Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

Do you ever get a free lunch? In John 6, Jesus fed 5,000 people for free, and there were 12 baskets of leftovers. 

The crowd liked lunching and munching so much they decided to make Jesus king. But he declined, and went into hiding. Meanwhile, his disciples, rowing across the lake, got caught in a storm. Jesus walked on the water in the middle of the night to rescue them (Jn 6:16-20).

The next day, the crowd, who hadn’t seen Jesus walk on water, found him on the other side of the lake. He said to them, “You’re here for a free lunch. What you should do is  work for God’s food that gives eternal life” (v. 26).

“How can we work for that food?” they asked (v. 27). 

Jesus said, “The work of God is to believe in me, the one he sent” (v. 33). 

“Sure,” they said. “Show us a sign. We know God fed the Israelites manna in the wilderness. Bread from heaven is a very good sign” (v 30). 

Isn’t that great? Where did they think yesterday’s free lunch came from? 

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. My flesh is bread, which I give for the life of the world. Eat this bread and live” (v 51). 

The Jews said, “Too weird. Eat you?” (v. 52). 

As usual in John’s gospel, instead of explaining himself, Jesus escalated the misunderstanding. He said, “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you” (v 53). 

Many of Jesus’ followers said, “This is just to weird,” and they quit following (v 60). 

Jesus said to his core group of twelve, “Do you want to leave too?” (v 67). 

Peter replied, “Where can we go? You have the words of eternal life” (v 68). 

Three comments. 

1. Jesus used many mystical metaphors in John’s gospel.
    – He said, “Destroy this temple and I will build it in three days.”
    – He said, “Your first birth is inadequate. Try being born again.”
    – He said, “If you drink well water, you’ll soon be thirsty. But if you drink my water, you’ll conquer thirst forever.”
    – And now he says, “Eat my flesh and drink my blood.” 

No wonder Jesus scared people away. 

2. My second comment. Everything Jesus said tugged at human heartstrings. Nicodemus couldn’t stay away from Jesus. The woman at the well wanted his living water. Peter understood that Jesus’ mystical words could give eternal life. 

3. And my third thought. Along with the strange metaphors, Jesus performed amazing works of love–quality wine at a wedding, healing a nobleman’s son, restoring a paraplegic’s legs, free lunch for 5,000 followers in the wilderness. 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, as I read John’s gospel, your words shock me. “Eat my flesh and drink my blood.” At church, I consume a communion wafer and sip from a common cup. I pray these tastes of earth will open the door to your mysteries, to the life of your spirit, a life far beyond my understanding. 

O Jesus, my discipleship is to believe in you.
  – To pray to the father as you taught.
  – To support the church, and missions, and refugees.
  – To buy lunch for street people.

Your metaphors tug at my heart. Help me drink your living water, feed me with your bread of life.  

Amen 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

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