Bible Questions and Answers

In John 6, what did Jesus mean by saying that he came down from heaven? Is this an analogy or does it prove Jesus' pre-existence?

Only John records Jesus’ statements that he ‘came down from heaven’.

• John 3:13
• John 6:33,38
• John 6:41,42
• John 6:50,51
• John 6:58

John tells us that John (Baptist) was sent from God. John 1:6

It’s easy to understand that although sent from God, John didn’t physically come down from heaven.

Luke tells us that Jesus was conceived by the power of God acting upon Mary. It is reasonable to suppose that this is the way he ‘came down’ from heaven. His birth is explained. Luke 1:35

Why would we believe that a person can exist before they are born? There is no evidence of this in scripture. Jesus had to be a mortal descendant of Adam, Abraham, and David. Luke 1:32

How could he exist as a descendant of these men before he was born? — it makes no sense. It was necessary for Jesus to be mortal so that he could die. God cannot die — it is surely unreasonable to think that an immortal can put off his immortality and become mortal and die — words cease to have meaning.

The teaching that Jesus was wholly man and wholly God at the same time is logical nonsense. It is fed by the false pagan belief that man possesses an ‘immortal soul’ which is given to him at birth — but being immortal it must have always existed, and after he dies it somehow carries on existing.

The Bible makes clear that Adam ‘became’ a living ‘soul’ when God breathed into him the breath of life.Genesis 2:7

Because of his disobedience he was sentenced to death. Souls die — they are not immortal. Ezekiel 18:4

Jesus was not immortal — he died. Because he had not sinned, God raised him on the third day and gave him immortality — the divine nature. Prior to this he did not possess the divine nature.

Jesus spoke some ‘hard sayings’ — saying which were hard to be understood. When he told his disciples they must eat his flesh and drink his blood, he clearly didn’t expect them to understand him literally. By ‘eat his flesh’ and ‘drink his blood’ he meant to live by his teachings — to follow his example. John 15:14;Luke 6:46

Jesus’ food and drink was to do the will of his Father.John 4:32

In conclusion, Jesus ‘came down from heaven’ in that he was conceived by God in the womb of Mary. Prior to his birth he existed only in the plan and purpose of God as revealed through the prophets. His conception and birth as a mortal descendant of Adam were necessary to save his people from their sins. God, in his foreknowledge, knew this at the time of the creation. Acts 15:18

I hope you find this helpful.
Glenn