John 6:52-71
Daily S.O.A.P. Prompts
S – What verse stands out to me today?
O – What is God revealing about Jesus?
A – How should this change my life today?
P – What is my prayer in response?
Scripture
(John 6:52-71, LEB) 52 So the Jews began to quarrel ⌊among themselves⌋, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 Then 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 do not have life in yourselves! 54 The one who eats 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 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood resides in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so also the one who eats me—that one will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. The one who eats this bread will live ⌊forever⌋.” 59 He said these things while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 60 Thus many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, “This saying is hard! Who can understand it?” 61 But Jesus, because he knew within himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Does this cause you to be offended? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before? 63 The Spirit is the one who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “Because of this I said to you that no one can come to me unless it has been granted to him by the Father.” 66 For this reason many of his disciples drew back and were not walking with him any longer. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would 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.” 70 Jesus replied to them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is the devil?” 71 (Now he was speaking about Judas son of Simon Iscariot, because this one—one of the twelve—was going to betray him.)
Observation
• Wow. Things just got real. Jesus doubles down and explains to the grumbling and quarrelsome religious leaders and people what all this means. The shift is clear. When Jesus says he is the bread of life, he means it. He takes the metaphor to the next place, and this can be confusing for some. It sure was for those listening to him in Capernaum.
• The signs and symbols all point to Jesus. Jesus uses literal language to communicate why he is on the earth. He has come to deliver eternal life, and the only way to get it is to eat his flesh and drink his blood. (This is where we get theological teachings on Transubstantiation and consubstantiation, etc.)
• I notice, as a result of this teaching, many of his disciples stopped following Jesus. Some of his disciples were grumbling just like the religious leaders. Jesus even confronts them by asking if his word offended them.
• This hard teaching leads to many leaving Rabbi Jesus. However, Peter reiterates the twelve’s commitment to Jesus because they recognize and believe he is the one who brings eternal life.
• John exposes Judas as a devil in these verses. An interesting point, Jesus chose all of the disciples, including Judas. Because of John’s commentary, it is revealed that Judas will betray Jesus. A little bit of foreshadowing.
Application
• I receive these words as spirit and life. Jesus, you are true food and true drink.
• Like Peter, I confess, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Prayer
Dear Jesus, you are the true bread and true wine. Honestly, I don’t fully understand how all of this works, but I trust you. I know it is more than bread and wine. I know that when I participate in communion, I am drinking in your suffering and death. I am remembering and participating in something so much more than the physical. When I eat your flesh and drink your blood, I am experiencing a means of grace that I do not deserve. I am not offended by this teaching. Help me to enter fully into this mystery. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
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