“… I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.
This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:51
This post is quite overdue as this concludes the “Living the Blessed Life” series I posted consecutively weeks ago.
I did have an extended reflection on how to present this hard teaching of Jesus, “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) and how are we able to achieve this?
I read theological writings and sermons about how Christians can eat “the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood” and discovered one outstanding view. They posit that the Lord’s Supper (or Eucharist) is the venue where Christians partake of Jesus’ ‘flesh and blood’.
Under this are two conflicting views, which are:
The transubstantiation of the bread and cup during the Lord Supper celebration, which according to Catholic doctrine, the bread and the wine used in the sacrament of the Eucharist become not merely a sign or a figure but also, in reality, the body and blood of Christ.
The Lord’s Supper elements, the bread and the cup, are symbols and reminders, which consequences and significance are manifested in following and living for Jesus.
As my goal in presenting this Bible study series is to make us understand how to live a blessed life, may I avoid giving a more profound theological presentation on the issue at hand?
Nevertheless, let me share a couple of thoughts:
- Suppose we could achieve “eating Jesus’ flesh and blood” through the Lord’s Supper (transubstantiation-ally or symbolically). Why is it that many who regularly partake of the bread and the cup aren’t achieving living the blessed life?
- Because ‘flesh and blood’ mean life, is regularly participating (or as often as possible) in the Lord’s Supper enough to be living the blessed life?
Returning to our question, “How can we eat Jesus’ flesh and blood to live a blessed life?”
Here are my practical answers:
- Commit to follow and obey Jesus Christ in the spirit of Peter’s commitment to Jesus in John 6:68-69 “Lord, to whom we shall go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
- Have all aspects of your life be used entirely for the glory and honour of God.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12-30-31
The posts below are the continuation of this teaching series.
Why Gaining Material Things Doesn’t Define ‘Blessing’
Life trials are also blessings because they establish your dependence on God and strengthen your faith.
Continue Reading Why Gaining Material Things Doesn’t Define ‘Blessing’
Are You Living a Blessed Life?
Just when you thought you had nothing that would impress the material world, think about having the real bread of life – Jesus Christ.
The Real Food Blessed People Eat
Those expensive and rare foods that have been used to convey a blessed life don’t qualify as real food. Jesus presents a different one.
NO JESUS ..NO PEACE …… KNOW JESUS …. KNOW PEACE!
Our biggest blessing is knowing JESUS. The blessings he gives us is the love that HE has for us in our relationship with him.
In times of severe trauma, the biggest blessing we can have is knowing HE is with us CONSTANTLY.
To quote from an old hymn, “Trust and obey, ‘cos there’s no other way, To be happy in JESUS, just trust and obey.