Bryan Sherwood

John 6 - The Bread of Heaven

It struck me last night while reading John 6 and 7: Jesus talks a lot about bread. Bread is mentioned some twenty times in the Gospel of John and over half of those instances occur in chapter 6.

Jesus first feeds the thousands who have gathered around him with five loaves of bread and two fish A true miracle. Not only does everyone have something to eat, “they all ate as much as they wanted.” (v. 11). This miracle should remind us of Numbers 11 where the Israelites were fed with manna from heaven. Through Moses, the Father fed his children with manna. Now, Jesus is “the true bread from heaven.” This bread from heaven “gives life to the world.” (v. 33). The manna only met physical, temporal needs; the bread of life nourishes people spiritually and eternally.

Just like in the days of Moses, the people grumbled.

(John 6:41) So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." (John 6:42) They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?"

Jesus rebukes them and not only calls himself the bread of life but Jesus explains that he is “the living bread that came down from heaven.” He goes on to say “Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” I wonder if these words rang in the minds of those who heard them when Jesus is later crucified?

Now, we move to the section of Scripture that is regularly discussed and debated.

John 6:53-59 (NLT) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. (54) Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (55) For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. (56) Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. (57) As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. (58) This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." (59) Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

What does Jesus mean when he says “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you?” Some would say that Jesus is asking for people to fully “consume” him by believing in him. Others would say that Jesus is speaking specifically of the Eucharist: this bread is Christ's literal flesh broken for us and the wine is his literal blood shed for us.

Perhaps it's both? At this point, those who heard this teaching cannot literally partake of the Eucharist but they can believe in this bread of life. The message is clear: there is life in Jesus. Eternal life. We see it played out each time we gather for the Eurcharist. As the liturgy instructs us:

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our
Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks
to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take,
eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the
remembrance of me."

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given
thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you:
This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you
and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink
it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Celebrant and People

Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

The Celebrant continues

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in
this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death,
resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the
Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new
and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully
receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy,
and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints
into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and
with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor
and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

What we find in John 6 is very good news. Jesus brings life to those who would believe in him. He meets our greatest need by his own sacrifice. We eat his body and drink his blood and recall the sheer wonder of his grace and love toward us.

Hooker on the Eucharist

I've been reading a great little book called The Anglican Spirit written by Michael Ramsey who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1961 and died in 1988.  In this chapter, Ramsey describes Richard Hooker and makes a point about Hooker's strong belief in mystery and and the "mysteriousness of divine truth."  In the passage below Hooker beautifully describes the mystery of the Eucharist. It was just too good to pass up.  Take a look.

Let it therefore be sufficient for me presenting myself at the Lord's table to know what there I receive from him, without searching or inquiring of the manner of how Christ performeth His promise . . . Let curious and sharpwitted men beat their heads about what questions themselves will, the very letter of the word of Christ giveth plain security that these mysteries do as nails fasten us to his very cross, that by them we draw out, as touching efficacy, force, and virtue, even the blood of his pierced side, in the wounds of our Redeemer we there dip our tongues, we are dyed red both within and without, our hunger is satisfied, and our thirst forever quenched; they are things wonderful which he feeleth, great which he seeth, and unheard of which he uttereth, whose soul is possessed of this paschal lamb, and made joyful in the strength of this new wine . . . What these elements are in themselves it skilleth not, it is enough that to me which take them they are the body and the blood of Christ, his promise in witness hereof sufficieth, his word he knoweth which way to accomplish; why should any cogitation possess the mind of a faithful communicant but this, O my God thou art true, O my soul thou art happy?

Ramsey, M., & Coleman, D. (1991). The Anglican spirit. Cambridge, Mass: Cowley Pubications.

A Few Thoughts on Church - Part 1

I've been in church since I was a boy.  I remember going to Vacation Bible School and Sunday School when I was six or seven years old.  Vacation Bible School was always fun.  Heck, they had great snacks like ice cream in a cup and Popsicles.  What's not to like about that?  Of course, there were always crafts, singing, and even memorizing a verse of Scripture or two.  Good memories.  I remember being given a New Testament Bible for memorizing Luke 2.8-14 during VBS one year.  I'm thankful for those caring Baptists who instilled in me a great love for Scripture.

