Eating the Bread of Life

Northwest Bible Church – March 10, 2013 – Worship Service – Alan Conner

John 6:46-59

Eating the Bread of Life

               Intro

               A. JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE OUT OF HEAVEN (John 6:46-48).

               B. MANNA vs. MESSIAH (John 6:49-59).  

               C. INTERPRETATIONS

1) The Roman Catholic view:   The “flesh and blood” refer to literal body of Jesus, and the “eating and drinking” refer to the literal eating and drinking in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.  Transubstantiation – the bread and wine miraculously turn into the body/blood of Christ.

Reasons against this view:

(1) Cannibalism.

(2) Christ did not have the Mass in view.

(3) SOMA (body)  vs. SARX (flesh).

(4) Faith vs. works.

(5) The thief on the cross goes to hell.

(6) Why don’t the laity get the wine?

(7) Is the bread and wine really the body/blood of Christ?

2) The biblical view: The “flesh and blood of the Son of Man” (John 6:53) refers to the sacrifice of His own body and blood on the cross when He died for sinners and paid the price for our redemption.  The “eating and drinking” by which we live forever takes place when we believe in Christ crucified for our salvation.

Reasons in favor of this view:

(1) The Lord’s Supper has not yet been instituted.

(2) Faith alone is essential - John 5:24; 6:29, 35, 40, 47; 20:30-31. 

(3) The parallel between verses John 6:54 and John 6:40.

(4) Christ often uses symbolic or figurative language.

(3) The on-going application.

Conclusion