Our scripture this morning is John 6:48-51 (NLT).
Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.
Today we remember Jesus sharing a final meal with those closest to Him, the Last Supper. The words He said earlier when He fed the five thousand with two fish and five loaves of bread echo in our ears – “I am the bread of life!” Jesus uses this metaphor to impress on us the importance of our connection to Him.
The Passover meal reminded the children of Israel how God’s love and mercy led them out of captivity in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. Jesus teaches us at the Last Supper that God’s love and mercy will now lead us to eternal life if we accept the sacrifice He makes for us. The example of a meal that feeds our bodies teaches about spiritual nourishment we can only receive from Him.
Eating is essential to life. If we don’t eat, we die. Jesus is explaining that if we don’t eat the bread of life – that is, make Him part of ourselves – we can’t receive eternal life. In Luke 22:19 He tells us “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” By gathering in His name to take the bread and cup, we remember His sacrifice for us until He comes again in glory and we all sit at His banquet table together.
Loving Lord, we are not worthy of the gift You offer, but You invite us just the same. Forgive us and make us strong in faith to share the Bread of Life with everyone. Amen.
