Sticking with Jesus

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood

 abide in me, and I in them.  

John 6:56

As a former Scoutmaster, one responsibility was teaching scouts how to tie knots. This meant teaching a scout a knot, then having him tie it. If he didn't get it, I showed him how again. If he still didn’t get it, I showed him again. Teach, reteach, and reteach again.

That's the principle in this passage. Jesus teaches he is manna, the "true bread of life". Just as manna gave life in the wilderness, so Jesus gives life.

Jesus then teaches he is the bread from heaven. 

Now he says abide in me. "Abide," from the Greek word “meno”, meaning "to continue, to dwell, or to endure." 

Jesus is saying, stick with it guys. Learn that discipleship is a long process, a long road. Stick with my teachings and you'll understand them.

The disciples get it. They stick with Jesus because they see that his words are life giving. They show us what it means that God will provide manna. 

With the ongoing pandemic its, hills, valleys and seemly everchanging data, and I feel like a scout needing to be coaching. I need something reminding me to stick with it.

It seems to me the breaking of the bread and pouring of the cup is God’s reminder through Jesus to stick with it. Stick with Jesus’ teachings and you will be able to endure what’s next in the pandemic.

Stick with Jesus who abides in you and be fed manna, the bread of life, through the wilderness of everchanging data and protocols.

Stick with Jesus who abides in you giving the hope and strength you need to make it through this difficult time. 

As you gather around the Lord's table again, Jesus abides in you as you abide in him