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ed and denied his divine mission。 Now in the same spirit the
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children rejected the One who bore the message of God to themselves。 〃Then said Jesus unto them； Verily； verily； I say unto you； Moses gave you not that bread from heaven。〃 The giver of the manna was standing among them。 It was Christ Himself who had led the Hebrews through the wilderness； and had daily fed them with the bread from heaven。 That food was a type of the real bread from heaven。 The life…giving Spirit； flowing from the infinite fullness of God； is the true manna。 Jesus said； 〃The bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven； and giveth life unto the world。〃 John 6：33； R。 V。
Still thinking that it was temporal food to which Jesus referred； some of His hearers exclaimed； 〃Lord； evermore give us this bread。〃 Jesus then spoke plainly： 〃I am the bread of life。〃
The figure which Christ used was a familiar one to the Jews。 Moses； by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit； had said； 〃Man doth not live by bread only； but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord。〃 And the prophet Jeremiah had written； 〃Thy words were found； and I did eat them； and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart。〃 Deut。 8：3； Jer。 15：16。 The rabbis themselves had a saying； that the eating of bread； in its spiritual significance； was the study of the law and the practice of good works； and it was often said that at the Messiah's coming all Israel would be fed。 The teaching of the prophets made plain the deep spiritual lesson in the miracle of the loaves。 This lesson Christ was seeking to open to His hearers in the synagogue。 Had they understood the Scriptures； they would have understood His words when He said； 〃I am the bread of life。〃 Only the day before； the great multitude； when faint and weary； had been fed by the bread which He had given。 As from that bread they had received physical strength and refreshment； so from Christ they might receive spiritual strength unto eternal life。 〃He that cometh to Me；〃 He said； 〃shall never hunger； and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst。〃 But He added； 〃Ye also have seen Me； and believe not。〃
They had seen Christ by the witness of the Holy Spirit； by the revelation of God to their souls。 The living evidences of His power had been before them day after day； yet they asked for still another sign。 Had this been given； they would have remained as unbelieving as before。 If they were not convinced by what they had seen and heard； it was useless to show them more marvelous works。 Unbelief will ever find excuse for doubt； and will reason away the most positive proof。
Again Christ appealed to those stubborn hearts。 〃Him that cometh
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to Me I will in nowise cast out。〃 All who received Him in faith； He said； should have eternal life。 Not one could be lost。 No need for Pharisees and Sadducees to dispute concerning the future life。 No longer need men mourn in hopeless grief over their dead。 〃This is the will of Him that sent Me； that everyone which seeth the Son； and believeth on Him； may have everlasting life： and I will raise him up at the last day。〃
But the leaders of the people were offended； 〃and they said； Is not this Jesus； the son of Joseph； whose father and mother we know？ how is it then that He saith； I came down from heaven？〃 They tried to arouse prejudice by referring scornfully to the lowly origin of Jesus。 They contemptuously alluded to His life as a Galilean laborer； and to His family as being poor and lowly。 The claims of this uneducated carpenter； they said； were unworthy of their attention。 And on account of His mysterious birth they insinuated that He was of doubtful parentage； thus representing the human circumstances of His birth as a blot upon His history。
Jesus did not attempt to explain the mystery of His birth。 He made no answer to the questionings in regard to His having come down from heaven； as He had made none to the questions concerning His crossing the sea。 He did not call attention to the miracles that marked His life。 Voluntarily He had made Himself of no reputation； and taken upon Him the form of a servant。 But His words and works revealed His character。 All whose hearts were open to divine illumination would recognize in Him 〃the Only…begotten of the Father； full of grace and truth。〃 John 1：14。
The prejudice of the Pharisees lay deeper than their questions would indicate； it had its root in the perversity of their hearts。 Every word and act of Jesus aroused antagonism in them； for the spirit which they cherished could find in Him no answering chord。
〃No man can come to Me； except the Father which hath sent Me draw him： and I will raise him up at the last day。 It is written in the prophets； And they shall be all taught of God。 Every man therefore that hath heard； and hath learned of the Father； cometh unto Me。〃 None will ever come to Christ； save those who respond to the drawing of the Father's love。 But God is drawing all hearts unto Him； and only those who resist His drawing will refuse to come to Christ。
In the words； 〃They shall be all taught of God；〃 Jesus referred to the prophecy of Isaiah： 〃All thy children shall be taught of the Lord； and great shall be the peace of thy children。〃 Isa。 54：13。 This scripture
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the Jews appropriated to themselves。 It was their boast that God was their teacher。 But Jesus showed how vain is this claim； for He said； 〃Every man therefore that hath heard； and hath learned of the Father； cometh unto Me。〃 Only through Christ could they receive a knowledge of the Father。 Humanity could not endure the vision of His glory。 Those who had learned of God had been listening to the voice of His Son； and in Jesus of Nazareth they would recognize Him who through nature and revelation has declared the Father。
〃Verily； verily； I say unto you； He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life。〃 Through the beloved John； who listened to these words； the Holy Spirit declared to the churches； 〃This is the record； that God hath given to us eternal life； and this life is in His Son。 He that hath the Son hath life。〃 1 John 5：11； 12。 And Jesus said； 〃I will raise him up at the last day。〃 Christ became one flesh with us； in order that we might become one spirit with Him。 It is by virtue of this union that we are to come forth from the grave；not merely as a manifestation of the power of Christ； but because； through faith； His life has become ours。 Those who see Christ in His true character； and receive Him into the heart； have everlasting life。 It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us； and the Spirit of God； received into the heart by faith； is the beginning of the life eternal。
The people had referred Christ to the manna which their fathers ate in the wilderness； as if the furnishing of that food was a greater miracle than Jesus had performed； but He shows how meager was that gift when compared with the blessings He had come to bestow。 The manna could sustain only this earthly existence； it did not prevent the approach of death； nor insure immortality； but the bread of heaven would nourish the soul unto everlasting life。 The Saviour said； 〃I am that bread of life。 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness； and are dead。 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven； that a man may eat thereof； and not die。 I am the living bread which came down from heaven： if any man eat of this bread； he shall live forever。〃 To this figure Christ now adds another。 Only through dying could He impart life to men； and in the words that follow He points to His death as the means of salvation。 He says； 〃The bread that I will give is My flesh； which I will give for the life of the world。〃
The Jews were about to celebrate the Passover at Jerusalem； in commemoration of the night of Israel's deliverance； when the destroying angel smote the homes of Egypt。 In the paschal lamb God desired them
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to behold the Lamb of God； and through the symbol receive Him who gave Himself for the life of the world。 But the Jews had come to make the symbol all…important； while its significance was unnoticed。 They discerned not the Lord's body。 The same truth that was symbolized in the paschal service was taught in the words of Christ。 But it was still undiscerned。
Now the rabbis exclaimed angrily； 〃How can this Man give us His flesh to eat？〃 They affected to understand His words in the same literal sense as did Nicodemus when he asked； 〃How can a man be born when he is old？〃 John 3：4。 To some extent they comprehended the meaning of Jesus； but they were not willing to acknowledge it。 By misconstruing His words； they hoped to prejudice the people against Him。
Christ did not soften down His symbolical representation。 He reiterated the truth in yet stronger language： 〃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； a