Lesson 4505

 (Lesson 4505)(06-03-24) John 6:52-65 

“The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 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. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 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. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.” 

 

In today’s quote, Jesus intensified His teaching by stating that to have eternal life, one must eat His flesh and drink His blood, symbolizing a deep, abiding faith in Him and participation in His sacrificial death. This teaching caused confusion and offense among many of His followers. Jesus then explained that His words were not physical, but spiritual and life-giving, but acknowledged that some do not really believe in Him. He reiterated that no one can come to Him unless they are called by God the Father. That conversation highlights the necessity of faith in Jesus as have freely given His life for the eternal life of all those who will come to believe in Him. What an amazing Savior we serve!~