May 11
John 6:43-71
“Many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. Jesus proclaimed himself to be the bread of life, and, in doing so, he needed to be consumed. This “hard teaching” caused many to walk away. Jesus continued in John 6 with his lengthy dialogue regarding himself as the bread of life. He proclaimed himself as the only one who could satisfy and give life. This exclusive claim caused many to walk away. Whether the language of this passage sits well with us or not, it is the truth. Only those who eat the flesh of Jesus and drink his blood have eternal life. Jesus was referring to the fact that only through his life and ultimately his death can we have eternal life.
This life is only available through receiving the life he offers and through the means which he has provided. He used the language of eating and drinking to convey what participation in his life looks like. We are to take and receive his life and appropriate it into our lives. His life becomes ours. Communion, which uses the language of this passage, is ultimately, a reminder of this greater reality. The juice and crackers do nothing by themselves but point beyond them to taking Christ's life into us, and through this, we become participants in his life that will never end.
Father God, thank you that eternal life is available in Jesus. Help me to walk in this life and proclaim it to others. Amen.
What will it look like for you to take in Christ's life today and allow it to flow through you to others?
“Many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. Jesus proclaimed himself to be the bread of life, and, in doing so, he needed to be consumed. This “hard teaching” caused many to walk away. Jesus continued in John 6 with his lengthy dialogue regarding himself as the bread of life. He proclaimed himself as the only one who could satisfy and give life. This exclusive claim caused many to walk away. Whether the language of this passage sits well with us or not, it is the truth. Only those who eat the flesh of Jesus and drink his blood have eternal life. Jesus was referring to the fact that only through his life and ultimately his death can we have eternal life.
This life is only available through receiving the life he offers and through the means which he has provided. He used the language of eating and drinking to convey what participation in his life looks like. We are to take and receive his life and appropriate it into our lives. His life becomes ours. Communion, which uses the language of this passage, is ultimately, a reminder of this greater reality. The juice and crackers do nothing by themselves but point beyond them to taking Christ's life into us, and through this, we become participants in his life that will never end.
Father God, thank you that eternal life is available in Jesus. Help me to walk in this life and proclaim it to others. Amen.
What will it look like for you to take in Christ's life today and allow it to flow through you to others?
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