Wednesday, December 19, 2012: I Am the Bread of Life

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Wednesday, December 19, 2012 I Am the Bread of Life      

Page 131-133         John 6:22 - 7:1

Jesus wanted the people to understand that he had his Father’s seal upon him. Like a king’s seal, this not only identified the bearer of the seal as belonging to the king, but also granted the king’s authority to the bearer. It was God who provided manna for the people in the first exodus. It was God’s son, with God’s authority, providing food for the people in the second exodus. However, the people made the same mistake their ancestors in the first exodus made. They acted as though God was at that their beck and call, as though Israel somehow deserved to be picked by God as His people.

Can you see the connection between our celebration of the sacrament of Holy Communion and Jesus’ discussion of our eating his flesh and drinking his blood? Jesus statements about eating his flesh and drinking his blood have been hugely controversial over the centuries, primarily because people forget that Jesus continually revealed how the Old Testament points to, and is fulfilled in Jesus as God’s Messiah.

The background for Jesus’ discussion of his flesh and blood is recorded in 1 Samuel 23 and I Chronicles 11. David and his men were pinned down in a battle near Bethlehem. Thinking out loud, David said he would love to have a drink of water from the well in Bethlehem. Later, three of his mighty men, at great personal risk, went through enemy lines and got water from the well and brought it to David. David responded by saying for him to drink the water, would be profiting from his men’s willingness to risk their lives; it would be as though he was drinking their blood. David poured the water onto the ground.

Jesus said that he is not only willing to risk his life, but to lose his life for our sakes. Jesus said that we can drink and profit from his sacrifice. Thus, believing in Jesus as our Messiah is like feeding upon Jesus, the bread of life. It is like drinking of his blood as we participate in his sacrifice for our sins.

Peter’s confession of faith in verses 68-69 is one of the most compelling insights about Jesus’ identity. Jesus’ response to Peter emphasizes the work of the Spirit in bringing people to believe in Jesus, or as the writer of the letter of Hebrews put it, Jesus, is the one initiates and perfects our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)

The Christian writer C.S. Lewis was asked when he decided to be a Christian. Lewis laughed and responded, “I didn’t decide. I was decided upon.” In his autobiography, Lewis referred to the work of God’s passion for saving His people as, God’s “compulsion is our liberation.” Lewis was pointing to what Jesus says in verse 65. We do not choose the time and place of our salvation. It is God who takes the initiative for our salvation. In Wesleyan theology, we call this prevenient grace: God first, last and always taking the first step.

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

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The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Thursday, December 20, 2012     Jewish Tradition vs. Inner Purity  

Page 133-135         Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23