John, Chapter 6

John 6

This is a long chapter and a difficult one.

Here's a little pro tip for understanding the Bible:
When it makes sense to read it literally, read it literally. When it no longer makes literal sense, read it figuratively and look for the hidden meaning.

In summary --

The chapter begins with a couple of familiar stories -- the feeding of the multitudes and Jesus walking on water. Then the crowds of people come looking for Jesus. Jesus says they are following him -- not because of the miracles and the lessons he teaches -- but because they are poor and he fed them!
Then he tells them that they shouldn't be looking to fill their bellies, but to fill their spirit (food that endures to eternal life). From here on you can pretty much read bread, flesh, and blood as a metaphor. (Remember Sunday's lesson -- meta-phor?)
Again, Jesus gives the simple message (verse 40) that whoever looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life!

My favorite verse --

I'm going to give you two.
In verse 28 the people ask, "What must we be doing to do the works of God?"

29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent."

The second is;
63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life."

Something to think about --

At some point, we need to understand that Jesus is more concerned about our spirit life than he is about our physical life. He certainly cares for us and understands our physical struggles (he got tired, he got hungry, he got hot, and he knew pain), but Jesus came that we would become spiritually alive and know God and know eternal salvation.
He healed illness. He fed the hungry. He comforted the grieving and he raised the dead.
But he came --not to save our bodies, but to save our souls.

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