This Bread Is... (John 6:41-71)

Introduction
Sometimes one of the biggest hurdles to learning is overcoming incorrect thinking from the past. Certain presuppositions one holds to be true which are in fact false can be an impediment to truth.

The crowds that had been chasing after Jesus had their minds fixed upon physical things -- a Messiah that would usher in an earthly kingdom, a miracle worker that could supply all they needed, a teacher who could heal any type of disease. They were excited to follow Jesus because they wanted their needs met and felt he could meet them. Their problem was that they thought they knew what their needs were, when they really only had one need, the One they were chasing after.

These people could not see the person, all they saw was the performance. Since their eyes were fixed on earthly things, the words Jesus uses to describe himself leads them to shock, offense, and eventual desertion.

His words, like many of his other teachings, used a familiar metaphor -- something his audience could relate to. But the object lesson is not the metaphor, but what the metaphor represents -- a deeper spiritual teaching. Neither does he intend his audience to take every element of the metaphor and try to extrapolate into his spiritual meaning.

In this text, Jesus continues with the concept of bread. He had already said that he was the true bread (as opposed to the manna in the desert) that came down from heaven. This created quite a stir. But the stir is nothing compared to what happens when he tells them that the true bread is his body to be given for the life of the world. And then to tell them that unless they eat his flesh and drink his blood, they have no life in them.

Of course Jesus never meant for these people to take what he said metaphorically and apply it in a literal sense. But his intention was for them to break out of their fixation on the physical and see that the real need was spiritual -- believe in the one God has sent -- the true Bread from Heaven. Because believing is tantamount to eating and drinking what Jesus has to offer.

...My Flesh Given For the World (John 6:41-51)
Selective hearing is a major impediment to salvation.
What un-biblical teachings about Jesus are you holding on to?
Even though you are reading the Bible, are you listening to and learning from God? Is your learning leading you to Jesus?
What teaching have you embraced that is presenting a barrier between you and faith in Jesus? What are you going to do about it?
Where do you need to stop grumbling and start listening and learning?

...Required For Eternal Life (John 6:52-59)
Purpose and meaning for life begin and end with Jesus.
How do you know that you are in Christ and he is in you?
Does your life have meaning, purpose and direction? If so, are these things aligned with Christ's purpose and direction for your life?
If you don't have meaning and purpose, what is keeping you from receiving the “true bread from heaven”?

...Offensive to Unbelievers (John 6:60-71)
The cross separates believers from unbelievers.
What affect do Jesus' words have on you?
What words have you heard from Jesus but have yet to act on them? Faith listens, learns, and responds.
What are you going to say when you see the Son of Man ascended to the place he was before?
Who will be your defense when you stand before the judge of the universe?