“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)
Everyone has heard of the legend of the Fountain of Youth. Its waters perpetually run clean and clear, and whoever drinks from them will have their youth and vitality restored. It would be wonderful to find the source of such life on earth, but only in Jesus Christ can we find such an elixir for our souls.
#1 Offer of Complete Sustenance
The notion of God being the source of all life is clear from the first pages of Scripture to the last (Genesis 1:1, Revelation 21:1). Even more directly in the Gospels, Jesus identifies Himself with life in several of His well-known “I AM” statements. He calls Himself the bread of life (John 6:35); the resurrection and the life (John 11:25); the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6); and the vine, which is the source of life for a plant (John 15:1). He can offer this life because He is the only path to salvation and restoration to God. He made this same offer as He proclaimed the coming kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17).
This offer of a renewed life was presented very early in His earthly ministry to a Samaritan woman at a well (John 4:7-26). Starting with an innocuous request for a drink, He then challenged this woman’s faith and offered her a drink that would never leave her unsatisfied. It is here that He called this water a spring of eternal life (John 4:14).
#2 Offended by Challenging Statements
It is important to remember that Jesus is not just one way to receive this eternal blessing; He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). This teaching was difficult for many who followed Him at first (John 6:60).
This young rabbi from Nazareth was quickly gaining popularity and notoriety. He had performed several public miracles, including the famous account of feeding 5,000 men with a few loaves and fish (John 2:1-11, 4:46-54, 6:1-14). The crowds that thronged around Him were ready to crown Him as their king and depose the Roman rulers in order to set up God’s kingdom. But Jesus had a very different path in mind.
He knew that, in order for Him to follow the Father’s will, He needed to sacrifice Himself for our sins by dying on the cross (Luke 24:44-48). When He challenged the people’s notions of leadership and what it meant to truly follow God, He offered many concepts that were difficult for them to grasp. As with the Samaritan woman, He tried to guide their limited understanding to accept the fact that He had been sent from heaven for their sakes (John 6:41-42).
#3 Once and Complete Sacrifice
As the Christian church spread, the message of the apostles was clear: Jesus was the source of eternal life. The Gentiles sought the favor of other gods by performing good deeds, but the works of the flesh could not satisfy God’s demand for complete holiness. Beyond that, if we are completely focused on this life, we cannot find life in eternity for our souls.
Paul teaches this clearly when he says, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6) As long as we place our hope and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to redeem our souls and fill us with the power and strength of God, we can receive the gift of eternal life.
#4 Ordained by a Compassionate Savior
If the words of Jesus are the power of the Holy Spirit and the source of eternal life, they must be shared by believers so that others may experience these precious gifts as well. This is where our call to be witnesses for the Gospel is of the utmost importance.
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He called us to share the good news of His salvation with all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). The power of the Holy Spirit would be given to them so that their words would be effective (Acts 1:8), and once they began to preach in Jesus’ Name, the power of the Gospel led multitudes to the saving faith in Christ (Acts 2:47b).
This radical power is still at work today, but only so long as we remain faithful witnesses, telling the good news of what God has done for us. Otherwise, there is no way for people to believe in Him (Romans 10:13-15). If we are proclaiming boldly the words of eternal life, others can come to salvation in God (Romans 10:17).
Conclusion
Jesus is the only source of life that will last forever, but only if we can accept His message and free gift as the one and only path to redemption. Many that followed Him blindly now fell away (John 6:66), believing that it was too hard to accept His teaching.
May we all have the faith of His twelve disciples, who answered His challenge by saying “[Jesus has] the words of eternal life” (John 6:67-69). The words of Jesus contain the power of the Spirit, and they are the source of eternal life with the Father.
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.