Thoughts on the Gospel of John (31) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven - not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live for ever. These things he said in the synagogue as he taught in Capernaum.
John 6:56-59.

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (31)
Some of the succeeding statements in verses 50 to 58 seem to be a repetition of the same subject, because they sound so similar. Whoever examines them more closely, ascertains that this is not the case. In today's passage from the Bible two truths are distinguished:

Eating Christ's flesh and drinking His blood to obtain eternal life (vv. 50.51.53).
Eating Christ's flesh and drinking His blood to sustain that life (vv. 54.56.58).
The first case is a single occurrence: it is the application of faith at the new birth. The second instance deals with a continuous action in the life of the believer. This distinction is indicated in the original text. Both the action of eating and the food must be understood symbolically. The incarnation of the Son of God and His atoning death must be accepted by faith. That being so, the believer will constantly "feed" on Him as the One who died.

Out of gratitude the redeemed no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and rose again (cf. ). Christ then becomes the soul's home and motive for living, as one has remarked. That implies genuine happiness in our earthly life and will continue into eternity.

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today's reading: Nehemiah 12:31-47 · Proverbs 16:25-33