DAILY TEXT, Sunday, August 9, 2026. Everyone who acknowledges the Son and demonstrates faith in him will have eternal life (John 6:40).

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Sunday, August 9, 2026

Anyone who acknowledges the Son and demonstrates faith in him will have eternal life (John 6:40).

Many people watch what they eat and try to exercise regularly to stay healthy. Even so, they do not expect to live forever. Perhaps it seems like a pipe dream, or even an undesirable idea because they do not want to suffer the problems of old age. However, Jesus spoke positively about “eternal life,” as we read at John 3:16 and 5:24. One day, Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people with loaves and fishes. What he did was amazing, but what he said the next day was even more so. That crowd had followed him to Capernaum, on the shores of the Sea of ​​Galilee, and there he told them that humans could be resurrected and enjoy eternal life (John 6:39, 40). What Jesus said teaches us that many who have died will be resurrected and that you and your loved ones can enjoy eternal life. w24.12 8 pars. 1, 2

According to John 6:51, what did Jesus teach about himself?

The crowd in Capernaum saw a connection between the loaves Jesus had recently given them and the manna Jehovah had provided for their forefathers. The Bible itself calls manna “bread from heaven” (Psalm 105:40; John 6:31). Jesus used the subject of manna to teach them something else. Although manna was a miraculous gift from God, those who ate it were not spared death (John 6:49). Yet Jesus called himself “the true bread from heaven,” “the bread of God,” and “the bread of life” (John 6:32, 33, 35). And later, he pointed out a critical difference between manna and himself. He said: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” (read John 6:51). These words left those Jews very confused. How could Jesus claim to have come down from heaven and to be a “bread” superior to the manna that God had miraculously given to their ancestors? Jesus gave them an interesting clue when he said, “The bread that I will give [...] is my flesh.” What could he have been referring to? We are interested in knowing the answer, because then we will know what makes it possible for us and our loved ones to live forever. Let’s see what Jesus was talking about.

Why were some people scandalized when they heard what Jesus said?

Some of those who heard Jesus were shocked to hear him say that he would give his flesh so that the world could live. Perhaps they thought that they would have to eat Jesus’ literal flesh, which would make them cannibals (John 6:52). But Jesus then added an even more shocking detail: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves” (John 6:53).

Why do we know that Jesus wasn't asking people to drink his literal blood?

Even in the days of Noah, God had forbidden humans to consume blood (Gen. 9:3, 4). And later he repeated this prohibition in the Law he gave to Israel. Anyone who ate blood had to be “killed” (Lev. 7:27). Jesus upheld the Law of Moses (Matt. 5:17-19). Therefore, it is unthinkable that he would ask a crowd of Jews to literally eat his flesh or drink his blood. In reality, with these striking words, Jesus was teaching people how to gain life, “eternal life” (John 6:54).

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