This passage does not prove that the Spirit must provide spiritual life first, before belief. It seems to be indicating that food, even manna from heaven only sustains the physical body. It contrasts with what feeding on Christ will provide, which is spiritual life. Verse 33 says it is for the world as well.:love2:
This passage does not prove that the Spirit must provide spiritual life first, before belief.
Jesus tells the
disciples, "I have been speaking words to your physical ears that are spirit and life, but there are some of you who do not believe.
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)
Why were they not believing?
Are they not hearing with their physical ears the words of Jesus?
Do we now "assume" they where making a "free choice"?
No. Jesus tells us why.
65And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."
They are
not believing, because the Father had not granted it.
But some were believing.
Why were they?
".....no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."
The Father granted their believe.
By what means?
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all.
Because the Spirit of God gave them life that they might believe.
It seems to be indicating that food, even manna from heaven only sustains the physical body. It contrasts with what feeding on Christ will provide, which is spiritual life.
The context of John 6 certainly includes the contrast between physical and spiritual bread. In fact, when Jesus began to talk about His sacrifice many of his disciples were offended.
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" 61But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this?
His disciples were offended. They couldn't understand this "extreme" illustration their leader was giving.
"Jesus had never spoke like this before", they grumbled.
Then Jesus added something even more startling.
62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
What if you saw Me go back to the Glory I had with my Father?
Jesus is talking about His
sacrifice and ascension.
How will these people understand such High and Holy truth?
For that matter, how will anyone understand these incredible things?
JESUS said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all".
Verse 33 says it is for the world as well
There are several different ways the word "world" is delineated in the Bible, therefore context in each use must determine "world's" meaning.
"And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
The
"life" is an important phrase for
"world's" context
The bread that Jesus is giving has a distinct purpose. It is given for "life".
In fact, the bread is His flesh, ie. His sacrifice at Calvary.
51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever
All that "eat of this bread"
will live forever! These are the ones to whom this "bread" is given.
Who are these "bread partakers"? Jesus declared "All that the Father gives me....
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
Now remember Jesus
only gives bread for the "life" of the world.
Does every person in the world, without distinction, have spiritual "life"?
No. This is universal salvation.
Then what part of the world will have life?
Anyone who comes to Jesus.
Who then can come to Jesus?
All that the Father grants to come.
Therefore, only those that have life make up the group to whom the word "world" applies.
Jesus is here affirming, that He is giving His flesh for the "life" of the world.
Life of the world in reality, not potential.
