November 30, 2008

John 6: 22-69

Jesus, The Bread Of Life

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Are you "ready to give up your life for the One"?

Are you "ready to pour out your heart for the Son"?

And to "hold the hands that bled"?      

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Here I Am

"There's a place where I can go / Where the angels hear me pray / "I want to change / Yes I need your touch" / I'm waiting here for You / And I fall, at Your feet / I'll give it all, until the day we meet / Here I am / Ready to give up my life for the One / Here I am / Ready to pour out my heart for the Son / Here I come to Your threshing floor / Where the angels fear to tread / I'm waiting here for the King of love / And to hold the hands that bled.   *

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After Jesus had fed thousands miraculously, "the next morning, back across the lake, crowds began gathering on the shore, waiting to see Jesus.  For they knew that he and his disciples had come over together and that the disciples had gone off in their boat, leaving him behind.  Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten.  When the crowd saw that Jesus wasn't there, nor his disciples, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him.  When they arrived and found him, they asked, "Teacher, how did you get here?"

Jesus replied, "The truth is, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you saw the miraculous sign.  But you shouldn't be so concerned about perishable things like food.  Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you.  For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose."

They replied, "What does God want us to do?"

Jesus told them, "This is what God wants you to do:  Believe in the one he has sent."   

They replied, "You must show us a miraculous sign if you wnat us to believe in you.  What will you do for us?  After all, our ancestor ate manna while they journeyed through the winderness!  As the Scriptures say, 'Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"

Jesus said, "I assure you, Moses didn't give them bread from heaven.  My Father did.  And now he offers you the true bread from heaven.  The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

"Sir, they said, "give us that bread every day of our lives."

Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life.  No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again.  Those who believe in me will never thirst.  But you haven't believed in me even though you have seen me.  However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.  For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want.  And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them to eternal life at the last day.  For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life-that I should raise them at the last day."

Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, "I am the bread from heaven."  They said, "This is Jesus, the son of Joseph.  We know his father and mother.  How can he say, 'I came down from heaven?"

But Jesus replied, "Don't complain about what I said.  For people can't come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them from the dead.  As it is written in the Scriptures, 'They will all be taught by God.'  Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me.  (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father, only I who was sent from God, have seen him.)

I assure you, anyone who believes in me already has eternal life.  Yes, I am the bread of life!  Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died.  However, the bread from heaven gives eternal life to everyone who eats it.  I am the living bread that came down out of heaven.  Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live."

Then the people began arguing with each other about what he menat.  "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked.

So Jesus said again, "I assure you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.  But those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them at the last day.  For my flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink.  All who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me and I in them.  I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will live because of me.  I am the true bread from heaven.   Anyone who eats this bread will live forever and not die as your ancestors did, even though they ate the manna."

He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Even his disciples said, "this is very hard to understand.  How can anyone accept it?

Jesus knew within himself that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, "Does this offend you?  Then what will you think if you see me, the Son of Man, return to heaven again?  It is the Spirit who gives eternal life.  Human effort accomplishes nothing.  And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.  But some of you don't believe me."  (For Jesus knew from the beginning who didn't believe, and he knew who would betray him.)  Then he said, "That is what I meant when I said that people can't come to me unless the Father brings them to me."

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.  Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, "Are you going to leave, too?"

Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go?  You alone have the words that give eternal life.  We believe them, and we know you are the Holy One of God."

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Thoughts...

Is the Father calling you to go to Jesus?  Go!  Do you believe Jesus is the Holy One of God?  Praise God!  Are you spending your energy seeking eternal life that only the Son of Man, Jesus, can give you?  Alleluia! 

Read the italicized words above.  Soak them in. 

When you are hungry, hunger for Christ, as you eat.  Fill yourself with him, his word, his love, his being.  Take on his life, his flesh, his Spirit.  His flesh is his life, his word.  His blood is his life blood that flows within - his Spirit, his heart.  Embody his way, his meaning, his actions.  If you have never come into union with him through partaking of Communion or the Lord's Supper, find a church and do so.  If you cannot go to church, take a piece of bread and cup of water or juice.  Ask the Lord, "Lord, please bless this bread and water (or juice) that it may be for me, your body and your blood.  I wish to become one with you fully.  Forgive me of my sins and make me whole by the cleansing and annointing of your love in this bread and this drink.  Send your Holy Spirit into me now.  Thank you.  Amen." 

Now keep believing...remain in him.

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 Let Us Pray

Pray this prayer from your heart:

My Father, you are in heaven.

Hallowed is your name.

May your kingdom come (into me).

May your will be done (in my life).

On earth, as it is in heaven.

Give me this day my daily bread (...who is Jesus).

And (please) forgive me my sins.

As I (so attempt to) forgive those who have sinned against me.

And (please) lead me not into temptation, 

But deliver me from evil (thank you!).

For you are the kingdom (may you be this in me),

And the power,

And the glory.

Forever.

Amen !      

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Healing Rain

Healing rain is coming down / It's coming nearer to this old town / Rich and poor, weak and strong / It's bringing mercy, it won't be long / Healing rain is coming down / It's coming closer to the lost and found / Tears of joy and tears of shame / Are washed forever in Jesus' name / Healing rain, it comes with fire / So let it fall and take us higher / Healing rain, I'm not afraid / To be washed in Heaven's rain / Lift your heads, let us return / To the mercy seat where time began / And in your eyes I see the pain / Come soak this dry heart with healing rain / And only You, the Son of man / Can take a leper and let him stand / So lift your hands, they can be held / By someone greater, the Great I am / Healing rain is falling down / Healing rain is falling down / I'm not afraid / I'm not afraid   *

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation.  

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