Vol.VI No.V Pg.5
July 1969

Life-Food From God

Robert F. Turner

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 Johns 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 Fathers 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 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 Lords 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)