John the apostle shared how Jesus told the people looking for Him, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him. As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live for ever”, and in chapter six and verse fifty-nine of his book, John shared how, “these things said he in the synagogue” where we read:
These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
The verse reads, “These things said he in the synagogue, ...”. John began with the words, “these things said he” or “the speech about consuming and drinking of Him, Jesus, uttered, declared and proclaimed Jesus” “in the synagogue” which means “within the assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures; assemblies of that sort were held every sabbath and feast day, afterwards also on the second and fifth days of every week;”. John shared how Jesus spoke all the words about “consuming and drinking” of Him within the “sacred assembly place” where people met to worship and hear of God.
The verse continues, “... as he taught in Capernaum.” John added the words, “as he taught” which means “while Jesus held discourses, instructed and delivered didactic discourses” “in Capernaum” or “within the flourishing city of Galilee situated on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee or Lake of Gennesaret, near the place where the Jordan flows into the lake whose name means village of comfort”. John shared how Jesus instructed the people as He gave didactic discourses in the city of “Capernaum”.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn where Jesus gave His instructions and directives about “eating” His “flesh” and “drinking” His “blood”. No doubt the people who heard Jesus speak were stunned by His words because they were reasoning in the natural physical world. Jesus was interested in the “eternal spiritual” nature within people, and because He loves people so much, He desires to have a personal relationship with them. Anyone who yields their life to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and inherit everlasting life with God. This is “eating and drinking” of Him, and all who are wise will submit themselves to Jesus and devour all He has to give them.
Next time John shares how many of Jesus' disciples say, “this is a hard saying; who can hear it”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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