We’ve been in this bread series for many weeks now. It has been going all through the 6th chapter of John’s gospel, in order, taking it one story or perplexing phrase at a time.
Here’s where we’ve been: First, the story of Jesus feeding a multitude. The story starts with Jesus and his disciples trying to hide away a bit from the crowds. Jesus has been among the people, healing and helping those who were sick. Now he takes his crew across the sea and heads up a mountain to sit down for a bit. But as soon as they get settled, a huge crowd appears. Jesus challenges his disciples about finding enough to feed the crowd, and they cannot imagine how they, or what they have, might be enough for such a large task. Sometimes we feel like what we have, what we are isn’t enough. For the people around Jesus who are sick, or hurt, or the like…they find that Jesus gives something that makes them enough again, makes them have value in the world—what he gives them is his kingdom; he lets them into his kingdom. So, in display of that, Jesus brings the kingdom to that crowd and feeds the multitude. In that story, we see that Jesus, the Bread of Life, sees you as whole, complete, valuable, and surely enough. What you have to contribute, however small it might seem to you, is enough in God’s eyes, and God will continue to do amazing things through little old us, with our meager offerings. Then, the second week, Jesus began explaining himself as the bread of life with the image familiar to his crowd of manna given in the wilderness. After he fed the multitudes, which was after he healed the sick, the crowds were following him relentlessly and they wanted a sign from him. He called them out that they are only following him for the food and told them about how what he gives is more than just food…he gives himself, and he is the bread of God that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. What he gives is eternal life, or a life of the ages. We explored both the quality and quantity of "Eternal Life". Jesus gives what I wanted to call an “unrelenting aliveness” that moves into unending life through himself, received in the bread and wine at His table. Eternal life, or a life of the ages, isn’t only a life that doesn’t end, but it’s also a kind of life full of meaning and purpose, a life of belonging, a life of connection, and a life with hope. It’s a “life worth living” kind of life: We heard that each week, we come to the table to hear, and taste, and experience the good news that Through this bread, in this meal, in Christ: You are given meaning…And purpose…And belonging…And connection…And hope. You are given Jesus. And in him you have a never-ending life of unrelenting aliveness. Then last week, Jesus describes himself as the bread of life come down from heaven. What does it mean that Jesus is here, giving life to the world? We paired that with the story of a tired, mad, and defeated Elijah—who after, not just one, but two, good naps and a snack prepared by an angel—was able to go on, having found his strength in God’s good gifts. Jesus came to save us tired, hungry, and thirsty people and offer himself as nourishment. And, as we said each week, we experience that presence of Jesus through the people around us who remind us to take care of ourselves, and that we matter to God, just as we are called, when we’re able, to remind others of their worth in Christ. This week is the fourth week of the bread series. Today, the words of Jesus that perplex the crowd are: “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life.” We find deep meaning in these words in light of the sacrament of holy communion. Aside from our practice of communion, those words are very strange, indeed. But Jesus’ words throughout this passage are about way more than just taking communion. I find myself thinking about how when Jesus says “those who eat my flesh and drink my blood..” it describes just how fully and completely he offers himself to us. In our Proverbs reading, Lady Wisdom sets a banquet. It describes how detailed, how carefully, how precisely, all the things she does to get ready to serve this feast. She has built her house, (not just rents a site, but,) she has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her animals, (that is, prepared the meat.) Think of the effort and time that goes into something like a good Texas barbeque…hours and days spent tending the wood fire to smoke that perfect brisket. That’s the kind of preparation I imagine here. She has mixed her wine, (right, she prepared all the drinks) she has also set her table (which, by the sound of it, has a lot of place settings) She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls from the highest places in the town, (inviting, everyone) How long, how much work, how much of herself did she put into this meal? How many of you know what it is to put your heart and soul into something? Maybe it’s cooking for your family or a party, or maybe it’s another kind of offering. You put your own blood, sweat, and tears into something and just hope that it’s well received. Jesus, in offering his body and blood, is like that. Providing a great gift, the gift of life, if only we would take him up on the offer. But again, it’s not just about taking communion…it’s that, too. But it’s also about being nourished, fully, in Jesus’ name. It’s being transformed by him—having his “stuff” coursing through our system and growing us up as kingdom people, as Jesus people. We wants us to be fed, nourished, and transformed by him. One image for thinking about this is of a book: a book on shelf vs. reading a book (Barclay pg. 231) When Jesus said we must drink his blood he meant that we must take his life into the very center and core of our heats. Think of it this way. Here in a bookcase is a book which someone has never read. It may be the glory and wonder of the tragedies of Shakespeare. One may have bought that book, but so long as it remains unread upon their bookshelves, it is external to them. It remains outside them. But then one day they take it down and read it. They are thrilled and fascinated and moved. The story sticks to them; the great lines remain in their memory; now when they want to, they can take that wonder out from inside themselves and remember it and think about it and feed their mind and heart upon it. Once the book was external to them, on their shelf. Now it has gotten inside them, and they can feed upon it. That is one image. But I came upon another that I found far more significant. It’s an image that I’d never be able to authentically use myself, but one that is only accessible to a mother. It was a story about mother and child. She told of the struggles and difficulty of learning to feed her child after it was born. How they both shared frustration—the baby at leaning to eat, the mother learning to nurse. This “natural” business not coming naturally at all. It moved into joy as they settled into a rhythm, became in sync with each other. And the mother’s amazement on reflecting on learning what it is to give herself away, to delight in a fullness other than her own, to be nourished by the act of nourishing. Reflecting on what it is to BECOME food. Imagine Jesus as a mother, giving her very self away to nourish her children. Hoping we learn to eat, aching when we are hungry and won’t be fed, delighting when we are fed and full, resting in her arms. Her story went on to the child’s adolescence, and a struggle with an eating disorder. How a mother aches to be able to feed her child, but cannot. Jesus pours out his flesh and blood for us. At his table, by him, we are nourished and enter into that kingdom of eternal life. He gives us his body and blood, to be transformed and grown into a strong people, kingdom people, that experience the value, connection, purpose, belonging, and hope that come with eternal life. He gives himself, and he calls us out to share him with all. May you find at the table today, the body and blood of Christ, freely given to you. May you be nourished by him, feel his love poured out to you. May you be transformed and empowered to become what you receive, his body for the life of the world. May you be filled with Jesus’ presence, and strengthened and sustained by him today and always. Comments are closed.
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AuthorRev. Chris Sesvold is currently the pastor at Halfway Creek Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Holmen, WI. Archives
October 2021
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