Online shopping is a big part of my life. I buy everything from groceries to gadgets on apps. One of the perks of living in a big, bustling city in India is that I can go from clicking a few buttons to bags appearing at my front door in minutes—magic!

When Jesus multiplied the bread and fish into a meal for 5000+ people, it may have felt like “magic” to many of them. They had followed Jesus to the Sea of Galilee because they heard He healed the sick. And now, here He was, creating hearty picnic lunches for them. “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world,” they said. (John 6)

Today, as we read the third installment of the “Rid Me of Myself” Lent devotional, we sit among the crowds on that hilltop close to the Sea of Galilee.

When the people witnessed Jesus’ miracle, they viewed Him as the Prophet who would lead them to freedom. They intended to force Him into the role of king who would rescue them from Roman rule. But Jesus didn’t come to deliver them from human oppression; He came to deliver them—and us—from the oppression of sin.

Following the “Feeding of the Five Thousand” miracle, Jesus speaks of another type of “bread”—He identifies Himself as the “Bread of Life.”

I’ve often domesticated this phrase to mean that Jesus is the only One who can nourish me and satisfy me. And, yes, that is absolutely true.

But in His conversation with those who had followed Him after the loaves and fish miracle, Jesus says this: “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)

Let’s be honest. Equating bread with flesh sounds weird to our modern sensibilities. But Jesus doesn’t seem to be worried about stepping on our toes in order to express the truth.

He reiterates the message: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6: 54)

There’s nothing domesticated or sterile or “pretty” about Jesus’ words.

In fact, Jesus’ words could be deemed “offensive” and possibly, “distasteful.”

This message was difficult for many of Jesus’ followers to digest.  They walked away. They wanted easy, pre-sliced, ultra-processed teachings that required little from them.

But Jesus was saying some radically difficult things. What does it mean to eat His flesh and drink His blood?

It means that we partake of His sacrifice. We partake of His death and burial as we die to self—so we can partake of His resurrection as we are raised to new life in Him.

It means that we receive Him, that we imbibe Him, and that we are filled by Him. But to truly receive Him, we need to empty ourselves. We need to rid ourselves of the lesser things that deceive us into dependency and claim to satisfy. We need to deny ourselves the “bread” of the world in order to receive the “Bread of Life.”

Yes, Jesus is in the miracle-working business and continues to bless us with good gifts, like He did at the Feeding of the Five Thousand. But may this season of Lent remind us that He didn’t come just to give us daily bread—but He came as the Bread of Life.

We have a choice. Like some of Jesus’ followers do we reject His radical message because we just want our daily bread? Or do we rid ourselves of lesser things so we can partake of His suffering and receive the new life that He offers?

Bring it Home

What does it mean practically to partake in Christ’s burial and resurrection?

How can I empty myself and deny myself the bread of the world so I can embrace the Bread of Life?

Lean In

Precious Lord, I thank You that You are the Bread of Life. I’m reminded of Communion where we symbolically eat the bread that is torn and drink from the cup. Through that sacrament, we remember Your suffering and we lay ourselves on the altar. Today, help me to remember my calling to be united with You in Your death and burial so that I can rejoice in the new life I have in You through Your resurrection. I embrace You, Lord, as the Bread of Life that sustains me, nourishes me, and transforms me. In Jesus’ name. Amen

 

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