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Chapter 6
35. A Heaven-sent Teacher
—“I am the bread of life,” the Au-
thor, Nourisher, and Supporter of eternal, spiritual life. In the thirty-
fifth verse of the sixth chapter of John, Christ represents Himself
under the similitude of heavenly bread. To eat His flesh and to drink
His blood means to receive Him as a heaven-sent teacher. Belief in
Him is essential to spiritual life. Those who feast on the Word never
hunger, never thirst, never desire any higher or more exalted good
(
Manuscript 81, 1906
).
53-57. Eating and Drinking Represents Nearness to Christ
—
Christ explained the meaning of His words so clearly that none need
stumble over them. His statement regarding eating the flesh and
drinking the blood of the Son of God, is to be taken in a spiritual
sense. We eat Christ’s flesh and drink His blood when by faith we
lay hold upon Him as our Saviour.
Christ used the figure of eating and drinking to represent that
nearness to Him which all must have who are at last partakers with
Him in His glory. The temporal food we eat is assimilated, giving
strength and solidity to the body. In a similar manner, as we believe
and receive the words of the Lord Jesus, they become a part of our
spiritual life, bringing light and peace, hope and joy, and strengthen-
ing the soul as physical food strengthens the body (
Manuscript 33,
1911
).
(
Revelation 22:2
.) A Practical Application
—It is not enough
for us to know and respect the words of the Scriptures. We must
enter into the understanding of them, studying them earnestly, eating
the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. Christians will
reveal the degree to which they do this by the healthiness of their
spiritual character. We must know the practical application of the
Word to our own individual character-building. We are to be holy
temples, in which God can live and walk and work. Never must
we strive to lift ourselves above the servants whom God has chosen
to do His work and to honor His holy name. “All ye are brethren.”
163