The Year of our Lord, Jesus Christ
John 6:32
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
The very next verse states clearly: For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. He is speaking about Himself. Two verses later He made it very plain …I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Notice something very subtle but also very profound. Jesus told them… Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. This means, among other things, that no religion, no group, no sect, civilization, or society can lay claim on owning, controlling, or extending this thing of eternal life. This belongs to God the Father. He and He alone owns the plan of eternal salvation of a soul. No church, no preacher, no miracle worker, no person. Only God.
And He, God, sent His Son, Jesus Christ to earth to procure this eternal life. Illustrated by the bread sent down from Heaven during the time of Moses and the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites. God the Father sent His Son to become the bread of life so that every person may obtain eternal life. His Gospel, His death, burial, and resurrection coupled with His perfect life purchased salvation for all who believe or accept it.
But religionists hate this simple story. They hate it in part because they cannot control it, profit from it, or restrict it. This is why just a few verses later one of the saddest verses in the Bible is recorded. John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. When they learned that Jesus, and He alone, can save, they left Him, no more to walk with Him. It happens today, just like it did then. When many left Him, He turned and asked the twelve: Will ye also go away? To which Peter, speaking for the group, answered Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.
This leads us to the question, with so many leaving their churches, leaving the “faith,” leaving the Bible, leaving the prayer closet, leaving Christ, where will they go? Where else is eternal life found? Who else can forgive sins? How can they go to Heaven when they die? After all, Christ and He alone is the bread of life, the water of life, the door, the truth, the resurrection…on and on we could go. This ninth Verily, verily statement begs the question: Will ye also go away?
Until next time,
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
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