6:28-29 What teaching is underlined by what Jesus said here?
6:28-29 What teaching is underlined by what Jesus said here?
The teaching underlined here is that the first thing anyone must do to do the works of God is believe on Jesus. This does not mean placing mere credence upon the person of Jesus, but believing in His absolute Deity (CP 1Th 1:1-3; 1Jn 3:23 with 5:10-12).
The day before the events of Jn 6:28-29, these same Jews had seen Jesus perform the miracle of feeding over five thousand people with just five loaves and two fishes. Now they wanted Jesus to give them a sign to prove He was from God (CP Jn 6:1-14).
The Jews implied that multiplying the loaves and fishes the previous day was not enough proof of who Jesus was, for Moses fed the Israelites for forty years in the wilderness with the manna from heaven, without claiming to be Messiah (CP Jn 6:30-32 with Ex 16:11-36).
Jesus told the Jews that the manna Moses gave their forefathers was not the true bread from heaven - it merely sustained them bodily. The true bread from heaven was Jesus Himself - He would sustain them both spiritually and eternally (CP Jn 6:32-35, 47-58).
The expressions Jesus uses here about eating His body and drinking His blood are to be understood spiritually. They are used figuratively, not literally. This is made clear in V63 (CP V63). Jesus teaches here that even if we could literally eat His body and drink His blood, it would not save our souls.
The life Jesus speaks of is spiritual and eternal life, not fleshly life. Eating of Christ simply means that man must accept by faith who Christ says He is, and what He has done for him (CP V66-69). V51 also teaches that Christ did not die only for those who believe on Him as some in the church teach (CP V51; 1Cor 5:14-15; 1Jn 2:2).
Christ died for everyone who ever lived, but His atoning death is only efficacious for those who believe on Him and obey Him (CP Jn 3:14-18, 36; 8:51).
See also comments on Mt 26:26-29, 1Jn 1:10.