The Word for Today with Ray

Saturday, July 30, 2022

The Spirit Quickens - John 6:63

John the apostle wrote 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. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Does this offend you? What and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?”, and in chapter six and verse sixty-three of his book, John shared how Jesus told His disciples, “it is the spirit that quickens” where we read:

It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing:

the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The verse reads, “It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing:”. John began with the words, “it is the spirit” or “the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son” “that quickens” which means “that makes alive, invigorates and arouses”; “the flesh” or “the physical body or sensuous nature of man” “profits nothing” which means “is useful, beneficial and advantageous for not one thing”. John shared how Jesus declared it was the “Holy Spirit” of God who makes a person alive because their “fleshly physical body” has no perpetual benefit or advantage.

The verse continues, “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John added the words, “the words that I speak unto you” which means “the utterances, speeches and discourses that Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed to His disciples”, “they are spirit” or “the words of Jesus are spiritual in nature and possess the power of knowing, desiring, deciding and acting”, “and they are life” which means “and the words that Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed are real and genuine life which is active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.” John shared how Jesus declared His very words to be “true life giving” and “spiritual in nature”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus was turning His disciples attention toward things that are “spiritual” and not “fleshly” as they were thinking. There is a “spiritual world” and a “physical world”, and the physical world is temporary whereas the “spiritual world” lasts forever. Jesus came to the world to save people from their sins so they may have an eternal life with God. Those who put their faith and trust in Jesus and believe His words will receive forgiveness of sins and inherit everlasting life with God.

Next time John shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “there are some of you that believe not”, 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".

What If the Son of Man Ascends? - John 6:62

The apostle John wrote 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. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Does this offend you?”, and in chapter six and verse sixty-two of his book, John shared how Jesus asked His disciples, “What and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?” where we read:

What and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

The verse reads, “What and if you shall see the Son of man ...”. John began with the words, “what and if ” or “then what would happen whether” “you shall see” which means “you, disciples, will observe, perceive, notice and discern” “the Son of man” or “God's Son Jesus Himself” doing the following. John shared how Jesus began to ask His disciples what they would do should they observe Him performing the following act.

The verse goes on to say, “... ascend up where he was before?” John continued with the words, “ascend up” which means “arise, climb or go up to” “where he was before” or “the place Jesus was prior to and in advance of coming to the earth”? John shared how Jesus questioned His disciples as to what they would do if they were to “observe” Him “ascending” to the place from which He came.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we see how Jesus was turning His disciples' attention toward “spiritual” things rather than physical. When He spoke of “eating His flesh” and “drinking His blood”, they they thought He was speaking “literally”. Jesus knows the “physical” life is limited to time and space, and the eternal “spiritual” life is unlimited. Jesus spoke of returning to where He was previously because He existed with the Heavenly Father prior to coming to the earth. His purpose for coming was to offer “salvation” through the death of His body and spilled blood upon the cross. He rose from the dead “three days later”, and now every person who yields their life to Him will be forgiven of their sins and receive everlasting life with God. Let all who consider Jesus' words determine what they would do if they saw Him “rise”.

Next time John shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “it is the spirit that quickens”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Does This Offend You? - John 6:61

The apostle John wrote how Jesus told the people looking for 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. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?”, and in chapter six and verse sixty-one of his book, John shared how Jesus asked His disciples, “Does this offend you?” where we read:

When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Does this offend you?

The verse reads, “When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, ...”. John began with the words, “when Jesus” or “at the time and moment the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “knew in himself” which means “understood, perceived, discerned and discovered within His own self” “that his disciples” or “that his, Jesus', students, pupils and attendants” “murmured at it” which means “muttered, grumbled and contentedly complained about what Jesus said” the following occurred. John shared how at the time Jesus understood that His “disciples” were “grumbling” about what He just said, He asked the following of them.

