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| Bread of Heaven |
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."
John 6:51
There's a story about a bishop asking an ordination candidate Wesley's historic question, "Are you going onto perfection?" The candidate wanting to test the system said, "No!" Without hesitating the bishop asked, "Then where are you going?"
Where are you going?
The Israelites were going through the desert.
Manna, the Bible says, is something edible God provided during their journey through the desert after the Exodus. For them, manna was God's life-giving power to sustain them as they traveled. God was caring for them.
The disciples were going wherever Jesus went.
They need manna, so Jesus tells them "I am the living bread." Jesus claims to be God's manna, life-giving power extending forever. That's not just a future heavenly life. It's available now, so Jesus says “those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life” Jesus cared for them as they followed him.
We’re going through a pandemic pandemonium.
The pandemonium is learning of a new Delta variant to the Covid virus spreading faster than the original. Hospitals and staff are overwhelmed, doctors are saying booster shots may be necessary. We need manna now and in the future.
In John 6:51, Jesus reminds us of God’s enduring care for Israel in the Exodus and invites us to understand ourselves as ones who receive this same life-giving care.
When we are going to the Lord's table and receiving Jesus’ loaf and cup, we are receiving the life-giving body of Christ sustaining us through the pandemic’s pandemonium. Going to the Lord’s table is, God through Christ, feeding us manna which sustains us now and in the future. Jesus cares for us.
Where are you going?
Wherever your life journey takes you with its deserts or green pastures, know that at the Lord's table you will be fed life-giving bread to sustain you. Jesus care for you.
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