In my teen years, my family became involved in an independent Christian Church.  The Christian Church also had a very high view of Scripture.  Baptism was emphasized in the church's teaching and the Lord's Supper was celebrated weekly.  I always appreciated the emphasis placed on a weekly celebration of Communion.  I went off to Bible College at Kentucky Christian College and graduated with a BA in Bible and Preaching.  I spent about ten years in ministry mostly in the Independent Christian Church tradition until I helped plant a SBC church near Cincinnati Ohio in early 2001.

Heather and I returned to Lexington in 2003.  We soon became involved in Vine & Branches Christian Community which was a great experience for us.  In some ways, it was the opposite of what we had just left in Cincinnati.  Instead of worship with a band, video clips, and PowerPoint slides, we were meeting in a living room.  Typically, we gathered around the kitchen table and shared a meal together.  We prayed the office and received Communion.  There was no worship band.  No music.  No PowerPoint.  No sermon series.  There was liturgy.  There was prayer.  Jesus was present.  Stripped down, bare, real worship.  Good stuff.

A few years on the other side of this, I now realize what a pivotal time this was in our lives.  Heather and I were pretty burned out of trying to make the "church machine" go.  All of the preparation for a seeker sensitive type of worship had been exhausting.  We were tired.  God brought us to a place that was radically different than anything we had ever experienced before.  This experience of church changed us forever.

(Part 2 to come)

My Favorite Part

It's easy for Christmas to be so busy that one can miss having time to reflect on the coming of Christ.  I've had that experience in the past and have thought things like "I'll just be glad when this is over."  Kind of a sad statement.  One simple thing I did this year was to go to Christmas Day Eucharist.  I've never taken time to do that but found it very valuable just to have time to sit before the altar and the nativity of our Lord.  It was a small crowd - 24 people I think.  All of that to say, my favorite part of Christmas hasn't been the food, the gatherings nor the presents.  Instead, it has been the Eucharist. 

As the priest said it so well in the Eucharistic Liturgy:

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and every where to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. 

Because you gave Jesus Christ, your only Son, to be born for us; who, by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, was made perfect man of the flesh of the Virgin Mary his mother; so that we might be delivered from the bondage of sin, and receive power to become  your children.

Those words seem to sum it up.

A Surreal Moment During Mass

Sunday was an interesting day for me.  I was the "lay leader" at our parish which means I read the Scripture readings and serve as chalice bearer at the Table.  As I was standing at the altar after the Eucharistic liturgy had begun, I had a very real sense that I was not alone at the Table.  By that I mean it was as though I could see some of my family members who have died standing around that same table - my grandfather and Heather's grandmother, in particular.

I don't guess I should be surprised.  After all, our Eucharistic liturgy tells us we are entering into the heavenly places during the liturgy.  We lift our hearts to the Lord.  We pray:

Therefore we praise you, joining our voice with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.

I can say that I've had a real sense of not only Jesus' presence around his Table but those of "all the company of heaven."

Pax.

A Special Moment in the Mass

One of the first times I was at Mass at Gethsemani, I was struck by a particular part of the Mass.

All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest: Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
All: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.

This portion of the Mass occurs during the Communion Rite itself. As the Church moves closer to receiving the body and blood of Christ, we pray the words of the Lord's Prayer together. Then the priest prays this beautiful prayer:

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I love that prayer. It strikes close to home for me. It speaks to me every single time I hear it. It's a prayer worth wrestling with. I find it interesting that it asks the Lord to grant us peace and to protect us from all anxiety as we wait for Jesus to return. Let me tell you, when the priest utters that prayer, I pray it as hard as I can. I mouth those words. As I walk down front and receive the bread and wine, I'm reminded again that He is the one who brings healing. I take Him inside of me and pray that I may be able to rest in His peace.

Pax.