John 6:51-58 (NRSV)
Read John 6:51-58 on biblegateway.com
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." Verse 52The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Verse 53So 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. Verse 54Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; Verse 55for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Verse 56Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Verse 57Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. Verse 58This 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."
Devotion
Jesus is “pressing the flesh,” but not quite like they do it at cocktail parties or on the campaign trail. Did he learn nothing at business school? Offending sensibilities is no way to win converts or customers. In fact, it seems like he is making more enemies than friends in John’s sixth chapter.
These moments in the Bible underscore the eerie truth that faith in Christ is unreasonable and alien. Cross, grave and resurrection? Attempts to baptize the butterfly notwithstanding, even our most central symbols are unnatural. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” It is a fair question, and one we do not really ever answer. We just do it, Sunday after Sunday, abiding in Christ, and Christ in us.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, Living Bread, you come all the way into our flesh and blood. If we are to have life in us, it must be you who brings it, you who gives it, you who feeds us. Give us faith in your way of redeeming the world. We pray for all who hunger for your mercy, that they trust in the enough-ness of your body and blood. Amen.