Key Main Points Highlighted:
Understanding the spiritual concept of consuming Christ's flesh and blood is crucial.
Eternal Life is not merely about living forever but Christ dwelling in you.
It involves the concept of being truly alive, linked to the resurrection and Christ's divinity.
To partake in the future bodily resurrection, you must have the Eternal Life of Christ now.
Remaining in Christ is vital, not just a one-time decision; it involves obedience and denying self-will.
Jesus' words are spirit and life, contrasting with the flesh's worthlessness.
Many genuine disciples found Jesus' teachings difficult to accept, leading to some leaving Him.
Jesus recognized that His words would be offensive to many, emphasizing the importance of His Life within us.
John 6:66 signifies that many disciples were offended by Jesus' teaching on the importance of having His Life within us.
Not everyone is granted the privilege of coming to Jesus; it's granted by the Father.
This verse is a prelude to the predicted great falling away in the last days.
It alludes to the mark of the beast (666), suggesting that many, even some who identified as Christians, will take it.
A call to stay faithful, receive the life of Christ, and avoid falling away.
Those with the Holy Spirit can discern the truth and should remain steadfast.
Partaking of Christ’s Flesh and Blood is Eternal Life
You need to have Jesus Christ’s Life within you. You must consume His flesh and drink His blood. Now, we understand that this is a spiritual concept. I'm taking my time to explain this because I realize that I, too, used to have a carnal mindset. I couldn't grasp spiritual truths because of it. So, I empathize with those who struggle with this when reading the scriptures.
It's crucial to ask the Lord for understanding. It's okay not to comprehend everything, but we should approach the scriptures humbly, like children. Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” To enter the kingdom of heaven, we must be childlike and dependent on God to reveal His truths to us. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal the meaning of the scriptures, believe that He hears you, and trust that He will answer according to His will in His own timing. Knowing Him is His will, so if you seek understanding of His Word, He will grant it. Have faith in this. I'll explain more as we continue.
Let's return to the scripture in verse 54: "The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has Eternal Life, and I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:54) There's much to unpack here, and I can't cover it all right now but I should be able to in due time, by the grace of God. For now, remember that partaking of Christ's flesh and blood grants you Eternal Life. However, it's essential to understand that Eternal Life, although it includes the idea of living forever, isn't solely about the duration of life. It goes beyond our earthly existence. Eternal Life is Christ Himself dwelling in you. Understanding Eternal Life in Christ involves recognizing that it's different from our typical understanding of living. It's about truly being alive, a concept we need to grasp more deeply.
However, this topic requires more time for discussion, which we'll address as we move further along in our Bible study series. What's crucial to know for now is that Eternal Life is linked to the resurrection. Jesus is the first to be resurrected, and His Resurrection Life means He is alive right now! He's seated in heavenly places at the right hand of God - right now, possessing all power and authority - right now! No other powers or authorities compare to Him! Everything else is beneath His feet! This Resurrection Life is part of Eternal Life. Resurrection Life and Eternal Life is Jesus Christ. Eternal Life also means living in the present tense, not just a distant future. Eternal Life is having all that Christ is. Jesus Christ declared, "Before Abraham was born, I AM," (John 8:58) signifying His divinity. The I AM is Eternal in nature, He always was and is and will always be, He is outside of Time and space. So to have Jesus Christ within you is to have the I AM residing within you. Jesus also said, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24) To deny this truth is to remain in sin.
We must possess this Eternal Life to partake in the future bodily resurrection. As we currently are saved in our spirit, we are also experiencing salvation in our souls, our bodies will also be transformed and made incorruptible in the future at the resurrection. To participate in this bodily resurrection, we must currently have the Resurrection Life—the Eternal Life of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Life abiding within us. Verse 55 emphasizes that Christ's flesh is genuine nourishment, and His blood is real sustenance. Those who partake of Him remain in Him, and He remains in them. Remaining in Him is of utmost importance, a topic Jesus elaborates on during the Last Supper with His disciples. In the lead-up to His betrayal and arrest, Jesus emphasized the importance of abiding in Him, much like a branch stays connected to a vine to bear fruit. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:1-2) Remaining in Him is crucial. If you're living in the flesh, you might resist this idea. Some teachings may even suggest that once you've accepted Christ as Saviour and Lord of your life, you can live however you like. This is a lie straight from the pit of hell! Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) The truth of the matter is, if we truly love God as we profess then it will show in our actions, the same is also true if we deny Him, our actions will expose our hearts true desires. I realize that for some Christians, this is very difficult to receive but I urge you to seek the truth in the Scriptures. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, asking the Lord to reveal His truth to you on this matter.
