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  • Writer's pictureStar Saiyan

John 6:47-51

In response to questions regarding Jesus's role as "bread of life", Jesus goes into more detail on what "bread of life" means.


First off, Jesus contrasts Himself (the "bread of life") to the manna. Back in the days of Exodus, the Israelites received manna (which is a great feat from God), but it's worth noting that the manna is physical food. It's only a matter of time before the Israelites of the Exodus days became hungry again, not to mention that they eventually died physically (6:49). It's important to note that the Judeans were likely thinking of physical bread. Physical food is nourishing (imagine eating a juicy burger after a long day of work!), but it can only last for so long before we go hungry. Jesus knew that physical resources that nourish us aren't enough to meet the need of everlasting life, and if we're honest, we've made screw-ups that are ineffective in nourishing us. Such screw-ups are even detrimental to nourishing everlasting life (which is why we need the "bread of life" for everlasting life in the first place).


However, as evident by the use of personification and figurative language in prior verses, Jesus is using a metaphor. Jesus compares the flesh to the bread and talks about how he will "give for the life of the world" (6:51). The flesh is a reference to the sacrifice that Jesus would later do on behalf of the world, and (as we'll see later) through the resurrection, he demonstrated that he can give life. Additionally, Jesus talks about how eating the bread of life results in living forever, and Jesus also said how believing in Jesus results in everlasting life (6:47,51). Everlasting life as in being born again and with Jesus. Thus, Jesus uses a metaphor to compare "believing in Jesus" to "eating the bread of life" because both involve receiving nourishing.


 

Believing in Jesus is accepting that we need Lord Jesus (who is Son) as the "bread of life" and counting on Jesus for fulfilling the need to be filled for everlasting life (via the cross and resurrection). That's it for us. Jesus as Lord (and Son) gives us eternal life as the bread of life and Jesus as Savior saves us from a scenario where we don't have everlasting life (via the sacrifice on the cross and resurrection).

For the readers who decided to accept Jesus and count on Him for saving us, you are guaranteed everlasting life. I don't have a "I raise my hand" button or "I accepted Jesus" button because faith starts internally. (You can raise your hand though.)

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