John Chapter 6b
In John chapter 6, Jesus is our Peace Offering (see Levitcus chapter 3 and chapter 21)by Lane
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I.
When we left off last week in verse 30, the crowd that was following
Jesus asked Him what was "the work of God." Jesus replied,
that Work was faith (verse 29). One of the rare places in the
biblical text where we are told there is no difference between faith
and works. Better stated, your works are an expression of your faith.
But in our context, these people were looking for a "sign."
They wanted to make Jesus their earthly king and the "sign"
they were looking for was to validate that idea when all along, the
"signs" Jesus had already done proved He was from God, but
because of their carnal mind, this was not seen.
II. We now
enter a section of text that is the doctrinal foundation for the
Roman Catholic Church and its doctrine of transubstantiation. This is
the concept that during the Eucharist (the Lord's Supper) after the
Priest blesses the bread and wine it literally turns into the blood
and body in Jesus Christ (John 6:54 ff). Not only is it the
foundation of Roman Catholicism, but many in the church of Christ
also misuse this passage. As we moved through this text, one might
notice the context never in any way mentions or even makes an
illusion to the Lord's assembly or the Lord's Supper. That is foreign
thought to the context.
III. We will then adopt some work
already written on this subject from a former teacher of mine, Gerald
Paden who has written extensively about this subject. Gerald has been
at the forefront for many years in an effort to try and return the
church of Christ back to the biblical text.
Jesus the Bread of Life
JESUS HAD JUST FEED THE 5000
In John 6:30ff notice the amazing parallel between it and the language that Jesus used when He talked about the "bread from heaven." Remember the language of Leviticus 3 and 21 in which the body of the peace offering was called "the food of God." In our context in John 6, it becomes clear that Jesus is building on the typology of Leviticus chapter 3 and Leviticus chapter 21. We then are looking at "substance vs. shadow." Remember the letter of Hebrews: "the law was a shadow." (Heb. 10:1ff). The Peace Offering was a central part of the Law.
Jesus had just finished feeding the 5000 by multiplying the "loaves" and the "fishes." They took up twelve baskets full of food showing that there was no one who left His banquet table still hungry. When the Jews saw Jesus feeding the people they came and tried to take Him by force and make Him their king (v. 15). Jesus knew the thoughts of their hearts. They wanted a earthly king (as many do today) and not a heavenly king. The real mission of Christ was at stake here. They wanted earthly food and Jesus was here to give spiritual food. It is in this context that Jesus leaves, walks on the water, calms the sea. The next morning, those on the eastern side of Galilee saw Jesus was no longer there and they go to the other side and find Him. Immediately, they seek the Lord but listen to His reply:
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v.26, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs" |
The miracles should have convinced them that Jesus was a prophet (Deut. 19) but they were looking for loaves and fish. Jesus knew they were not interested in Him for the right reasons when He made the above statement.
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v.26, "I tell you the truth you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill" |
It was in this context that Jesus lays down this challenge.
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"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you " v.27 |
The the crowd replied:
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"What must we do to do the work that God requires" v. 28 |
The answer of the Lord:
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"The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent" v.29 |
In other words, You must believe in Me and who I am and not My miracles! It is only through faith in Christ that a man may have the "true" bread of life. But, they missed the point, look at the next passage.
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"What miraculous sign then will you give that we may seen it and believe in you?" v.30 |
Even after the "sign" of "loaves and fishes" they were still asking: "what will you do?"
And now they begin to compare Jesus with Moses. They claimed that Moses had feed the people in Israel manna when they were in the desert. They seemed to be challenging Jesus: "Are you able to do better than Moses?" Can you provide "fish" and "loaves" on a daily basis?
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These people even quoted the Scriptures: "....as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat..." v.31 |
Here is the point that Jesus makes. There is a great difference between the physical bread in the desert and the "bread from heaven" that Jesus came to provide. The "bread" of which Jesus spoke was fellowship with God, a banquet which God provides through Jesus.
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"I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven" v. 32 |
The manna was "shadow" bread (Hebrews 10:1ff). Jesus was the "reality" bread. Jesus is the "true" bread from heaven and not the "shadow" bread.
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"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty" v. 35 |
Again, it is through belief in Jesus that one may eat the true bread of life. The Jews were still looking for the physical bread:
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"Sir...from now on give us this bread" v. 34 |
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See
the next lesson for comments on verses 37,44 and being "taught
and drawn by God.(Click
right Here) |
They never understood the mission of Jesus. His purpose was not to feed the bodies of men but to feed the spirits of men. Peace is the end product of salvation and Jesus came to give us peace.
