That something that bridges the gap between us and God is initiated by God. See, no man can come to the Son unless the Father makes an effort to initiate a bridging of that chasm in order that there might be a fellowship because man will not do it. Indeed, he cannot do it. Why? Because he is so deceived. Mankind does not even know where to look for God. Satan has done his work of deception remarkably well. He has the whole world confused, deceived, according to God's own Word.
So mankind is helpless in that regard and all he can do because of his helplessness is to come up with idols, false religions with false doctrines and false ways. It is absolutely essential that God initiate the bridging of the chasm between us or we would not do it. We cannot do it. We are too deceived to be able to do it. If it is up to man, then we can hardly expect to have fellowship with God or with others under that circumstance.
I think, brethren, that even we do not fully appreciate how deep and thorough the deception of us has been. I wanted to read verse 45 because I want you to see here what Jesus is saying is that the scriptures will play a major role in the removal of the deception and the drawing us to Christ. "They shall all be taught by God." That is something that appears in the Old Testament.
But you have not been taught in person, as it were, by God and yet we claim to know God's truth and we claim to have fellowship. Where did that instruction come from? It came from out of God's Word and His Word is true. In other words, we are introduced to truth by God in some way. There is a mechanism by which He accomplishes this.
Jesus Christ's body is a multi-faceted symbol. Sometimes Christ's body is a symbol of His death, but at other times it is a symbol of life. So, it says here that the Passover bread represents Christ's body. When Jesus uses bread as a symbol for His body, it is a symbol of life, even eternal life. We won't turn to it, but John 6 explains this symbol very clearly. There, Jesus speaks of bread that endures to everlasting life. He speaks of the bread of God, the bread of life, and the living bread. When Jesus says that He is the living bread (John 6:51), it means that His flesh is not merely something that leads to eternal life, but He indicates a body that is alive. As we partake of the bread, we become one with the living Savior.
