Expository Thoughts On John - JOHN 6:41-51
J.C. Ryle explains that Jesus, as the bread of life, offers eternal life to all who believe, emphasizing the divine origin and sustaining power of Christ in contrast to earthly understanding.
In this expository sermon on John 6:41-51, J.C. Ryle unpacks the profound spiritual truths of Jesus' declaration as the bread of life. He addresses the confusion of the Jews and explains the necessity of divine drawing for salvation. Ryle highlights the contrast between the temporary manna and the eternal sustenance found in Christ, emphasizing faith and the promise of eternal life. This sermon invites believers to deepen their understanding of Christ's divine nature and His sustaining grace.
Text
Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began complaining about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven," and they said, "Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?"
Jesus replied, "Do not complain about me to one another. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me. (Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God--he has seen the Father.) I tell you the solemn truth, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that has come down from heaven, so that a person may eat from it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
Truths of the weightiest importance follow each other in rapid succession in the chapter we are now reading. There are probably very few parts of the Bible which contain so many "deep things" as the Sixth Chapter of John. Of this the passage before as is a signal example.
We learn, for one thing, from this passage, that Christ\
Sermon Outline
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I
- The Jews' misunderstanding of Jesus' claim
- Jesus' declaration as the bread from heaven
- The significance of spiritual nourishment
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II
- The necessity of the Father's drawing
- The promise of resurrection and eternal life
- The role of divine teaching in coming to Christ
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III
- Contrast between manna and the living bread
- Jesus' flesh given for the life of the world
- The eternal sustenance found in Christ
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IV
- The depth of spiritual truths in John 6
- The importance of faith in receiving eternal life
- The divine origin and revelation of Christ
Key Quotes
“I am the bread of life.” — J.C. Ryle
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” — J.C. Ryle
“The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” — J.C. Ryle
Application Points
- Trust in Jesus as the true bread that sustains your spiritual life.
- Recognize the necessity of God's drawing in coming to faith.
- Reflect on Christ's sacrifice as the source of eternal life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Jews complain about Jesus' claim?
They were confused because Jesus claimed to have come down from heaven, yet they knew his earthly parents.
What does Jesus mean by being the 'bread of life'?
He means that He is the spiritual sustenance that grants eternal life to those who believe in Him.
How can one come to Jesus according to this passage?
No one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws them, highlighting the necessity of divine initiative.
What is the significance of the manna reference?
Manna sustained the Israelites temporarily, but Jesus, as the living bread, offers eternal life.
What does Jesus mean by giving His flesh for the life of the world?
He is referring to His sacrificial death, which provides spiritual life to all who partake by faith.