Reflection: The Bread of Life

We’re getting to see and know God through epiphanies of his Son. We’re onlookers. Hanging around Jesus in the shadows as he kicks up dust, teaches, heals, eats, sails, debates, … feeds. The crowd is large and curious. Following and hungry. Satiated … then easily convinced:  

He’s the Prophet-hero we’ve been waiting for! 

Grab him! Hoist him up! Let’s worship our Messiah King!  

(at which point Jesus disappears on them). 

Next day, persistent crowd. Hungry again. Following, questioning, confused, longing, unbelieving, grumbling, arguing, offended: 

Convince us with more proof. A miracle! We want a Moses-like miracle! 

Give us more bread. 

How can he say he’s come down from heaven? Claims to be God?! 

How can he give us his flesh to eat? 

Yes, we’re getting to see and know God through epiphanies of The Son … that is, unless we, like this crowd and even some of Jesus’ closest followers, are blind and unbelieving. Cryptically, for those blessed with spiritual insight, Jesus explains:

“Don’t think plentiful picnics. (Scanning the synagogue), don’t think meaty sermons. Think LIFE! I’ll satisfy your deepest needs through the sacrifice of my body and blood. I am God made breakable for you. Ingest me and really live.”  

Prayer:

I come hungry and distracted, needing more than I know I need. Give me fresh forgiveness and focus. Teach me what it means to feast on you, Jesus. Deeply satisfy me in your presence today, motivated to live in joyful service of you and contagious love of others. Today, grant spiritual hunger and spiritual insight to people in my neighbourhood and in the far reaches of your world.  

For further reflection, watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNig31uEqnc&list=RDsNig31uEqnc&start_radio=1 

I’ve been told there’s one way to be   

Grabbing power selfishly  

Love is a chore, ‘cause more is more  

People are there to step over  

But I’ve found a different way   

A home-cooked meal, a place to stay  

There’s food on the plate, so pull up a chair  

Just leave the door wide open…   

Come and eat, there’s a seat  

For you at the table of our Lord Christ,  

our bread, the host and feast  

Christ, who fed the least of these  

And blessed the hungry, makes a seat  

For of all of us at His table  

Come and eat, there’s a seat  

For you at the table of our Lord      by Taylor Fletcher/Greg Yoder/Seth Crissman   

Notes: 

*(‘I AM’ isn’t necessarily invoking Jesus’ deity in every case, The actual descriptive phrase is just as staggering.) 

** for the concept of ‘I am God made breakable for you’, see pastor Tim Keller