John 6:51-58, 66-69 - [Jesus said] "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh." The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise Him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in Him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on Me, he also will live because of Me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." ... After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that You are the Holy One of God."
It's no wonder so many of Jesus' followers gave up on Him at this point. What He's saying sounds like cannibalism, doesn't it? And it's even worse in the original Greek. Jesus starts by using the standard word for "eat," but then He chooses a stronger word in verses 56-58. That word we translate as "whoever feeds on Me" is really more like "whoever crunches on Me, whoever munches Me." Yikes!
Of course, for those of us who read this with Communion in mind, it's a bit easier to take. But not entirely. Because this is not something we can just spiritualize away. By giving Himself to us in Holy Communion, Jesus makes Himself the foundation of our whole life—not just of our spirits, but of our bodies also. Your body has a share in Jesus, just as your spirit does. And both will live forever because of Christ who died and rose again to make you His own.
Think about that. "You are what you eat," the proverb says. Your body is made up of molecules taken from all the things you've eaten throughout your life. Jesus knows that, and He is taking advantage of it. Because what more intimate union can we have with Him than to feed upon Him, be made alive by His life in us forever?
This is the intimacy He desires with us, that we should be united to Him as whole creatures, body and soul depending on Him. He is not keeping a so-called proper distance from you whom He loves-and He won't have you keep that distance either. He loves you, and He has given Himself for you. And now He gives Himself to you. Take Him!
WE PRAY: Lord, it's hard for us to believe You really want us that much. Draw me close to You in truth. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you ever feel like you need to keep a respectful distance from Jesus?
2. How do you feel when He seems to want to come closer?
3. Consider to yourself, privately-are you willing to let Him closer?
Today's Bible Readings: 1 Chronicles 13-15 1 Corinthians 9
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