Why would Jesus ask His disciples to eat His flesh and drink His blood, which would violate Scripture (Leviticus 3:17)?
18 May 26
Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One
Readings:
2 Kings 20
2 Kings 21
2 Kings 22
John 6:45-71
Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:54).
Why would Jesus ask His disciples to eat His flesh and drink His blood, which would violate Scripture (Leviticus 3:17)?
Jesus’ terse statement moves a portion of His followers to walk away from Him. John writes, “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66). Clearly, Jesus isn’t talking about literally eating His flesh and drinking His blood. He Himself says, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). The person who metaphorically eats Jesus’ flesh and drinks His blood is the individual who believes on Him and receives the gift of eternal life (John 6:54).
Employment Point: Believe on Jesus, who offered His body and blood for our salvation, and follow Him for length of days.
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Reflections
““Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord.”
2 Kings 20:5 NIV
“Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord.”2 Kings 22:19 NIV
- it may not be a matter of life and death for anyone but this verse proves that the Lord sees and hears our every cry, especially more so for His righteous man.
- Obey His commands and be righteous in His eyes. Truly He never short changed anyone.
- We are being reminded to humble ourselves and obey God’s law. No matter what the situation may be, we can always intercede for people and pray to God. It is His promise that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if He does, He will deliver us just like how He delivers King Hezekiah & King Josiah and many others out of disasters.
“The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?” “They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.””
2 Kings 20:15 NIV
- in the modern times, this is perhaps us showing others how much we have in our bank accounts or our net worth. Doesn’t seem to be a wise act, even more so for a king to show envoys of another nation his entire wealth.
- Scams have taken a more digital twist nowadays with the scammers getting more innovative and real with the things they do. We can hardly tell truth from deep fakes. The best like I told my mum, is to ignore every call or message that you do not know. Especially those asking for info. The question to ask is “will you die if you don’t reply?” Most of the times, it is not. Be safe and stay safe..
“He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.” In the two courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced divination, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.”
2 Kings 21:4-6 NIV
- This feels like adultery. Bringing another woman / man to the matrimonial bed that was meant to be a holy union. Not only did this fella bring one, he brought many and defiled the place with all sorts of evil.
- It is also a reminder to us that we are all Jesus’s bride. We are all call to worship / love Him only with the ways we are taught to do by His words
“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.” Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?””John 6:51-52 NIV
- I remember when I was a really new believer and was reading the part which says “thank you for feeding us with the body of your dear son Jesus and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in Him and He in us.” It puzzles me so much till I found out that we are not strange people who drink real blood like vampires. It is just a metaphor.
“I am the bread of life.”John 6:48 NIV
“But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 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.” Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.””John 6:50-51, 57-58 NIV
- Jesus has told us things metaphorically and also told us things plainly. The problem is that we overthink the things he said plainly and make simple the things that are complex, causing confusion to others.
- This is a reminder on how important it is to read the word and apply it to our daily lives, with understanding from the Lord. Ask the Lord for wisdom, He will gladly give it to us.
“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.””John 6:63-65 NIV
- a good reminder that salvation belongs to the Lord. Who can pray and intercede but it is up to our Father to decide who He wants to enable to come to Christ. We just need to keep believing, keep planting and stop doubting.
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Unconsciously Useful
BY OSWALD CHAMBERS
May 18
Look at the birds of the air. . . . See how the flowers of the field grow.— Matthew 6:26, 28
Consider the flowers of the field, how they grow. Think of the sea, the air, the sun, the stars, and the moon. All these simply are—yet what a powerful sense of God they convey! Now think of yourself. God has designed you to convey his influence. Are you letting him? So often we get in God’s way by making a self-conscious effort to be useful and consistent.
Jesus taught that there is only one way to develop spiritually, and that is by concentrating on God. “Whoever believes in me, . . . rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38). Jesus is saying that growth in spiritual life doesn’t depend on how much attention we pay to our own progress; spiritual growth depends on how much attention we pay to our Father in heaven. Our heavenly Father knows everything about our individual circumstances. If we keep our concentration on him, we will grow as the flowers of the field grow, without self-consciousness getting in the way.
The people who influence us most aren’t those who corner us and preach at us. It’s those who live like the flowers in the field and the stars in the sky—perfectly, simply, and naturally. Theirs are the lives that shape us. If you want to be useful to God, get rightly related to Jesus Christ, and he will make you unconsciously useful every minute you live.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD
When we no longer seek God for His blessings, we have time to seek Him for Himself.
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Reflections
I remember walking past a car park and then I noticed there were some specks of purple in between the gaps. When I took a closer look, I saw that they were small flowers that bloomed like fireworks! I’m amazed not just by God’s creation but also the fact that it grew out of nowhere, where people will probably not even stop to look, since it’s a carpark.
God’s creation are mind-blowing and you know I’m not exaggerating because who else but Him who is able to create so many types of different human beings, animals, birds, as well as all the natural phenomenon in all the great splendour. Just the human body alone has so many hidden secrets and how it all worked together as one body.
Back to the small flower on the ground.. what did it do to deserve to be pretty? Nothing. Just like us humans. Who came from dust and are made from dust. What did we do to deserve being loved by God and to be called His child of God? Nothing. It is not by our works so that anyone can boasts. It is salvation through faith that we have this free gift.
Nevertheless, having a right relationship with the Lord meant that He knows us and we know Him. Many things may be left unspoken but it is not unknown to Him. We can live and be happy not knowing our future because we have a Father who loves us and knows it all. We just need to lean on Him and forget about everything else. Not that it is not important but it is all being taken care of. He plans and already thought this whole thing. So if we have this kind of knowledge and understanding, we would not require Him to keep reinforcing to us who He is. We know and we can trust. We laugh and enjoy life because He takes care of us.
Let’s pray:
All thanks be to You O Lord, the King of the world, who loves and takes care of all of us. We need not worry about anything, for You have gone ahead of us to prepare the place. Help us to trust You like flowers in the carpark, who does not labour or spin and yet are given pretty clothes to wear. How much more us who are created in the image of Christ. All praise and thanks be to You O Lord.
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