Daily Reading: 7-20-16
John 6:41-51 Amplified Bible
It is Father God who deposits the desire in human hearts to know and follow Christ. We do not generate that desire. We have no ability to believe in Christ apart from the work of God to call us. The Father plants the Seed in human hearts and we choose to activate our faith in the work of Christ (the Bread of Life) and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit. It’s called Grace and salvation is entirely provided by God; that’s what makes it the greatest of all miracles.
In our passage today, the Jews are having trouble seeing the divinity of Jesus; after all, in the natural he is the carpenter’s son. Yet, no one could deny the power of his teaching or how his Word was changing lives. Jesus calls for their obedience to the Word, but for the most part he only receives criticism. Since they did not like the message, they condemned the messenger.
We connect to Christ by believing in his death and resurrection, as well as by devoting ourselves to living as he requires. The Spirit teaches us and provides the power to fulfill our choice.
John 6:41-51 Amplified Bible; Words to the Jews
41 Now the Jews murmured and found fault with Him because He said, “I am the Bread that came down out of heaven.” 42 They kept saying, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now [have the arrogance to] say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” 43 So Jesus answered, “Stop murmuring among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him [giving him the desire to come to Me]; and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He [who was with the Father and] who is from God; He [alone] has seen the Father. 47 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he who believes [in Me as Savior—whoever adheres to, trusts in, relies on, and has faith in Me—already] has eternal life [that is, now possesses it]. 48 I am the Bread of Life [the Living Bread which gives and sustains life]. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the Bread that comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the Living Bread that came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior], he will live forever. And the Bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh (body).”
Prayer: Father, thank you for calling me to activate my faith in the work of Christ. Through my connection to him, I am growing and learning to walk in your ways. Please continue to spiritually feed me, so I may never be hungry apart from Christ again. In Jesus’ name. Amen.