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"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up in the last day" v. 38 |
The Jews began to complain because Jesus said. "I am the bread that came down from heaven" (John 6:41). They then protested:
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"Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?" How can he say, "I came down from heaven?" (verse 42). |
In verses 6:48 and 49 Jesus once again reproves them saying:
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"I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died." |
Yes, perhaps many of them died with their stomachs full of manna. This well makes the point. Jesus was not talking about that kind of food. He was talking about "bread" that if a man eats,....he will live forever. Now, Jesus' explanation of the "bread."
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"This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (v. 51) |
Jesus gave His flesh and He shed His blood on the cross of Calvary. Thus Jesus insists that if any man wants to have eternal life He must assimilate by faith His sacrificial death on their behalf.
John chapter 6 does not tie in to the Lord's Supper. It is the Passover that builds the typology of the Lord's Supper: see Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-26 and especially Luke 22:14-23. In John 6 Jesus is talking about the cross of Calvary where He gave His flesh in sacrifice and where He shed His blood. Jesus did not shed His blood or give His flesh in the upper room where the Lord's Supper was instituted. That was later at Calvary. He gave His flesh on the cross and therefore Jesus said:
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....."unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you" (John 6:53). |
It is here that Jesus insists that His sacrifice on the cross is the only way to have fellowship with God. They were to accept Calvary. We must all agree with God's judgment against our sin as it was borne by Christ on the cross.
It is not only the cross of Christ that gives peace and fellowship with those of God, but it also the cross of Christ that maintains it. One must.....
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...."eat the flesh...and drink his blood....(verse 53). |
The verb tenses (present tense) in verses 53-59 insist that one must keep on "eating" and "drinking" the blood to continue in that life. In other words, one must entirely assimilate Christ and the cross on a daily basis. It was essential that the Jews understand the figures that Jesus is employing. His sacrificial death is the only true (not the shadow) atonement for sin. Therefore Jesus added:
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"I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up in the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains" (John6:58). |
So what is the bread of God?
Bread of God
"So what is “true bread?” What is this bread that endures to eternal life? Jesus informs them in verse 33. But, here, he switches language. Now, he calls it the “true bread” the “bread of God.”
“Bread of God” is an important term. It occurs with the most frequency in Leviticus 21-22. “Bread of God” is used in Leviticus 21 five times to refer to food offered to the Lord as sacrifice (a food offering). For example, Leviticus 21:6, “they offer the Lord’s food offerings, the bread of their God” (cf Lev 21:8,17,21-23).
“Bread of God” is used in Leviticus 22:20-25, not just of a food offering, but of animal sacrifices in general. When speaking of which animals may not be used, it says, “neither shall you offer as the bread of God any such animals gotten from a foreigner.” An animal sacrifice could be considered the “bread of God.”
If this is how “bread of God” is used in the Old Testament, then Jesus is now moving the conversation beyond the general category of bread as something that “sustains” and “gives life.” Jesus is speaking of the “bread of God” as an acceptable sacrifice. And this makes sense—a sacrifice was offered in the place of the worshiper to atone for sins and reconcile them to God. With God’s wrath removed, eternal life would be possible."
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Just
a note about the Hebrew word "Bread." The Hebrew
word for "bread" can and often does mean "food"
in general and not bread in specific. It is an interesting fact
that the Hebrew word for "bread" is the same word for
"war" giving rise to the ancient idea that when men went
off to war they must carry all of their food with them thus
explaining how the idea of "war" and "bread"
are so closely connected. This idea continues in the New
Testament. When Jesus said "give us this day our daily bread"
He probably meant food in general and not "bread" in
specific. If we notice below at the bottom of the Lexicon page: in
the KJV version the word "Lechem" is used 237 times for
bread in specific but 21 times for food in general and yes, 18
times for meat. The point is, that bread can mean "meat"
and often does. Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon
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LECHEM - לחם bread (from Ancient Hebrew Roots) “Man
cannot live on bread alone” - כי
לא על הלחם לבדו יחיה האדם (Devarim
8:3) |
In this case, Jesus is making a reference to the "Peace offering found in Leviticus chapter 3 and chapter 21. It was in that "Peace Offering" where God provided a sacrificial banquet for the worshiper and those who worshiped ate the meal (bread of God) that God furnished in His presence. We now must feast on the Lord. For a more complete description of the "Peace Offering" (Look Here) It is a good idea to review the Peace Offering at this time (Look Here)
We shall continue this next week. Remember, the "Lord's Supper" is the Passover (Ist Cor. 5:7-8). John Chapter 6 is the "Peace Offering."
See Next lesson for "How does God give anyone to Jesus?" (verses 37, 44)
Outline by Dr. Warren L. Rogers
http://www.lipanhousechurch.org