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 In
this series we continue to insist upon the external
nature of divine authority, and the necessity for an objective
approach to this authority. Look carefully at the lessons in
John’s record of Jesus. (Jn. 6:26-f.)
Following
the miraculous feeding of the multitude, Jesus accused the
people of refusing that which His works proved (i.e., His
divinity, the source of the works) and coming to Him for
“the loaves and fishes”. He urged them to seek rather the
eternal food “which the Son of man shall give unto you; for
Him hath God the Father sealed.” (Vs. 27) This meant believing
on Him whom the Father had sent.
They
asked for more bread, as Moses had given; and Jesus replied that
the true heavenly bread is He whom God had sent to die
for their salvation. (Vs. 31-35) The Father is the source
of this blessing since Jesus came to do the Father’s will; so,
in this sense, the Father gives people to the Lord (Vs.
37-f) and “No man can come... except the Father... draw.”
(Vs. 44—45) Explanation: “they shall all be taught of
God.” The thought is NOT “taught about God” —
but God must be the source of the teaching. Robertson
says this is ablative, and cites 1 Cor. 2:13 as a parallel.
Other Greek scholars call it “subjective genitive,” and both
grammar and context agree that the “drawing” “teaching”
has God, not man, as its source.
Does
this argue some direct experience or implantation of knowledge
and faith? Jesus answers (next verse) “Not that any man hath
seen the Father... I am that bread of life.”
Then
follows the extension of this “food”
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figure to include “meat” (his “flesh”)
and later “blood” to drink. (Compare “living water” Jn.
4:10—14) His point is, they must receive Him — His teaching
— as being from the Father; and “he that hath seen me hath
seen the Father.” (Jn. 14:9) If some “immediate and
intuitive fellowship with God” was intended, this would render
the coming of the Son unnecessary; and invalidate the whole
context of Jesus’ teaching here.
(There
is no reference here to the Lord’s Supper. Jesus said, vs. 57.
“As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father;
so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.” Life
(spiritual, eternal) proceeds from the Father, via the Son, and
is ours only as we receive, believe, abide in the teaching of
Christ — in this way, abide in Christ. See following.)
As
some disciples murmured, Jesus made specific application of
previous statements. (Vs. 63)” — the words that I speak unto
you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Jesus must be
received as the Son of God, and we must do His will, even, as He
did the will of the Father. Note Vs. 65; because Jesus knew some
did not believe, he said, “Therefore said I unto you,
that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of
my Father.” (emphasis mine, to point up relation established
in all of these verses.)
We
can study, learn, believe and abide in Christ and His teachings
— finding life in His words — or we can say, “This is hard”
(vs. 60) and “walk no more with Him.” (Vs. 66) (See 67-f)
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