The verse continues, “... he said unto them, Does this offend you?” John added the words, “he said unto them” which means “Jesus uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked of His disciples”, “Does this offend you” or “do the words I, Jesus, am saying and the idea I, Jesus, am conveying to you, disciples, put a stumbling block or impediment in the way that makes you trip and fall”? John shared how Jesus asked His disciples who were “grumbling” whether His words and ideas “stumbled” them.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how perceptive Jesus was toward the thinking of His disciples, and how He was purposed to question them as to whether His words “stumbled” them or not. Jesus knows the “heart” and “mind” of every person, and when they have “doubts” about Him, He is not surprised nor without knowledge. God sent His Son Jesus to die for the sins of the world, and those who put their faith and trust in Him shall receive forgiveness of their sins and be granted everlasting life with His Father God. Those who are “offended” or “stumbled” at the “words” of Jesus and shall remain in their “sinful” state to be judged and condemned by Almighty God.

Next time John shares how Jesus asked His disciples, “What and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Who Can Hear Jesus' Saying? - John 6:60

The apostle John wrote 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. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum”, and in chapter six and verse sixty of his book, John shared how many of Jesus' disciples said, “this is a hard saying; who can hear it” where we read:

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said,

This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

The verse reads, “Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, ...”. John began with the words, “many therefore” or “a large number or a lot then, wherefore and these things being so” “of his disciples” which means “of the students, pupils and attendants who followed Jesus”, “when they had heard this” or “at the time and moment Jesus' disciple were endowed with the faculty for hearing, perceived and understood what Jesus said about “eating His flesh and drinking His blood”, “said” which means “uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked” the following question. John shared how a large number of the “disciples” who were following Jesus uttered the following words after they “heard” His speech about being the “bread from Heaven”.

The verse goes on to say, “... This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” John continued with the words, “this is an hard saying” which means “the words Jesus spoke about being the bread from Heaven was a difficult, not easy to be understood, rough, stiff, stern, offensive and intolerable utterance, declaration and proclamation”: “who can hear it” or “what person is able to perceive, understand, notice and discern the saying of Jesus”? John shared how these “many disciples” of Jesus declared Jesus speech to be “difficult and intolerable” to perceive.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how “many” of Jesus' “disciples” were affected by His words. Because they were thinking only in the physical world, they could not understand how they could “eat” His flesh and “drink” His blood. They did not perceive that Jesus would give His “flesh and blood” as a sacrifice for their sins, and that anyone who believes and trusts in Jesus as their “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their wrongs and receive everlasting life with God. God loves everybody, and He wants them to have the opportunity to receive His Son Jesus into their lives. Those who are wise will understand Jesus' “saying” is not nearly as “hard” as these “disciples” deemed it, and they will yield themselves completely to Him.

Next time John shares how Jesus asked His disciples, “Does this offend you?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Friday, July 29, 2022

Jesus Teaching in the Synagogue - John 6:59

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.

The Bread from Heaven - John 6:58

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.

The verse reads, “This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead:”. John began with the words, “this is that bread” or “exists as the food and nourishment” “which came down from heaven” which means “that descended from the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”: “not as your fathers” or “and in no way or manner like your, the Jewish people's, progenitors and forefathers” “did eat manna” which means “ate food that nourished the Israelites for forty years in the wilderness which was called what is it”, “and are dead” or “and have perished and breathed their last”. John shared how Jesus again referred to the “death” of the Jewish people who ate the “manna” after they left Egypt and wandered in the wilderness for forty years.

The verse goes on to say, “he that eats of this bread shall live for ever.” John added the words, “he that eats” which means “the person whether male or female who consumes and devours” “of this bread” or “pertaining to the food and nourishment spoken by Jesus” “shall live for ever” which means “will be alive, enjoy real life, be full of vigor, active, powerful and efficacious toward the unbroken age, perpetuity of time and eternity”. John shared how Jesus said the person who “consumes” the “nourishment” He provides will continue to “live” throughout all eternity.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see how Jesus reemphasized the idea of the person who consumes of Him living “forever”. Jesus knew people who believe and trust in Him will be forgiven of their sins and be granted everlasting life with God. His desire is for everyone to yield their lives to Him. He knows not everyone will, but the offer is still available to all. Temporary satisfaction through “food” and other “earthly temporal appeasements” will lead to “death”, but submitting to Jesus will have “eternal and everlasting” benefits to everyone who believes.

Next time John shares how, “these things said he in the synagogue”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.