They Are Spirit, and They Are Life (John 6:63)

2024-04-15

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63)

Jesus told His audience this after He said He was the bread of life. He said, “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). It is Jesus and His Gospel message that truly gives us life; nothing in the physical realm or any works of ours can secure our salvation.

Jesus is our true sustenance. Knowing Him is eternal life. “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Communion with our Lord is important for true spiritual nourishment. We cannot make it on our own with Him.

Even after we are saved, we want to try to establish our own righteousness. But we need this communion even more after we are saved. We can never operate independently again. Reliance on Jesus will continue forever. We let Him work through us. Let us cease striving to do work only He can do. “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.”

This saying is not appealing to everyone. They want spirituality while going their own way. “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (John 6:66).