In verse 56, Jesus states that those who eat His flesh and drink His blood abide in Him, and He in them. To abide in Christ is an ongoing lifestyle, not a one-time decision. When you accept Christ, you're bought by His precious blood. For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:20) and the Apostle Peter states: For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers. (1 Peter 1:18). We no longer belong to ourselves; we are His possessions. Our old self is dead - gone! For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3) It's Christ who now lives in we who believe the good news of His death, burial, and resurrection. Following Jesus means denying your old man(the flesh) and embracing God's will(believing the one Whom He had sent), obeying the Father’s will is paramount. Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:28-29)
Jesus Christ, The Manna From Heaven - The Bread of Life
John 6:57 emphasizes that Jesus lives because of the Father and those who eat Him will also live because of Him. I am the bread of Life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down out of heaven, so that anyone may eat from it and not die. (John 6:48-50). This bread represents both Jesus and True Life. He's the heavenly bread, unlike the manna the Israelites ate in the wilderness. They ate manna but died, not just physically but spiritually due to their unbelief. They never entered the promised land, the place of rest. Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience. (Hebrew 4:9-11) Jesus Christ is our promised Rest, partake of His Life, The Living Bread, The Manna from Heaven!
Let’s Move to verse 59, we'll continue from there.
Jesus spoke these things in the synagogue while teaching in Capernaum. Many of His disciples, those who were learning and following Him, found His words difficult to accept. They said, "This statement is very unpleasant. Who can listen to it?" (John 6:59-60). These were not casual followers; they were genuine disciples, trying to grasp The Lord’s teachings. Often, people claim to be ‘Christians’ but fall short of being true ‘disciples’. To be a disciple means that you are a learner and follower of Jesus, someone who earnestly seeks to emulate His ways.
But Jesus, aware that His disciples were complaining about this, said to them, “Is this offensive to you? (John 6:61). This statement also spiritually acknowledges that many would be offended by the truth that having Christ's life within us is essential to being one of His, not just superficially incorporating His Life while continuing with our own. This offense remains relevant today. When people see Jesus in you, living out the life He sacrificed for His own, they may be offended. Jesus further explained that His words were Spirit and Life, emphasizing that the flesh alone has no value. He recognized those who did not believe and even identified the one who would betray Him. He explained that coming to Him is only granted by the Father.
In response to His teaching, many disciples left Him, no longer willing to walk with Him. Jesus turned to the twelve and asked if they, too, wanted to leave. Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of Eternal Life. We believe that You are the Holy One of God." Jesus, knowing that one of them, Judas, would betray Him, reaffirmed His choice of the twelve.
As a result of this many of His disciples left, and would no longer walk with Him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to leave also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. And we have already believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot; for he, one of the twelve, [n]was going to betray Him. (John 6:66-71).
A Spiritual Prelude To The Great Falling Away
In John 6:66, we come across a significant verse that holds great spiritual insight. It's essential to understand that the Bible is the absolute, inerrant truth, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guided not only the content but also the arrangement of verses.
John 6:66 reads, "As a result of this, many of His disciples left and would no longer walk with Him." This verse is placed here for a reason. It signifies that many disciples, genuine learners and followers of Jesus, were offended by His teaching. These same disciples were unable to spiritually understand the words that Jesus spoke to them. There is much more to say concerning this matter in regards to the last day's deception and those who will be under a great delusion because they refused to love the truth but for now we will only go into the matter of looking at the significance of this verse. They couldn't accept the spiritual truth that having Christ's Life within us is crucial for True Life, Eternal Life, and Resurrection Life.
It's crucial to recognize that coming to Jesus is granted by the Father, as stated in verse 65. And He was saying, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” (John 6:65). Not everyone is granted this privilege. Many disciples were offended and left, signifying a spiritual falling away. This verse is a prelude to a great falling away predicted in the last days. Today, similar challenges arise when people struggle with the truth of living the Life of Christ, being separated from the world, and embracing holiness. Some may be offended, but for those with receptive hearts, this truth is a blessing.
The mark of the beast mentioned as 666, is also alluded to here. Many, including those who once identified as Christians, will take this mark. This verse serves as a solemn reminder and a call to stay faithful, receive the Life of Christ, and avoid falling away. Remember, if you've received the Life of Christ and the Holy Spirit dwells within you, you are equipped to discern the truth. Don't be like the disciples in John 6:66 who were offended and fell away. Embrace the Life of Christ, remain steadfast, and continue seeking His Truth.