41 At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’”

43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father.

47 Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Paul Bogg

I wonder how many times you have tried to share the gospel and thought the person you talked to wasn’t understanding what you were saying? Or have you tried to share the good news about Jesus with someone, only to be met with grumbling or disbelief? Or have you had someone tell you, “If only God would do this amazing thing, I would believe”?

Today’s passage has Jesus talking to a group of people like this. That might seem disheartening, because we can think, “How can I possibly get through to them?” But what Jesus has to say in this passage should give us hope and comfort.

Firstly, in verse 44 Jesus tells us that the process of someone believing in him begins with God the Father drawing them in. This means that the ultimate outcome from sharing the gospel message depends entirely on God himself, not on your ability to convince them. This is a great news! It means that we are free to share about Jesus with friends and family and colleagues and encourage them to consider who Jesus is, knowing that Jesus himself says God will draw in whom he decides.

Secondly, earlier on in verses 30-31 the people asked: “What sign then will You perform, so that we may see it and believe You? What will You do? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

Now Jesus gives them the answer in verses 48-50: “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die.”.  The people were asking for a sign, and Jesus tells them, “I am the sign – look to me. The bread they ate wasn’t the true bread of life from God, because they died – it was pointing forward to me. So eat of me and live – that is, believe in me and you will live forever.” There is no need for God to perform any more signs or revelations or miracles to bring people to himself. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection are sufficient, and God himself will draw in whose whom he decides.

So take heart brothers and sisters, and be bold.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul is a member of our Bossley Park morning congregation.