Jesus had just finished ministering to one of the largest crowds in his ministry, over five thousand people, who had gathered just on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. He had fed the entire group using a little boy's meal of five barley loaves and two fish with twelve baskets left over after everyone had eaten their fill. The people exclaimed, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!"
Knowing that they were gathering to make Him their king, he boarded a boat to cross the sea to Capernaum. When the crowd discovered that Jesus wasn't there, they followed him saying, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus replied, "I know you are seeking me, not just because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you . . . it is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." (John 6)
Talk about not taking advantage of your fame . . .
But what was Jesus talking about when He said, "it is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is not help at all."
I think it might be helpful to revisit what the Bible says about who we are and how we were created.
From this verse we see something interesting, " . . .may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again." (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
So we have three dimensions of existence, our body (our flesh), our spirit and our soul. Our body is temporary, bound to this world because of the curse of sin. We will receive a new body if we are a follower of Christ, a body without limitations, a glorified body worthy of our transformed existence. Our soul is infinite, it will live forever, either with God in Heaven or in eternity outside of His presence in Hell.
Let's look at our three dimensions.
Body
Your body is your “earth suit.” Your body is your connection with this world. Your body is the vehicle through which you experience the natural realm. Every single interaction that you share with others is through your body. With the body, you speak and communicate. With your physical being, you see, hear, and touch the world around you. Contrary to what some religious ideologies have led us to believe, the body itself is not a sinful, corrupt thing. Sure, the body is decaying and dying. And, yes, your physical body can be trained to become an instrument of the sin nature, but that doesn’t mean that your body is itself sinful. Your body can be used for either sin or holiness. The choice is yours. In fact, your body can be a carrier of the glory of God.
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Your body can be a holy host of the Holy Spirit’s presence. You can be the Holy Spirit’s physical connection with this world. But it is your choice.
Soul
The soul is the realm of decision. In the soul lives your mind, will, emotions, and personality. Your mind—what you imagine. Your will—what you want. Your emotions—what you feel. The soul is the neutral ground between the body and the spirit. It is the place where free will is exercised.
The soul is eternal, and everyone has a soul—redeemed and unredeemed alike.
The wicked have souls.
"The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes." (Proverbs 21:10)
The godly have souls.
"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 1:2)
Every human being has a soul.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10, KJV).
The breath of life is in the soul. The soul gives animation, consciousness. The soul is where your free will is exercised.
Spirit
Your spirit is your connection with God. It is the innermost part of your being, the center of you, the source of your identity. Your spirit is the deepest part of you, and your spirit knows perfect fellowship with God.
But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us (1 Corinthians 2:10-12)
No one knows your thoughts like your spirit does. The same is true of God. The Holy Spirit knows God’s thoughts. The Holy Spirit, who is God’s Spirit, searches out the deep things of God. The Holy Spirit knows God’s secrets, intentions, and desires. The Holy Spirit knows God’s will. The Holy Spirit perfectly and completely understands God’s nature and power. Everything there is to know about our infinitely intricate God, the Holy Spirit knows. The Holy Spirit is not learning about God. The Holy Spirit knows God. He knows Himself fully.
No matter how you feel in body or soul, your connection in the spirit remains. You live, not to connect with God, but from connection with God.
Your body belongs to God. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Your Spirit is one with God. (1 Corinthians 6:17)
And, yes, even your soul is filled and owned by God. (Ephesians 1:14)
You are a Spirit, who has a soul, that exists in a body.
You determine, each day, whether you feed your eternal being, or your temporary being.
Choose wisely.
