John 6:35, 41-51 (NRSV)
Read John 6:35, 41-51 on biblegateway.com
Verse 35Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Verse 41Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." Verse 42They were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" Verse 43Jesus answered them, "Do not complain among yourselves. Verse 44No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. Verse 45It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Verse 46Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Verse 47Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. Verse 48I am the bread of life. Verse 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. Verse 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. Verse 51I am the living bread that 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."
Devotion
Jesus speaks to a crowd of people raised on the stories of wilderness wanderings and the wonders of God. To them he says, “your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.” A provocative and troublesome preacher is this Jesus. Does he dare to suggest that God might provide something even greater than that most wondrous of gifts, bread rained down from heaven?
The word “manna” comes from the Hebrew meaning, “what is it?” The people’s reaction to this heavenly bread became its very name. And now the people hear Jesus and say, “who is he?” His words are challenging food, yet they come from the One who brings true life to the world.
Jesus challenges us, too, to see beyond our expectations, beyond what we think we know of God. His words provoke our questions and feed us with hope; for in Christ Jesus, we know true life.
Prayer
God of our ancestors, you fed your people with bread from heaven. Feed us with your Word, that we might live as the people of your promise, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.