The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 6:50,
"Here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die."
Jesus likened himself to a consumable, a very important consumable. In verses 53-58 Jesus said, "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. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever."
The Son of God came down from heaven and took on humanity, "For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people." Hebrews 2:17. This he did by giving up his physical life as a payment for the sins of all mankind.
As a "consumable", his body and his blood represent the sacrifice of atonement he made for our sins. In doing so he offers us eternal life if we place our faith and trust in him. I note in John 6:50 that this offer of his is for anyone, everyone, all inclusive - the one requirement is for us to embrace him in faith. The metaphor of eating his flesh and drinking his blood is a picture of us availing ourselves of the sacrifice he made of himself.
Not only does he make the offer, but he points out that the Father draws us all to him! "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day." Verse 44. Those who respond to God's effort at drawing them are those he has given to his Son, "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." Verse 37. The Father uses the Son to draw all mankind to himself, "And I [Jesus Christ], when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32.
"Here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die."
Jesus likened himself to a consumable, a very important consumable. In verses 53-58 Jesus said, "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. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever."
The Son of God came down from heaven and took on humanity, "For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people." Hebrews 2:17. This he did by giving up his physical life as a payment for the sins of all mankind.
As a "consumable", his body and his blood represent the sacrifice of atonement he made for our sins. In doing so he offers us eternal life if we place our faith and trust in him. I note in John 6:50 that this offer of his is for anyone, everyone, all inclusive - the one requirement is for us to embrace him in faith. The metaphor of eating his flesh and drinking his blood is a picture of us availing ourselves of the sacrifice he made of himself.
Not only does he make the offer, but he points out that the Father draws us all to him! "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day." Verse 44. Those who respond to God's effort at drawing them are those he has given to his Son, "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." Verse 37. The Father uses the Son to draw all mankind to himself, "And I [Jesus Christ], when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32.
A fitting and important metaphor we all need to respond to!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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