"He who eats this bread will live forever." (John 6:58c)
The context of chapter 6 tells us that, "....the Passover...was near." It was no accident that Jesus took this occasion to say, "I am the Bread of life." We also have the record that a large crowd of people had become very hungry, and needed bread. You will recall the responses of some of the disciples when Jesus asked how they were going to feed the crowd, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that everyone of them may have a little....There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?" And so the great question of human history: Where is the sufficiency for the needs of humanity, "....so many?"
Through the ages mankind has experienced untold suffering, disease, heartache, grief. Philosophers, religionists, politicians, well-meaning missionaries, and so many others have tried to "meet that need." Still the response can be the same as Andrew's, "But what are they among so many?" Now there are billions on Planet Earth, and still our Lord Jesus Christ is asking you and me, and all humanity, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" John writes, "for He Himself knew what He would do." I believe Jesus asked the question to have the disciples see just how much they had learned in their time with Him---- apparently, very little. And, I believe that Jesus still asks the Church the same question. Why? Because Christendom has been increasingly offering more and more alternate answers. The answer just could not be then, and cannot be now, "I am the Bread of Life."
Jesus tells humanity in the context of Passover, in the context of thousands of people in need, "I am the bread....My Blood is drink indeed." This is why the Gospel is, "foolishness to those who are perishing." This is the reason the Gospel is, "to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Gentiles foolishness." Man's needs are so great, so complicated that a simple statement cannot be the answer. Well, humanity, it is. And whether we "make it" through life's journey is absolutely dependent upon our willingness to believe, "He who eats this bread will live forever...."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I have discovered more and more over my life that You, indeed, are the only, "Bread of Life." Amen.
The context of chapter 6 tells us that, "....the Passover...was near." It was no accident that Jesus took this occasion to say, "I am the Bread of life." We also have the record that a large crowd of people had become very hungry, and needed bread. You will recall the responses of some of the disciples when Jesus asked how they were going to feed the crowd, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that everyone of them may have a little....There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?" And so the great question of human history: Where is the sufficiency for the needs of humanity, "....so many?"
Through the ages mankind has experienced untold suffering, disease, heartache, grief. Philosophers, religionists, politicians, well-meaning missionaries, and so many others have tried to "meet that need." Still the response can be the same as Andrew's, "But what are they among so many?" Now there are billions on Planet Earth, and still our Lord Jesus Christ is asking you and me, and all humanity, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" John writes, "for He Himself knew what He would do." I believe Jesus asked the question to have the disciples see just how much they had learned in their time with Him---- apparently, very little. And, I believe that Jesus still asks the Church the same question. Why? Because Christendom has been increasingly offering more and more alternate answers. The answer just could not be then, and cannot be now, "I am the Bread of Life."
Jesus tells humanity in the context of Passover, in the context of thousands of people in need, "I am the bread....My Blood is drink indeed." This is why the Gospel is, "foolishness to those who are perishing." This is the reason the Gospel is, "to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Gentiles foolishness." Man's needs are so great, so complicated that a simple statement cannot be the answer. Well, humanity, it is. And whether we "make it" through life's journey is absolutely dependent upon our willingness to believe, "He who eats this bread will live forever...."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I have discovered more and more over my life that You, indeed, are the only, "Bread of Life." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
