“The Holy Spirit Gives Life”
Jesus
said to them, "What I'm about to tell you is true. You must eat the Son of
Man's body and drink his blood. If you don't, you have no life in you. Anyone
who eats my body and drinks my blood has eternal life. I will raise him up on
the last day.
"My
body is real food. My blood is real drink. Anyone who eats my body and drinks
my blood remains in me. And I remain in him.
"The
living Father sent me, and I live because of him. In the same way, those who
feed on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from
heaven. Long ago your people ate manna and died. But those who feed on this
bread will live forever."
He
said this while he was teaching in the synagogue in
Jesus' disciples heard this. Many of them said, "This is a
hard teaching. Who can accept it?"
Jesus
was aware that his disciples were complaining about his teaching. So he said to
them, "Does this upset you? What if you see the Son of Man go up to where
he was before? The Holy Spirit gives life. The body means nothing at all. The
words I have spoken to you are from the Spirit. They give life. But there are
some of you who do not believe."
Jesus
had known from the beginning which of them did not believe. And he had known
who was going to hand him over to his enemies. So he continued speaking. He
said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father
helps him."
From
this time on, many of his disciples turned back. They no longer followed him.
"You
don't want to leave also, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon
Peter answered him, "Lord, who can we go to? You
have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One
of God."
John 6:53-69
There
are times in our lives when we have to deliver terrible news to those we love
and care for. The real test is how those we give the bad news to, react to that
news. Help them, by your own witness, to show their faith. When nothing else
makes sense, rely on Jesus as your own source of hope and confidence.
Whatever
you face today, be encouraged by the words of Peter
and by the example of a family who went through the fires of life with their
faith intact. As long as you are running in the right direction – to Jesus –
you will find the grace and strength you will need.
When all is lost, remember that you haven’t lost Jesus. Run to Him.
Our Daily Bread –