Conservative Friends Bible Study of The Gospel of John #12

John 6:40 – 7:18

We explore Jesus' challenging teaching about being "the bread of life" and what it means to eat his flesh and drink his blood, examining the Quaker understanding of spiritual nourishment beyond ritual.

• Distinction between the two meanings of "Jews" in John's Gospel—either ethnic Jews or specifically those opposed to Jesus
• Jesus' shocking language about eating his flesh and drinking his blood as a spiritual metaphor
• The Quaker understanding that inward spiritual feeding matters more than outward rituals
• Difference between physical symbols and the spiritual reality they represent
• The meaning of "It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless"
• How Jesus' teaching relates to communion/eucharist practices
• The significance of Jesus' brothers not believing in him initially
• The contrast between human language and spiritual realities
• The divine drawing that brings people to spiritual understanding

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me." Revelation 3:20