What Jesus Did! 'Too Close to Home?' — John 6:41-42

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because [Jesus] had said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They said, "Isn't this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, 'I came down from heaven'?"
— John 6:41-42 NLT

Key Thought

"I came down from heaven!" That is the claim of Jesus' life and ministry in the Gospel of John. Either he is the Son of God, come from heaven - from God the Father - or he is not. Believing that Jesus is God's Son has never been easy. However, let's not dismiss the claim too quickly or too easily simply because it doesn't fit into our oversimplified and greatly prejudicial boxes of human judgment. Some people correctly looked at Jesus and saw a Savior come from God. Others saw him simply as the boy from the carpenter's shop in Nazareth. What you decide matters eternally ... and you must decide.

Today's Prayer

Father, thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you for having him enter our world as one of us. I am comforted to know that he faced the challenges of my world and still triumphed over sin and death. Through your Spirit, keep my passion and interest in your Son aroused. Don't let me outlive my faith or ever take Jesus for granted. In the name of my Lord and Christ, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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Illustration

Illustration of John 6:41-42 NLT — "I am the bread that came down from heaven." —— "Isn't this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, 'I came down from heaven'?"

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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