18. John 6:41-71 Jesus, the Source of Eternal Life

 

SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHTS:
- 41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
- 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
- 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life.
53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

What does this passage reveal about God?

• God is the one who draws people to Jesus (v. 44).
• Jesus is the true source of eternal life (vv. 48-51).

What does this passage reveal about human nature?

• People struggle to understand spiritual truths and many walks away because they follow Jesus for the wrong reasons (v. 52; 66). Earlier in John 6, people followed Jesus for miracles and free food, but when He spoke about deeper truths, many left. Our tendency to be skeptical, resistant, and even dismissive when something doesn’t fit our understanding or expectations.
• True disciples remain with Jesus, even when it’s hard (vv. 67-69).  
  
  What did this passage mean to its original audience?

When Jesus said, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you" (John 6:53), it would have been deeply shocking to His Jewish listeners. According to the Law of Moses, consuming blood was strictly forbidden. Leviticus 17:10-14 makes it clear that anyone who eats blood would be cut off from the people of Israel because blood represents life and is sacred to God. Blood was associated with atonement and the life-giving power of God. For the Jewish people, this law was foundational, and it was unthinkable to go against it.

So, when Jesus spoke of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, it would have been shocking and even offensive. Jesus wasn’t promoting a literal, physical act of eating His body or drinking His blood. As Pastor Randy pointed out in a previous SOAP, He was using a metaphor to describe the deep, intimate relationship believers must have with Him. His statement pointed to His future death on the cross, where His body would be broken and His blood would be shed for the salvation of humanity. He was offering Himself as the ultimate spiritual nourishment—far superior to the manna that sustained the Israelites in the wilderness.

However, to the Jewish audience, this was difficult to understand. Jesus' words seemed to contradict their understanding of the Law, and many were confused, repulsed, and uncomfortable with what He was saying. This is why many people turned away from Him after this teaching (John 6:66). Jesus was urging them to look beyond the surface of their religious laws and to understand the deeper spiritual truth that He was the true sustenance for their souls.

How does this passage impact my attitude? 

Do I struggle with God’s truth when it doesn’t make sense to me? In this passage, many people rejected Jesus because His words didn’t fit their expectations. It made me realize that I sometimes struggle when God’s truth challenges my understanding. I need to trust that God’s wisdom is greater than mine, even when things don’t seem clear at first. I want to develop a heart that is humble and open to learning, rather than being skeptical or resistant when God calls me to something that challenges my thinking.

Am I following Jesus just for blessings, or do I truly want Him?  The crowd followed Jesus because they wanted miracles and free food, but when He challenged them spiritually, many walked away. I want my love for Jesus to be genuine and deep, not just based on what I can get from Him.

How does this passage challenge my actions?
When Peter says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”, it’s a reminder that following Jesus is the only path to true life, even when it’s difficult. In my own life, there will be times when following Jesus will be challenging or unpopular, but I want to stick with Him because He alone offers eternal life. I will press closer to Him in hard times, trusting that He is the source of everything I need.

Loving God,

Thank You for guiding me through Your Word. When I don’t understand, help me trust that Your wisdom is greater than mine. Give me a humble heart that is open to learning and following You. I pray that my love for Jesus will be genuine and deep. Help me to stay close to Jesus and remember that He is the source of eternal life.

In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Amen.