Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
(John 6:53)

Context:
1. John 6:1-14: Feeding of the 5000
- A miracle never seen by mankind before
- Providence is fthrough a young boy willing to sacrifice his lunch of 5 barley loaves (bread of poor, whereas the rich ate wheat loaves) and 2 fishes, willingness to give unconditionally
- Jesus asked the people to sit down. We have to trust God for His miracles by keeping still

Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.
(Rth 3:18)

- Jesus Himself looked to Heaven for a miracle, so must we not work or strive for miracles to happen, it’s a work of God. Our part is to have faith and believe.
- God is very concern about waste and so should we

When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
(Joh 6:12)

2. John 6:15-21: Jesus left the multitude to be alone. The people acknowledged that He was the prophet that was to come to be king over Israel.
The Mistakes of the people:
- The zeal of the people didn’t match that of God
- They wanted a king to provide for their physical needs, saved from the curse of eating their bread in the sweat of their face (Gen 3:17). God goes beyond meeting human felt needs
- They only could see an earthly or secular kingdom whereas God’s heart is for the Kingdom of God which is eternal
- It was by man’s force to make Christ King contrary to His mind, the question of the Lordship of Christ is not forcing it into man’s idea or mold but rather we submitting to His.

3. John 6:21-27
- The people made after Christ, another indication of fleshly zeal
- Jesus knew their hearts for the temporal and not the eternal

Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
(Joh 6:26-27)

- It’s again the question of trusting God for our daily providence

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
(Psa 37:25)

4. The miraculous work of God
Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
(Joh 6:28-29)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life.
(Joh 6:47-48)

- God’s work is unto salvation, not being merely being a provider of bread
- Israel was saved from Egypt by the mighty works of God unto salvation, the people who met Jesus during the John 6 incident was very much like them who sought after earthly providence only. As such, the lust or fleshly desire of the Israelites is the same as the zeal of the people.

When we forget the works of God unto salvation, we will end up in the same condition as the Israelites and the people who wanted bread. God can give us our request but there will be a deep emptiness within that doesn’t have any evidence of eternal life.

They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
(Psa 106:13-15)

5. Jesus’ words that divided
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath 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 eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
(Joh 6:53-57)

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
(John 6:68)

- The people left save the disciples and Jesus asked them why they didn’t follow the crowd. Peter had it!
- Truth will separate the goats from the sheep

6. What about eating the flesh and drinking the blood
- The people knew it wasn’t about cannibalism, but involves a deeper truth and life changing commitment
- Jesus was speaking about His death for our sins

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
(Mat 26:26-28)

Since the works of God unto our salvation has been completed on the Cross, are we ready (the people weren’t) to ‘sin no more’? (John 5:14 & John 8:11). How ready are we to deny ourselves of the ‘enjoyment’ of sin and ‘put on’ His righteousness?

- How radical are we in dealing with sin? Are we ready to take drastic action to cut off anything that will lure us to sin?

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
(Mat 5:29-30)

- Forbidden ‘delights’ are sweet and pleasant, as are the fruits of risk and danger. But Jesus sees how His redeemed people live, and if we disregard the self denial to sin and pursue right living, right thinking and right doing, we will deny the power of the death and resurrection of our Lord

Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
(Pro 9:17)

Either Christ is Lord of All (including our frailties in facing our weakness with regard to sin) or not at all.