“May everyone who recognizes the Son and shows faith in him have eternal life” (JOHN 6:40).
1. What do some people think of the idea of living forever?
To many it seems like an unrealistic or absurd idea, that is, a utopia, or even an undesirable idea because they do not want to suffer the problems of old age.
2. What does John chapter 6 say about eternal life? (John 6:39, 40).
Jesus said that the will of the Father is that not one of all those whom he has given to the Son should perish and that everyone who recognizes the Son and demonstrates faith in him will have eternal life, and the Son will resurrect him on the last day.
3. According to John 6:51, what did Jesus teach about himself?
Jesus taught that he himself is the bread of life that came down from heaven so that the world might live. Jesus took advantage of the topic of manna to teach them something else. Although the manna was a miraculous gift from God, those who ate it were not spared death (John 6:49). However, Jesus called himself “the true bread from heaven,” “the bread of God,” and “the bread of life.”
“THE LIVING BREAD” AND ITS MEAT
4. Why were some scandalized when they heard what Jesus said?
Perhaps they thought they would have to eat the literal flesh of Jesus, which would turn them into cannibals (John 6:52). But Jesus added an even more shocking detail: “Except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves” (John 6:53).
5. Why do we know that Jesus was not asking people to drink his literal blood?
Because God had forbidden human beings to consume blood (Gen. 9:3,4). And he later repeated this prohibition in the law he gave to Israel. Anyone who ate blood had to “be eliminated” (Lev. 7:27). In reality, with these striking words, Jesus was teaching people how to obtain life, “eternal life” (John 6:54).
6. What else helps us understand that Jesus was speaking figuratively when he said to eat his flesh and drink his blood?
It is clear that Jesus was speaking figuratively or symbolically. It was not the first time he did it, because let us remember what he said to the Samaritan woman: “Whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never thirst again. Rather, the water that I will give him will become a spring within him, springing up to give eternal life” (John 4:7,14).
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TWO OCCASIONS
7. What do some say about what Jesus said in John 6:53?
Some religious people claim that what Jesus said in John 6:53 about eating his flesh and drinking his blood laid the foundation for the Lord's Supper. They rely on the fact that on this later occasion he used similar words (Matt. 26:26-28). They affirm that all who attend the Lord's Supper must eat the bread and drink the wine that is passed among those present.
8. What are some differences between these two occasions? (See also images).
First: They occurred at different times and places. The first was before a crowd of Jews in Galilee in the year 32 AD. This was a year before establishing the Lord's Supper in Jerusalem.
Second: They were groups of different people, in Galilee, there were many people who did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah, and the Lord's Supper was only with the 12 faithful apostles.
ILLUSTRATION
Series of images: 1. Jesus speaking to a crowd. Some of those who hear it are murmuring and others are scandalized. 2. Jesus establishing the Lord's Supper with his faithful apostles.
John chapter 6 mentions what Jesus said to a crowd of Jews in Galilee (left). A year later he spoke to his small group of faithful apostles in Jerusalem (right). (See paragraph 8).
THE WORDS OF JESUS AND YOU
9. To whom do the words Jesus said at the Lord's Supper apply?
The paragraph mentions that this new covenant is not made with humanity in general, but with “the house of Israel,” that is, with the spiritual Israelites, who will rule with Christ “in the Kingdom of God” (Heb. 8:6,10; 9:15).
10. What is another difference between what Jesus said in Galilee and what he said during the Lord's Supper? (See also the image).
It should be noted that, during the Lord's Supper, Jesus focused on the “little flock.” This small group was initially made up of the faithful apostles who accompanied him at that dinner (Luke 12:32). What he said to his apostles on this occasion is very different from what he said to the crowds in Galilee.
ILLUSTRATION
A brother eating the bread during the Lord's Supper.
Those who eat the bread and drink the wine at the Memorial are a small group, but “everyone” who demonstrates faith in Jesus can receive eternal life. (See paragraph 10).
11. How do we know that the blessing Jesus spoke of in Galilee was not for a limited group of people?
He was not talking about a blessing for a select few, for a limited group, as in the case of the Lord's Supper. Rather, in Galilee he focused on a blessing that would be available to all people. In fact, He said, “If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. The bread that I am going to give so that the world may live is my flesh” (John 6:51).
12. What does it take to receive the eternal life that Jesus spoke about in Galilee?
Only those who eat the bread will receive it, that is, those who demonstrate faith. Many who claim to be Christians think that to be saved they only have to “believe” in Jesus and see Him as their personal Savior (John 6:29).
13. What did it take to be a true disciple of Jesus?
They had to “come” to Jesus, that is, accept and obey everything he taught (John 5:40; 6:44). This reminds us of what he himself said about taking the torture stake and following it constantly (Matthew 16:24)
14. What do we have to do to benefit from the flesh and blood of Jesus?
We find the answer in John 6:40, this is the will of my Father: that everyone who recognizes the Son and demonstrates faith in him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day (John 6:40). We have to show faith in the rescue.
15, 16. What benefits does John chapter 6 remind us of?
It shows how much Jesus and his Father love people. Regardless of whether someone has heavenly or earthly hope, it is essential to demonstrate faith in Christ to have eternal life.
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
What must we do to live forever?
We find the answer in the thematic text “May everyone who recognizes the Son, Jesus Christ, and demonstrates faith in him have eternal life” (John 6:40).
What are some differences between what Jesus said in 32 AD and what he said at the Lord's Supper in 33 AD?
First: They occurred at different times and places. The first was before a crowd of Jews in Galilee in the year 32 AD. This was a year before establishing the Lord's Supper in Jerusalem.
Second: They were groups of different people. In Galilee, there were many people who did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah, and the Lord's Supper was only with the 12 faithful apostles.
Although the other sheep are not to eat the bread or drink the wine of the Memorial, what wonderful hope do they have according to John chapter 6?
Eternal life, in reality, both those who participate and those who do not, both groups have the hope of eternal life. Those who participate, in heaven, and those who do not participate, on earth.
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