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Eating the Living Bread: Sovereign Grace, Hard Hearts, and John 6:44–54
Episode Summary
In this episode, we continue our walk through John 6 and focus on Jesus’ claim that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them, and that He Himself is the living bread who gives His flesh for the life of the world. We connect John 6 with Matthew 13 and John 12 to understand why people can see Jesus’ works and still not believe: hardened hearts, dull hearing, and a refusal to let go of religious pride and human glory.
We also explore what it really means that believers are “taught by God,” how that gives us courage and clarity in evangelism, and why Jesus’ language about eating His flesh and drinking His blood is spiritual, pointing to intimate union with Him—not sacramental ritual or cannibalism. Along the way, we contrast biblical teaching with Roman Catholic views of the Eucharist and consider how this passage speaks into our present culture, politics, and the resistance of both Jews and Gentiles to the true gospel.
Key Topics Covered
Review of John 6:44 and why no one can come unless the Father draws
Why Jesus teaches in veiled language (parables, bread imagery) – Matthew 13 and Isaiah’s prophecy
The sobering reality of seeing and hearing but not truly perceiving or believing
John 12: signs, unbelief, and hearts hardened in fulfillment of Isaiah
Being “taught by God” (Isaiah 54:13; Hebrews 8:10–12) and how that anchors our evangelism
The comfort of knowing that all whom the Father gives to the Son will come and will be raised up on the last day
Jesus as the true bread from heaven vs. manna that led to physical death
Transition from “bread” to flesh and blood – pointing to Christ’s atoning death
Why John 6 is not teaching Roman Catholic transubstantiation or salvation through the Eucharist
“You are what you eat” applied spiritually: taking Christ in, union with Him, and a life that overflows with rivers of living water
Practical application: perseverance in sharing the gospel with resistant loved ones, staying laser-focused on Christ in a chaotic, politically charged world
Scripture References
Primary Texts
John 6:44–54
John 6:27, 35, 37–40, 48–51
Supporting Texts
Matthew 13:10–15
John 12:37–43
Isaiah 6; Isaiah 54:13
Hebrews 8:10–12
John 7:38–39
Romans 1 (as cultural backdrop)
Key Quotes / Ideas to Highlight (Paraphrased)
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
“Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.”
The manna in the wilderness fed Israel for a moment—and they died. Jesus is the living bread from heaven; those who “eat” Him by faith will live forever.
Being “taught by God” means our confidence in evangelism rests not in our eloquence, but in God’s sovereign work by His Spirit.
If John 6 were about the Eucharist granting eternal life, it would be teaching salvation by a sacrament—contradicting the gospel of grace.
Big Takeaways
Sovereign Grace and Human Hardness
People don’t disbelieve because Jesus is unclear; they disbelieve because their hearts are dull and hardened. Yet even this unfolds under God’s sovereign plan, and those He draws will certainly come and be kept.
Hope and Freedom in Evangelism
Our job is to bring a clear gospel, not a clever presentation. God does the teaching, drawing, and saving. This frees us from paralyzing fear and despair over resistant family, friends, or culture.
Christ, Truly Received, Changes Everything
To “eat His flesh and drink His blood” is to receive Christ Himself—His person and work—by faith in a deep, intimate, life-shaping way. The result is a life that overflows with “living water,” not superficial religiosity or mere tradition.
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By AJEpisode Summary
In this episode, we continue our walk through John 6 and focus on Jesus’ claim that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them, and that He Himself is the living bread who gives His flesh for the life of the world. We connect John 6 with Matthew 13 and John 12 to understand why people can see Jesus’ works and still not believe: hardened hearts, dull hearing, and a refusal to let go of religious pride and human glory.
We also explore what it really means that believers are “taught by God,” how that gives us courage and clarity in evangelism, and why Jesus’ language about eating His flesh and drinking His blood is spiritual, pointing to intimate union with Him—not sacramental ritual or cannibalism. Along the way, we contrast biblical teaching with Roman Catholic views of the Eucharist and consider how this passage speaks into our present culture, politics, and the resistance of both Jews and Gentiles to the true gospel.
Key Topics Covered
Review of John 6:44 and why no one can come unless the Father draws
Why Jesus teaches in veiled language (parables, bread imagery) – Matthew 13 and Isaiah’s prophecy
The sobering reality of seeing and hearing but not truly perceiving or believing
John 12: signs, unbelief, and hearts hardened in fulfillment of Isaiah
Being “taught by God” (Isaiah 54:13; Hebrews 8:10–12) and how that anchors our evangelism
The comfort of knowing that all whom the Father gives to the Son will come and will be raised up on the last day
Jesus as the true bread from heaven vs. manna that led to physical death
Transition from “bread” to flesh and blood – pointing to Christ’s atoning death
Why John 6 is not teaching Roman Catholic transubstantiation or salvation through the Eucharist
“You are what you eat” applied spiritually: taking Christ in, union with Him, and a life that overflows with rivers of living water
Practical application: perseverance in sharing the gospel with resistant loved ones, staying laser-focused on Christ in a chaotic, politically charged world
Scripture References
Primary Texts
John 6:44–54
John 6:27, 35, 37–40, 48–51
Supporting Texts
Matthew 13:10–15
John 12:37–43
Isaiah 6; Isaiah 54:13
Hebrews 8:10–12
John 7:38–39
Romans 1 (as cultural backdrop)
Key Quotes / Ideas to Highlight (Paraphrased)
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
“Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.”
The manna in the wilderness fed Israel for a moment—and they died. Jesus is the living bread from heaven; those who “eat” Him by faith will live forever.
Being “taught by God” means our confidence in evangelism rests not in our eloquence, but in God’s sovereign work by His Spirit.
If John 6 were about the Eucharist granting eternal life, it would be teaching salvation by a sacrament—contradicting the gospel of grace.
Big Takeaways
Sovereign Grace and Human Hardness
People don’t disbelieve because Jesus is unclear; they disbelieve because their hearts are dull and hardened. Yet even this unfolds under God’s sovereign plan, and those He draws will certainly come and be kept.
Hope and Freedom in Evangelism
Our job is to bring a clear gospel, not a clever presentation. God does the teaching, drawing, and saving. This frees us from paralyzing fear and despair over resistant family, friends, or culture.
Christ, Truly Received, Changes Everything
To “eat His flesh and drink His blood” is to receive Christ Himself—His person and work—by faith in a deep, intimate, life-shaping way. The result is a life that overflows with “living water,” not superficial religiosity or mere tradition.