Weekly Meditation AUGUST 23

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Weekly Meditation

by Gina McAlexander
John 6:56-69

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living God sent me, and I live because of God, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.' Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, 'This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?' But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, 'Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Humanity ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.' For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, 'For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by God." Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, 'Do you also wish to go away?' Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.'

I have read over this passage many times and I am still trying to chew on it. What does it mean to "eat my flesh" and "to drink my blood"? I find it very interesting that many of Jesus' own disciples found what He was saying difficult to receive as well. Some of the disciples stopped following him after he said these words. Jesus even asked the twelve, "do you want to leave too"? Peter answered him, and said; "where would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to know and believe you are the Holy One of God."


There has to be a deeper meaning here that He was trying to convey to them and to us. But if the Jewish followers of his day couldn't handle the true meaning of His Words, how do we as believers today understand the words and glean the meaning? I believe Jesus was referring to the new covenant he was about to ratify with the sacrifice of Himself and I think he was also referring to what we call today, the Lord's Supper.

Imagine yourself being in the presence of the hottest prophet of the day and you are one of his disciples. You have seen this prophet do some very cool things, all is going well. Then the prophet reveals to you His true identity. I'm the Messiah, the true bread from heaven. Can you hear the screech on the record player! They were not ready for His words and the true meaning. The Jewish people had been waiting for the Messiah for thousands of years and to hear His words coming from someone they knew and grew up with was hard for them to accept.


What does eating His flesh and drinking His blood or partaking of body and wine mean to us? First and foremost, God is the one who brought about the new covenant with the sacrifice of God's Son Jesus. We didn't have anything to do with how the covenant was brought about, but we enjoy the benefit of being partakers of the New Covenant. Here is the account from Mark of the account of the Passover meal known as Last Supper of our Lord: "As they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them; and they all drank of it. And he said to them, this is my blood of the New Testament [or, covenant], which is shed for many. Truly, I say to you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until the day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God".


Let us always remember the sacrifice that Jesus provided, not just for us but for all humankind. Amen.