(Rom. 3:21-22). See also Phil. 3:9 and Rom. 4:5.
FAITH IS THE GIFT OF GOD
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the
work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Men are saved by faith in God’s word, and that “faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”
(Rom. 10:17). “The Lord gave the word: great was the
company of those that published it” (Ps. 68:11). “The
entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Ps. 119:130). God has given mankind his word which is “pure,” “preserved,” and “true”
(Ps. 12:6-7; 119:160). Therefore believing God’s word is
true faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please
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him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him” (Hebr. 11:6). He that “believeth on the Son of God
hath the witness in himself [the Holy Ghost],” because
he believes “the record that God gave of his Son” (1John
5:10; John 1:12-13).
AN EVIL AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION
Read John 6:30-31
These people are part of the “evil and adulterous generation” that seeks after a sign (Matt. 12:39-42). They had just
witnessed the feeding of the five thousand men plus women
and children the day before! But their fathers had eaten manna
from heaven for forty years! So they demanded to see more
miracles from Jesus. During the tribulation period the “beast”
will give them a sign from heaven (Rev. 13:13)!
THE TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN
John 6:32-33 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my
Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the
bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth
life unto the world.
The manna was only given to sustain the physical lives of
the children of Israel—and not “the world”—for a short
period. But “the true bread from heaven,” when received
by faith, gives all believers in the world eternal life! Jesus
clearly reveals to these unbelievers that he is “the bread of
God…which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life
unto the world.” He did not come to give life only to Israel,
or to a certain select few, but to the “world.” John would
write later, “And we have seen and do testify that the
Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world”
(1John 4:14). Later in this chapter, Jesus declared plainly,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me
hath everlasting life” (John 6:47)!
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for our
sins is the only sacrifice that appeased and satisfied the wrath
of God against all sinners and causes God to forgive their
sins and bestow blessings upon them when they believe on
his Son. Jesus Christ is not the sacrifice for only a few,
“but also for the sins of the whole world” (1John 2:2).
Jesus Christ “is the Saviour of all men, specially of those
that believe” (1Tim. 4:10). This means that the gospel
makes salvation possible for all men, for “he died for all”
(2Cor. 5:14-15), and he did “taste death for every man”
(Hebr. 2:9). But only those who believe will receive the gift
of eternal life (Rom. 6:23). Unbelievers deny “the Lord
that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (2Pet. 2:1). They “shall have their part in the
lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is
the second death” (Rev. 21:8)!
NEVER HUNGER AND THIRST AGAIN
John 6:34-35 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us
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this bread. 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.
When Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well about the
“living water,” she said, “Sir, give me this water, that I
thirst not, neither come hither to draw” (John 4:15). In
like manner, when Jesus told the Jews about the bread of
life, they said, “Lord, evermore give us this bread.” But
the Samaritan woman meant what she said! When Jesus
revealed to her that he was speaking of himself, she received him and was saved. Then she left her waterpot and
ran into the city, with the “well of water springing up into
everlasting life” (John 4:14) in her, to tell the men of her
city, “Come, see a man, which told me all things that
ever I did: is not this the Christ?” (John 4:29). By sad
contrast, the Jews rejected Jesus as the bread of life and
went away hungry. What will you do “with Jesus which is
called Christ?” (Matt. 27:22).
As physical bread gives nourishment and strength to the
physical body, so the Lord Jesus Christ gives spiritual life to
believers. He is the life and strength of the spiritual man. No
man can live spiritually without Jesus Christ. But the spiritual man can do all things through Christ which strengthens
him (Phil. 4:13). For one to never hunger again spiritually,
he must come to Jesus. In order for one to never thirst
spiritually, he must believe on Jesus.
THE FATHER’S WILL
Read John 6:36-40
Jesus knew the people who did not believe on him (John
6:34). Before we go on, it is very important to recognize
that there is a difference in the way God worked with men
before and after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus
Christ. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, and before his death,
burial, and resurrection from the dead (1Cor. 15:3-4), the
Father was drawing men to his Son. In this chapter Jesus
said, “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” (John 6:44). And again he said, “Therefore said
I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it
were given unto him of my Father” (John 6:65). Peter
confessed, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living
God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed
art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not
revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven”
(Matt. 16:16-17). In other words, no man at that time could
know that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God,
unless God the Father revealed it to him!
