Shot through the heart

My apologies to Jon Bon Jovi and the band. But, it is absolutely true that Jesus’ words go right to, and through, the heart. They are as arrows of conviction and admonition. This occurs even today, as it must have for many of the crowd that followed Jesus in ancient Israel. Verse 6:26 is so pertinent that it is still painful.

The real pain, especially from the Jesus perspective, is when people want the bread but want little to do with the baker. People are quick to cozy up to the church, and even Jesus, if it means a meal. This need is real in the present day; yet, the meal is only the beginning for the believer. For the rebellious it is another dead end. So … how do we get beyond immediate needs and begin to consider seriously one’s eternity?

Two things are clear: I can’t do it for you. You can’t do it for me.

Once again it comes right down to personal belief; a desire that borders on desperation, for the peace that passes all of man’s understanding. This attraction is initiated by God, but must always be consummated between the individual and God. Methodists call this prevenient grace. It is the Spirit at work.

Always through Jesus to God in the Spirit!

29 Jesus replied, “This is the work of God that you believe in the One He has sent.”

In the context of the language Jesus saying that He “assures” suggests that what He is saying is true, and can be depended upon as One who has inherent Godly authority, i.e. linking Moses, Exodus and Passover to Himself. The reference to Psalm 78:23-29 is clearly recognizable. Yet the “other side” of God’s righteous judgment regarding the behavior of His children is also observed in the passage from Psalm 78.

Of course, we want the bread that nourishes always, but do we truly consider what that will require of us?

(John 6:35-40[HCSB])

35 “Iamthebreadoflife,” Jesustoldthem.“Noonewho comestoMewilleverbe hungry,andnoonewho believesinMewilleverbe thirstyagain. 36 ButasItold you,you’veseenMe, andyet youdonotbelieve. 37

EveryonetheFathergivesMe willcometoMe,andtheone whocomestoMeIwillnever castout. 38 ForIhavecome downfromheaven,nottodo Mywill,butthewillofHim whosentMe. 39 Thisisthe willofHimwhosentMe:that IshouldlosenoneofthoseHe hasgivenMebutshouldraise themuponthelastday. 40 ForthisisthewillofMy Father:thateveryonewho seestheSonandbelievesin Himmayhaveeternallife, andIwillraisehimuponthe lastday.”

The Bread of Life

No one who comes to the Messiah will ever be hungry again. His body and His blood are sufficient. His grace is sufficient. This is our faith!

What is the bread of life? What does it look like and what does it taste like?

The bread of life is the body of Jesus Christ Himself which was broken for us so that we might avoid death and eternity without God.

The bread of life looks like Jesus, for it is Him however we see Him; but it also is a loaf or a wafer … whatever we use as a symbol to remember that it is Jesus who is God and our salvation. So, the bread of life is a representation of all that is God in His infinite mercy.

The bread of life tastes like manna, a sweetness; it also tastes satisfying like peace; it tastes savory like reconciliation; it tastes tart like admonishment; it tastes dense like abundance; thick like honey; it tastes fresh like freedom and crisp like autumn air.

In the end, the bread of life is completely and undeniably spiritual. While we may laud and list its attributes, it is the way we know it to be in our hearts, and not in our stomachs. It truly satisfies!

The bread of life tastes like the will of God. How does it taste to you? Are there unpleasant foretastes or aftertastes? It is an acquired taste? Can it be repulsive to the unrepentant sinner? Can you get used to it like some have become used to black coffee or asparagus? The answer is “yes” but you have to set aside your preconceived notions.

The will of God and the Bread of Life taste like nothing we can imagine or describe. They also taste like everything that satisfies and completes.

This is the body of Christ. Eat and be satisfied.

(John 6:41-51[HCSB])

41 Therefore the Jews started complaining about Him because He said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

42 They were saying, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’? ”

43 Jesus answered them, “Stop complaining among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to Me 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God. He has seen the Father.

47 “I assure you: Anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”

By God

Jesus sites Isaiah 54:13

Then all your children will be taught by the Lord, their prosperity will be great, and you will be established on a foundation of righteousness.

Jesus is simultaneously voicing His frustration and His authority. In a very human and understandable manner Jesus responds to the complaints while asserting His own authority as “His Father’s Sent One.”

“Complaints” in this scenario can be understood as demeaning or derisive language intended to challenge or defame Jesus’ character; and which originated with the Jewish religious power structure.

Jesus quotes from the prophecy of Isaiah indicating that believers will be taught by God, not by the pious or the elite. In that way He put the Pharisees in a place of professional conflict by recognizing God as sole authority, and not simply those with traditional academic or institutional pedigrees.

This is no less true today as many men and women offer their interpretation of the Word and gather many followers. It is not wrong to listen closely to persons called to teach and to lead, but it is wrong to place them above God assuming that only they can speak the truth. God alone speaks truth not distorted by the flesh.

Only Jesus is our salvation; only He has seen the face of God. He is the only One.