John 6:51-58
John 6:51 I am the living bread that has come down from heaven; if anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. Furthermore, the bread that I will give is my own flesh; and I will give it for the life of the world.”
52 At this, the Judeans disputed with one another, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 Then Yeshua said to them, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life — that is, I will raise him up on the Last Day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I live in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live through the Father, so also whoever eats me will live through me. 58 So this is the bread that has come down from heaven — it is not like the bread the fathers ate; they’re dead, but whoever eats this bread will live forever!” (Complete Jewish Bible).
We've seen this conversation before. At a well in John 4, Jesus engaged a woman of Samaria and opened up a whole new understanding of living waters. She heard and was changed. She drank of the water and experienced new life.
Today Jesus is talking with some folks who are pretty sure they know all about manna--the bread come down from heaven. But Jesus opens up a whole new understanding of a bread in which death is no more. Not all who hear this teaching are as receptive as the woman of Samaria was. Some stop following Jesus. But Peter and the disciples choose to stay with this One with words of eternal life. Yet, truth be told, they were called and chosen by this Jesus more than they had any choice. Where do the woman of Samaria and Peter and the other disciples--and we--get this wisdom to abide with life eternal?
God, we like to think we have things all figured out. We lean way too hard on our own understandings. Give us wisdom to drink from the well, to feast on the bread from heaven and to abide with you. Amen.
Karl Hester, '01
Pastor, Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Salem, Ore.
John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
53 So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day;
55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.
56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.
57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.
58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." (New Revised Standard Vwesion).
Today Jesus is talking with some folks who are pretty sure they know all about manna--the bread come down from heaven. But Jesus opens up a whole new understanding of a bread in which death is no more. Not all who hear this teaching are as receptive as the woman of Samaria was. Some stop following Jesus. But Peter and the disciples choose to stay with this One with words of eternal life. Yet, truth be told, they were called and chosen by this Jesus more than they had any choice. Where do the woman of Samaria and Peter and the other disciples--and we--get this wisdom to abide with life eternal?
God, we like to think we have things all figured out. We lean way too hard on our own understandings. Give us wisdom to drink from the well, to feast on the bread from heaven and to abide with you. Amen.
Karl Hester, '01
Pastor, Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Salem, Ore.
John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
53 So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day;
55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.
56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.
57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.
58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." (New Revised Standard Vwesion).
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