What was the will of the Father at that time?
1. That Jesus Christ receives everyone who comes to
him (John 6:37-38).
2. That Jesus Christ loses none who come to him,
and that he raise them from the dead on the last day
(John 6:39).
3. That everyone who sees the Son [remember this
only applies to that time during the Son’s earthly
ministry], and believes on him, may have everlasting life, and that the Son will raise him up at the last
day (John 6:40). Jesus told Thomas, who saw the
Lord after his resurrection, “Thomas, because
thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed
are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). This has been true of millions since the return of Jesus Christ to heaven.
What is the will of God at this present time? The scriptures
answer very clearly:
1. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2Pet. 3:9).
2. Therefore he “now commandeth all men every
where to repent” (Acts 17:30).
3. “And this is his commandment, That we should
believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ,
and love one another, as he gave us commandment” (1John 3:23).
Who is drawing men to Christ today? The Lord Jesus Christ,
signifying his death on the cross (John 12:33), declared,
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all
men unto me” (John 12:32). Jesus Christ is “the true
Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the
world” (John 1:9). Jesus Christ may be drawing you to
himself through his word and by his Spirit today (1Cor.
6:2). He calls men by the gospel (2Thess. 2:14), “how that
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the
third day according to the scriptures” (1Cor. 15:3-4).
You may receive him by faith, or you may “resist the Holy
Ghost” (Acts 7:51) and reject the Lord Jesus Christ (John
12:48)! God does not force anyone to be saved! However
God does invite and desire that all sinners be saved:
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let
him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is
athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).
Read John 6:41-45
These poor unbelieving Jews were baffled and confused by
the Lord’s words. They were thinking, “How could Jesus
come from heaven if he is the son of Joseph?” Jesus is the
virgin born Son of God. He is not the son of Joseph, although some of the perverted bibles mislead the readers
about this matter (Luke 2:33). Their main problem was a
lack of knowledge of the scriptures, which prophesied of
the virgin birth of Jesus Christ (Isa. 7:14; Jer. 31:22; Isa.
9:6; Micah 5:2). Jeremiah seems to be prophesying about
these unbelieving Jews (Jer. 5:21-23). Not knowing the
scriptures, these people were obviously not “taught of God”
(John 6:45). In another place Jesus told the unbelieving Jews,
“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed
me: for he wrote of me” (John 5:46). And again Jesus
said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye
have eternal life: and they are they which testify of
me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have
life” (John 5:39-40).
MEN SAW GOD
John 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he
which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
The appearances of God to men in the Old Testament were
always pre-incarnate appearances of the Son and never an
appearance of the Father. The LORD God appeared to Abram
(Gen. 17:1), Isaac (Gen. 26:2), Jacob (Gen. 32:30), Moses
(Exod. 33:11), Micaiah (1Kings 22:19), Isaiah (Isa. 6:1-5),
Ezekiel (1:26), and Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 3:25). Because
the Son is “the brightness of his [God’s] glory, and the
express image of his person” (Hebr. 1:2-3) he could tell
Philip, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father”
(John 14:9). Jesus Christ is “the fulness of the Godhead
bodily” (Col. 2:9).
SPIRITUAL BREAD
John 6:47-50 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on
me hath everlasting life. 48 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.
Jesus makes it very clear. Those who truly believe on him
have everlasting life (John 3:16-18; 3:36; 5:24; 6:47; 10:2728; Rom. 10:9-13). The Philippian jailor asked Paul and Silas,
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,
and thy house” (Acts 16:30-31).
The physical manna only kept their fathers alive for a short
time. Now they are physically dead. But Jesus Christ himself, the spiritual bread which cometh down from heaven,
provides eternal life. “Jesus said unto her [Martha], I am
the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me,
though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever
liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest
thou this?” (John 11:25-26). Believers die physically, at
which time their eternal soul and spirit depart to be with the
Lord (Phil. 1:23; 2Cor. 5:8). Therefore they [their soul and
spirit] never die! They will never suffer the “second death”
(Rev. 20:14; 21:8)! It should be obvious that eating Jesus’
literal flesh would not benefit the soul and spirit at all. Therefore Jesus distinguishes the vast difference between the
eventual death of those who ate the physical manna with
the everlasting life of those who eat of “the bread which
cometh down from heaven,” speaking of himself.