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
Once more our gospel reading reminds us that Jesus gives more than words of wisdom and teaching. He gives the gift of life through his very death and resurrection. The words “flesh and blood” remind us that all life has flesh and blood within it, and that we live as partakers of flesh and blood in the natural world. Christ’s body of flesh and blood was crucified and lost all life. Blood was the very essence of life for the people of his time as it is for ours. It was only in Christ giving his life for us that we could have new life. When we gather for communion, we are reminded we are part of the community that gathered around Jesus that night. We too are sent out to proclaim the Good News of our sharing in Jesus’ flesh and blood.
Prayer
Gracious God, I give thanks that you have provided this gift of new life and that you send us out to share this good news with all. I pray for your spirit to encourage and sustain us as we live out our calling. We are your ambassadors to the world. In Jesus name, Amen.
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