John 6.35, 41-51 (NRSV)
Read John 6.35, 41-51 on biblegateway.com
Verse 35Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Verse 41Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." Verse 42They were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" Verse 43Jesus answered them, "Do not complain among yourselves. Verse 44No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. Verse 45It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Verse 46Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Verse 47Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. Verse 48I am the bread of life. Verse 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. Verse 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. Verse 51I 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."
Devotion
I have wanted to ask performing artists (dancers, musicians, actors) whether some pieces are so well conceived that they require a kind of embodiment and engagement from the performer that other pieces do not. In this way, Jesus was brilliant. How can he keep us engaged with him even when he vacates earthly life? Pondering his words and deeds, praying like him, praying to be like him. All good. But we must eat and drink. So Jesus asks us to remember him in eating and drinking, bread and wine, for the sake of the world that he loves. Can a little bread and wine grow into determination to feed a world where many still go hungry? Can it satisfy nations where there is a drought of peace but a craving for more of everything? Can it be a meal of justice for all people? Jesus thinks so.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, make us hungry. Teach us mercy. Amen.