Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.
Uggghhh.
Woah.
What?
Let me read that again.
“Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:54
When I use the SOAP method of Bible study, this verse always jumps out at me. I still remember how I felt the very first time I read it. Honestly? It sounded strange. Even gross. What in the world is Jesus talking about?!
Jesus’ words certainly grabbed the attention of those who actually heard Him say this—those sitting in the synagogue that day. Jewish law strictly forbade contact with blood, much less drinking it. And eating flesh? That was absolutely not okay. Jesus’ language was so offensive and unsettling that many people stopped following Him altogether. Verse 66 tells us plainly: they walked away.
But Jesus knew exactly what He was doing.
Just moments earlier, He had miraculously fed thousands with a small amount of bread. He knew the thoughts of the crowd. He knew they doubted who He really was. And here, He makes it unmistakably clear: “It’s Me. I am what you need.”
He even reminds them of the words from the Old Testament in verse 45: “They will all be taught by God.”
The book of John opens by telling us that, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” That Word is Jesus. He is the Word made flesh. And here in John 6, Jesus is telling us that we must feast on Him—on the Word—daily. He is the Bread of Life.
Yet so many of us who call ourselves Christians don’t truly value reading God’s Word. We aren’t feasting on Jesus each day. Instead, we walk around spiritually starving, and that starvation leads to a defeated way of living.
Sure, we show up to church on Sundays and receive some pre-chewed food from the pastor up front—but that’s baby food. That’s not feeding ourselves. God desires for us to grow and mature in our relationship with Him until our primary source of nourishment comes from personally spending time in His Word.
And the blood of Jesus? That blood would be poured out for our sins. He became the one true sacrifice for everything I have done wrong—and everything I ever will do wrong. His blood paid my debt, and it paid yours, too. We “drink” that truth daily when we remember His grace, reflect on His sacrifice, and rest in what He has done for us.
Jesus wants a personal, intimate relationship with each of us—one where we read His Word because we know it gives life, and where we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths what His blood has accomplished for us.
We need this daily nourishment more than we need physical food and water.
He is the Bread of Life.
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.
Reflection:
Prayer: Jesus, You are the Bread of Life. You are The Way. You are my Creator, Sustainer, and my Hope. Please forgive me for when I have not valued Your Word. Please help me to read Your Word and follow You. In Your Mighty Name, AMEN.