The Food that Jesus Gave to His Own
W. Arnot, D. D. John 6:47-58 Truly, truly, I say to you, He that believes on me has everlasting life.… 1. To finish His work was bread to Himself; His work finished is bread to His people. 2. His words were startling but necessary. The rock must be laid down although superficial disciples may stumble, for it is the foundation of the true disciples' faith and hope. 3. The Lord's Supper is not the subject here. Both sacraments are omitted in John, but he records the fundamental doctrines on which they rest. In the conversation with Nicodemus we have the ground of the one; here the ground of the other. Wanting Christ's sacrifice for sin the Supper would have contained nothing for us, and wanting faith in Christ crucified, we can get nothing from the sacrament. 4. Hunger centres naturally in human souls, and men have attempted to satisfy it — (1) With the good things of this life; (2) with the inanities of self-righteousness. In the text Christ shows the satisfaction of this hunger. We have — I. ON THE PART OF CHRIST — 1. His incarnation: the Son as Man. Not man, a man, a son of man. Neither a son of man nor a Son of God could be our Saviour. The one is near, but has no power; the other has power, but is not near. The Incarnation combines nearness with power to save. 2. His sacrifice. The Incarnation could not save us. Without shedding of blood is no remission. Christ converged all the testimonies from Abel's sacrifice to His last passover on Himself, the Lamb of God. II. ON THE PART OF CHRISTIANS. They believe and live. Although it is a spiritual and not a material food, it is a real supply of a real hunger. The soul's hunger for righteousness and peace and God is a greater thing than bodily hunger, and must have a corresponding supply. This is found by the believer. Christ's incarnation brings God near to Him, and His sacrifice brings peace and righteousness. The believer thus has the life of God in Christ. This life is — 1. Present. 2. Everlasting. (W. Arnot, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. WEB: Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life.