I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. (John 6:51)
Who is Jesus for you? It's an important question to ask of ourselves and one another. Is he your friend? Is Jesus the one who reconciles or
integrates God and humanity?
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| Christ Pantocrator- Monastery of St. Catherine's - M.t Sinai |
Is he God Incarnate (
Christ - the Anointed One),
Christ Pantocrator (Ruler of All/Sustainer of the Word). Is he your personal as well as the world's
Savior? Perhaps Jesus (the) <Christ> is one or more of these deities, persons, or someone else for you?
The Gospel of John provides so many useful images.We're presently in the midst of a series of gospel texts dealing with who Jesus is for one early Christian community. John's Jesus ardently explains that he IS God's living bread. John's Jesus isn't as interested in daily bread as
Luke and
Matthew's Jesus. Jesus the Living Bread in John providers his believers singular and eternal life.
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| Antonello de Messina - Christ's Blessing (Sectional of Painting) |
Different interpretations of who Jesus is for folks often leads to theological tensions and downright divisions. It's been that way since about the beginning of the 2nd Century CE (AD). I'd like to think that living bread is a really good place to continue having such conversations in healthier and natural ways. How does Jesus "feed" you? What food(s) did/does he offer to his first believers as well as to us? What does eternal life mean in terms of daily as well as everlasting bread?
I pray that you'll celebrate his presence and love in Word, Sacrament, Worship, and one another today, the days to come, and this coming Sunday. Enjoy his life-giving bread every chance you get!
Blessings Along The Way, Jim+
