JESUS SPEAKS

Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father has sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.” (John 6: 53 – 56) Then in verse 60 we read, ‘Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?'” And in verse 66 we read, “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.”

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

Jesus initially seems to suggest that His followers must eat His body and drink His blood. However, physically consuming human flesh and blood was strictly forbidden by God. For this reason many of His disciples abruptly abandoned Him; foolishly renouncing their faith. And yet, had they waited until the night before His crucifixion their concerns would’ve been relieved. That evening, at the last supper, the Lord revealed that His seemingly cannibalistic assertion was in fact symbolic rather than literal. Eating the bread (His body) and drinking the wine (His blood) in remembrance of Him instituted an essential Christian practice known today as communion. If only those foolish souls who abandoned Him had waited, they would’ve known eternal life.

As the story goes, concerning faithfulness and patience, there once lived a man named Christopher Columbus. Many are unaware of the struggles he endured on His journey to the New World. After nearly 31 days at sea the crew had become restless, believing they would perish before reaching any land. They implored Columbus to turn back. A potential mutiny had become a genuine concern. Some even believe that the crew was plotting to cast him into the sea. In response, Columbus, yearning to salvage his flailing expedition, urged the men to give him 2 to 3 more days. He promised that if they hadn’t spotted land by then, he would submit to their desires and return to Spain. Two days later they encountered land and the New World had been discovered. Columbus had reached the Americas because, even in the face of uncertainty and open rebellion, he convinced his crew to be patient and to have faith.

Just as Columbus discovered the new world, the bible also begs to be discovered; to be read and understood. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we set sail on a journey toward an eternal kingdom. During this process of enlightenment, most will encounter passages that can initially be confusing and difficult to comprehend. Many questions will arise that can only be answered through continued study and divine revelation. And yet, if we faithfully persist in God’s word, then we will discover the fullness of His truth. May we never give up or turn back; for in time, God will provide us with every answer.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your wisdom and for Your Holy word. As we discover Your divine scriptures, may we faithfully persist. May we never permit our fleeting ignorance to create any lasting doubt. Lord, we trust that eventually all we desire to know will be made known. Give us a hunger to read Your word; that through revelation, we might draw closer to You and our Savior Jesus Christ. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!