So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” vs41-42

We don’t know everything that we think we know about Jesus, until we are born again. The Jesus of the Sunday school class is not the Lord of glory, and we’ve received wrong information from our traditions and false teachers. Rolfe Barnard calls this, “A sinful familiarity with Christ,” so that we THINK WE KNOW HIM, but we don’t!

We must match our knowledge with Scripture, and wherever we are wrong… no matter who taught us or how many believe the lie… we must throw it away. It is better to value our souls in allegiance to Christ, than to go on in disobedience. Let us be happy that God’s opened our eyes, and then let us go tell others, rather than saying, “Well, if Grandma’s in hell, then I’m going too.” This is foolishness, arrogance, and pride. Let us be taught by God our Savior! He’s extending to us the bread of life. I’d rather be wrong and then corrected, then wrong forever and banished to hell. It is better to repent, and thank God that He forgives. It is better to receive the truth, no matter how stinging to pride and self-righteousness, than to go on blind!

These poor sinners wanted physical bread, instead of spiritual. They looked at Jesus, therefore, as less than He really is, which is absolute Savior and Lord, the giver of eternal life. They could not see because their eyes were blind, and this is the healing that we need. The truth of God’s grace must be made clear to us from the Scriptures by the Spirit.

Secondly, everyone that’s learned from the Father comes to Jesus. Vs43-45

Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.”

No man is able to save himself! His mind is carnal, while Jesus is spiritual! God the Father, however, draws some to sovereign grace. He enlightens the eyes of some, and they all come to Jesus as desperately wicked! They have been convinced of their sinfulness and need. Like Blind Bartimaeus, the son of uncleanness, they have nothing good within. Mark 10:47, “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” They CRY OUT for mercy, because they need it. The Lord Jesus is their only hope, and they need mercy, because they have no merit and no strength. He stops to save them [Mark 10:49]! He hears their cry, when the law says, “Stay away,” and the guilty conscience condemns. He opens the blind eyes and rewards faith, because faith looks to Christ, not to self. Faith says, “All worthiness and power is in Him, and I’m trusting Christ to save me the sinner. He is good enough, and He is faithful.” Then, faith receives enlightenment and follows Jesus [Mark 10:52].

Oh, what a wonderful salvation we have - plucked from the fire like wood chips [Zech 3:2]. Oh, the love that elected us and hunted us down! God sent the Holy Spirit in due time, and He fetched us for mercy, like David fetched Mephibosheth [2 Sam 9:5]. He showed us salvation, because He purposed it!

Finally, everlasting life is the reward for believing in Jesus. Vs46-47

“Not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.”

We are most blessed and fulfilled. Our sins are forgiven, and we have peace with God. The Holy Spirit is in us, making us obedient. Now, we live the Christian life. Not only are we living forever, but we’re LIVING FOR JESUS right now, which is the essence of eternal life on earth. We have a purpose and a mission that we can fulfill, which is bringing sinners to Christ and loving people. We are obedient and live in submission to His will, receiving fresh grace to honor Him in every circumstance, as husbands and wives, employees and bosses, as saints in a sinful world. We live to advance the gospel and to magnify God with our conduct. We have a new life with new ambitions, and glorifying God is the peace thereof [Ps 122:7].

Oh, how wonderful it is! People hear this new life and walk away, because they can’t understand the need for Jesus, nor the beauty of His service. We, however, being drawn by the Father, are like moths to the flame: our heart gravitates toward glorifying Him, and we’re happy when He is praised. We have peace within and joy that satisfies, because serving God is the most rewarding life!