Victory Fellowship Bible Study
273 23rd St. S.W., Barberton, OH 44203
Wednesdays at 7pm
Rev. Roderick D. Grabski (330) 858-0223
WEBPAGE: victoryfellowshipministries.com
arod4God@neo.rr.com FACEBOOK: Roderick Grabski
CLASS EIGHT: The Bread of Life
I. ANNOUNCEMENTS and PRAYER CONCERNS
II. Read / Listen to John 6:30-71
a. What are your initial impressions or questions?
Notable translation differences?
III. The Real Bread of Heaven (vv. 30-33)
a. The people had a four-fold misunderstanding about the manna in the wilderness:
i. It was not Moses who gave them bread from heaven. (Exodus 16:4)
ii. Manna was not the true bread from heaven.
iii. Manna gave physical life, but the real Bread of heaven gives spiritual life.
iv. Manna was given only to Israel but the real bread of heaven is for the whole world. (John 3:17)
b. Seven times in this sermon Jesus referred to His “coming down from heaven” (vv. 33, 38, 41-42, 50-51, and 58). Thus He proclaimed His divinity.
IV. The Bread of Life (vv. 34-40)
a. (vs. 34) They are still thinking about their physical needs.
b. Here we find the first of Seven “I Am” Discourses in John’s Gospel:
1. “I am the Bread of Life” (6:35,48)
2. “I am the Light of the World” (8:12; 9:5)
3. “I am the Door of the Sheep” (10:7,9)
4. “I am the Good Shepherd” (10:11,14)
5. “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25)
6. “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (14:6)
7. “I am the True Vine” (15:1)
c. (vv. 35-40) in these verses we find both, the doctrine of election and free will. They are not as opposed to each other as some may think.
V. The Grumbling Jews (vv. 41-46)
a. (vv. 41-42) These Jews are thinking of Jesus of Nazareth and not the baby born in Bethlehem. What do I mean by that?
b. (vv. 43-46) Jesus is referring to Isa 54:13; Jer. 31:34; and Micah 4:2.
VI. Eternal Life (vv. 47-59)
a. Jesus describes a mystery. (My grandson Oliver – “What’s that?”)
b. What do you think Jesus means by “eat my flesh and drink my blood?”
i. Jewish prohibition about blood (Deuteronomy 12:23-24).
ii. Lord’s Supper not yet instituted.
iii. Jesus is not speaking literally (vs. 63)
iv. Hoc est meus corpus in the Catholic Church. (Hocus Pocus)
v. Sarx sarx vs Soma swma. (John 1:14; Matthew 26:26).
vi. The Greek verbs in vv. 50-51 and 53 are in the aorist tense and that signifies a once and for all, single event versus a repeated sacrament.
c. (vv. 53-56) Jesus makes 3 promises to those who eat His flesh and drink His blood: 1) eternal life; 2) raised up on the last day; 3) abide in Him and Him in you. (2 Cor. 5:17; 13:5; Gal. 2:20; Col. 1:27)
VII. Many Disciples Desert Jesus (vv. 60-71)
a. (vs. 60) See Luke 8:13
b. (vv. 61-65) The Jews wrongly believed that studying Scripture and doing “works of the law,” apart from the Spirit, were sufficient for spiritual understanding.
c. (vv. 66-67) This is the first occurrence of the term “the Twelve” in John’s gospel. He uses it also in vv. 70-71 and 20:24.
d. (vv. 68-71) Simon Peter makes a strong confession, believing he is speaking for the twelve, but Jesus knew otherwise.
VIII. Application
a. It is through the Word of God, led by the Spirit, that we eat Jesus’ flesh and drink His blood. (John 1:14; 6:63; Jeremiah 31:33)
b. True believers have eternal life and Christ lives in them and they in Him. (John 14:20; 1 John 5:20)
c. Every human has the free will to come to Jesus if they so choose, and those who do are the elect of God. (John 3:16; 6:37; Romans 8:29-30)
Final Comments, Questions. Close in Prayer
Next Week: NO CLASS – THANKSGIVING BREAK
On December 4th: The Promise of the Holy Spirit
Read John 7:1-53 to prepare.
