John 6.51-58
Last week, we heard Jesus, the Good Shepherd, tell us again that he is the Bread of Life. Living Bread. Bread that Lives. It is kind of funny to think of Jesus as bread. But he likes it that way.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Sometimes, when we love someone so much, we want to be so close to them. We want to hug them so closely, so tightly, we just want to eat them all up! Mums and dads feel like they could just eat up their babies—they tickle them with so many kisses! Babies feel like they could just eat up their mums and dads—they open their mouths wide to swallow them whole! So funny!
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, loves his sheep so much. He wants to be so close to them always. He knows how much his sheep love him, too. They love him so much, they feel like they could just eat him all up! No wonder he is the Bread of Life. He likes it that way.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, takes such good care of his sheep. He feeds them with the best food. No wonder he is the Bread of Life. He can feed them with himself. He can be so close to them. He likes it that way.
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
Not everyone understands how the Good Shepherd can feed his sheep with himself. They do not know about the Last Supper. But what do we know?
We know that Jesus takes the bread and says...? This is my body. His flesh.
We know that Jesus takes the wine and says...? This is my blood. His life.
Bread and wine. Flesh and blood. Body and life.
He likes it that way.
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life
Now Jesus tells us something important about his flesh and blood, his body and life, the bread and wine. It gives eternal life. Life that does not end in death. Life with God.
Not everyone understands about eternal life. They do not know what happens on the third day after Jesus dies on the cross. But what do we know?
We know that the women come to the tomb and find...? The stone rolled away.
We know that a man dressed all in white tells them...? He is not here. He is Risen.
Jesus dies and rises to new life never to die again.
God fills him with new Risen life—eternal life—life that does not end in death. Life with God.
Does Jesus keep this eternal life all to himself?
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life
He gives it to his sheep. He likes it that way.
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.
Abide means to live in a home. When the Good Shepherd gives himself to his sheep, he gives them a home to live in him. Now they are so close. Nothing can keep them apart. What a gift his flesh and blood, his body and life, his bread and wine are to his sheep!
The sheep with the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd with the sheep. He gives all of himself to them—his flesh and blood, his body and life—in the bread and wine. They live in him. They have eternal life. How good to be a sheep of the Good Shepherd!
We wonder who these most special sheep are. They love him so much they could just eat him all up! He likes it that way.
Comentarios