The Meal That Heals

The Meal That Heals

In John 6:32-58, the Jews were asking Jesus for a sign and Christ referred them back to Israel’s wandering in the wilderness. God sent manna down from heaven and fed the entire nation for forty years. Christ then explained that He was the true bread come down from heaven. Just as the manna sustained and nourished the people for forty years, those who would eat the true bread from heaven would receive eternal life. Jesus said: “I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.” John 6:48-56 In the entire sermon, which is recorded in John 6:32-58, Jesus twice emphasized the story of bread and manna. He mentioned the word bread twelve times, comparing the manna in the wilderness to Him being the true bread from heaven. The repetition of the word bread indicates that this is a major message Christ is relaying to His audience. As Jesus spoke of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, the predominately Jewish congregation no doubt went into shock. The Law of Moses taught that meat should not be eaten raw (Leviticus 13:14-16). Now, imagine the reaction of the people when Christ told them to eat His flesh and drink His blood! No wonder the entire congregation, with the exception of His disciples, stood up and walked

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