What are the traits of the word of God?
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”(Hebrew 4:12).
Observation: The Word is “quick,” meaning “alive.” It is “powerful” meaning “active.” It is “sharper than any two-edged sword” because it penetrates more than the physical body. It is comprehensive in its effects. It reaches into all the various part and functions of the individual and makes judgments. The emphasis in not upon the separation of one part from another, but upon the penetration of all the individual parts, even down to the innermost secrets and purposes which are hidden in the core of an individual’s consciousness, away from the eyes of other people.
What is the description of the oracles of God?
“This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spoke to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us” (Acts 7:38).
Observation: Stephen used the word “ekklesia” (translated “church”) to describe the congregation or people of God in the wilderness. This word means “called out ones” and was used by the first-century Christians to describe their own community or “church.”
Did Peter give testimony concerning Christ’s words?
“Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
Observation: Though there are many philosophies and authorities, Jesus alone has the words that give eternal life. Jesus Christ is the only source of Eternal Life.
What did Christ say of His Fathers commandments?
“And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak” (John 12:50).
THE WORD COMPARED TO FOOD
When God fed the children of Israel manna, what lesson did He intend that they learn?
“And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
Observation: Jesus quoted this verse when the devil tempted Him to turn stones into bread (Matthew 4:4). Many people believe that if they can earn enough money to dress, eat, and play in high style, they will be happy. Actually, such things do not satisfy our deepest longings. In the end they leave us empty and dissatisfied. The long-term rewards of obeying God are greater than anything the world has to give us.
What did Jeremiah say about feeding upon the true manna?
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16).
Was the Word of God considered food by Jesus?
“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34).
Observation: Spiritual nourishment comes from doing God’s will and helping to bring His work of salvation to completion. We are nourished by what we take in by way of Bible study and prayer and also by what we give out for God.
JESUS AS THE LIVING WORD?
What name is given to Jesus by revelation in the Bible?
“In the beginning was, the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). “And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13).
Observation: In Hebrew Scripture, the Word was an agent of creation. “For by the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth” (Psalms 33:6).
In Greek philosophy the Word was the divine essence that held all things together, God’s ideal pattern for creation. John’s description shows clearly that he is speaking of Jesus. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
It is difficult to understand how blood could whiten any clothe, but the blood of Jesus Christ is the world’s greatest purifier because it removes the stain of sin. White symbolizes sinless perfection or holiness that can be given to people only by the death of the sinless Lamb of God.
What was in the Word?
“And in Him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).
JESUS AS THE LIVING BREAD
What did Jesus say of Himself?
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
Observation: We eat bread to satisfy our hunger and sustain physical life. We can only satisfy spiritual hunger and sustain spiritual life by a close relationship with Jesus Christ who is the Bread of Life! We must walk closely with Christ and eat of the spiritual bread that only He can provide.
What did Jesus suggest men should do with Him?
“As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever” (John 6:57, 58).
What else did Jesus really mean by our eating His flesh?
“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).
Observation: We can clearly understand now that to eat the flesh of the Son of God is to live by His words.
THE TABLE OF THE LORD
What special privilege do we have?
“And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come” (Hebrews 6:5).
Is there a glorious invitation extended to us?
“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him” (Psalms 34:8).
“Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).
Observation: When “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us,” the thought of God was revealed in human flesh. When the prophets of God “spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,” the thought of God was injected and revealed in human language. The joining of the divine and the human in the manifestation of God’s thought in the flesh is declared to be “the mystery of godliness”; and there is the same mystery in the union of the divine thought and human language. The two revelations of God, in human flesh and in human speech, are both called the Word of God, and both are the Word of life. Failure to find Christ in the Scriptures will make it impossible to feed upon the Word as the life-giving Word.
