Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.
Summary: Our “daily bread” is something we need both physically and spiritually. Jesus provides us with both.
If we are “spiritual beings having a physical experience” as Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, what does the spiritual side of our being eat for bread?
Jesus has an answer to that question.
“Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53)
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were puzzled and angered by Jesus’ claim. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they cried. Yet, from the very beginning, God has treated mankind as spiritual beings who lost their way.
When did we lose our way? When we believed the lie of the serpent instead of trusting God.
Back in the beginning, God told Adam, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:6-7)
God, who is Spirit (John 4:24), was speaking with Adam’s spirit. When he said, “you will certainly die” he meant Adam would die spiritually.
How can someone be “dead” spiritually?
Have you ever heard the expression, “So and so is dead to me”? It is used when there has been an irreparable rift in a relationship. In the story of The Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32), the prodigal leaves his father taking his share of the inheritance, never to return. Then, when times are hard, he returns with his tail between his legs begging for a job. His father, delighted to have the relationship restored welcomes his son back into the family. When asked to explain why he let the young man come back, he said:
“But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15: 32)
In this simple story, we see the meaning of spiritual life and death.
Jesus came so that we can have life (John 10:10). Not more physical life, but new spiritual life. A renewed relationship with our father. Like physical life, this new spiritual life needs food. We still need our “daily bread.” For this reason, Jesus gives us spiritual food to eat; his flesh and blood.
In the worship setting, we call this gift “communion.” Jesus explains:
“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’
“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’” (Luke 22: 19-20)
By remembering what Jesus did for us on the cross, we are reminded of why he gave himself. We remember that through Jesus, we have a renewed relationship with God, our Father. Where before we were “dead” to God, now we are “alive” spiritually. Since the spirit is eternal, this means we are eternally alive, eternally with our Father.
Our “daily bread” sustains us for the day. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, his flesh, and blood, are what sustain us in our relationship with God.
Application: When you give thanks for your daily bread, give thanks for both kinds.
Food for Thought: How do Jesus’ flesh and blood sustain you?
How do Jesus’ flesh and blood sustain you?
It keeps up my endurance, my hope, my eyes on the bigger picture, my thoughts of His kingdom, my desires to Glorify God.
He sustains my Spirit so that it can battle my flesh ( sin nature ).
What side do you feed more?
Tim,
Well said & great followup question!
These meditations are making me think about food and sustenance in a different way. (God’s Word tends to do that!)
As I become more aware of my spiritual nature, I am also more aware of God’s Spirit. It is like slowly waking up from a very deep sleep.
As the spiritual side of me awakens, it hungers for spiritual “food” which only Jesus can provide.
Its amazing how once awaken your spirit has a hunger, desire for more, longing for substance to fill an emptiness. Causing a need to search for more WKU. We have so many ways to feed our Spirit but nothing sustainable on this earth that lasts forever besides His Word, the word of God, the Bible.
So many have gone to feeding themselves man made food ( GMO ) and are finding all the problems it can cause ( apparently everything man made causes cancer in california ).
Giving me to lessons to learn:
1 don’t try to feed my Spirit anything that man has twisted or modified from the bible. ( including context context context )
2 stay out of california.
I love the stay out of CA application 😊.
And yes, context, context, context. Amen.
Jesus’ blood is life to those who believe. Romans 3: 21 – 26.
And righteousness! 🙂
Again late for the party, great topic and comments!
12-26-2022, How do Jesus’ flesh and blood sustain you?
In John 6:47, the Lord says that everyone who believes in Him HAS eternal life. The verb “has” is in the present tense, which means that eternal life is the possession of the believer at our moment of faith. It is not something we must wait for and acquire at some later date.
Also see, John 3:16, 5:24, 6:35, 10:27-30,11:26.
To receive this new life we have received Christ as we repented our sins, accepted His sacrifice for our sins, received new freedom from the power of sins and began the process of turning from them.
This New Life of Jesus Christ is given to our once dead spirits by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, and can only be contaminated by food of this world which includes Pride, Self-centeredness, Contempt for the weak, Power of this world.
Our eternal spirits must be fed spiritual food which can only be found in Christ. We are to grow in Humility, Love for God and others, building up the weak, and rejecting all power of this world. This is what Christ is telling us when He say’s, He is the bread of life ( our eternal spiritual life ) and we must eat and drink of His flesh. Our spirits can only achieve growth through Christ.
John 6:51-53
We are now a new creation and our spirits require daily feeding for growth and Godly living. The Holy Spirit feeds our spirits with truth as we spend time in prayer, meditation, His Word, and the company of other believers. Every living thing on or in this earth requires some type of food to continue as a living organism. Every believer has received Jesus Christ who resides in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit and we can only grow as we seek and receive our daily bread from Him.
Matthew 5:6, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Ron,
You have opened the door to our need to repent, or “turn from our sins.” That is the work of the Spirit in our spirit. That is why we need to be fed daily, because our spiritual work is a daily task.
Thank you!
John 14:26, But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Excellent reminder that Jesus is our sustainer and nothing on this earth! Let continue to oray! Our most powerful tool to overcome the evil in our country! Thank you Jeff for the reminder 🙏