Instruction
Scripture: John6:35-51
Jesus has been confronting the Jews’ views on the bread that
came down from heaven and challenging their desire for Him to feed them earthly
bread. He now calls Himself the bread of life, and points to Himself as the
source of eternal life, stating that it is the Father’s will that all who
believe in Him will have eternal life. The Jews were offended by Jesus’ words,
but Jesus reiterates that faith in Him is necessary for eternal life and that
the Father draws those who believe in Him. This text is intended to help us
think beyond our earthly lives and needs and to take thought of our eternal
life and the blessings that God gives us when we believe in Jesus.
Teaching
Jesus’ insistence that He is the living bread that came down
from heaven is often lumped together with our teachings of the Lord’s Supper.
The actual event is not as simple as that. The Lord’s Supper had not been
instituted yet, although it is undeniable that the themes are similar. The
eating and drinking spoken of here is the reception of Christ and His flesh is
His word which we receive by faith. That faith receives Jesus, who gave His
flesh for the life of the world, and Jesus gives us eternal life.
Life
Have you taken time to ponder what you hunger and thirst
for? Often our hunger and thirst is directed toward earthly comforts, but Jesus
offers us more. Since you believe, you have eternal life. That life is
sustained by Jesus who comes to you in His Word and Sacraments.
Prayer
This prayer is written
in the themes of Instruction, Thanksgiving, and Confession.
Lord Jesus, You are the bread of life, whoever comes to You
shall not hunger, and whoever believes in You shall not thirst. Your Father
draws us, and because we have come to believe in You, You give us eternal life
and will raise us up on the last day. Teach us to know this truth all the more!
Thank You for giving Your flesh for the life of the world.
Thank You for the privilege of allowing us to be drawn to You. Thank You for
feeding our faith by Your Word and Sacraments. Thank You for confronting our
connection to and desire for the food that only sustains our earthly lives,
like the manna that fed the Israelites in the wilderness. Thank You for giving
us even better food, food that gives eternal life and sustains it.
We confess that only too often we have longed for earthly
bread – things we need for this body and life, as well as many things we do not
need by desire. Our desire for the bread of life has been dulled and sometimes
ignored. As a result we find ourselves often spiritually hungry and often
thirsty, and we try to satisfy ourselves with things that cannot meet our need;
things we consume knowing we will die. Forgive us for being earthly minded.
Forgive us for not desiring Your greater gift. Forgive us for thinking that we
are in control of our relationship with You when it is Your Father who draws us
to You. Forgive us, for You have given Your flesh for the life of the world.
Amen.
Comments