Jesus is the Bread of Life. Read John 6:35, 49-51. Yesterday, we read from the Book of Deuteronomy where Moses instructed the people to give thanks after entering the Promised Land and eating the abundance that was provided for them. Moses talked about literal food, but he also included the sentence, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” In John 6, we find Jesus teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum on the Sabbath. It is often the custom that during a Jewish worship service, a passage of Scripture, usually one of the first five books of the Bible, would be read. After the reading, a teacher would expound on the Scripture, and all the other people would add to the discussion. The synagogue ruler was Jairus, who often allowed Jesus to lead the teaching. Jesus had brought the daughter of Jairus back to life. Although we don’t know what passage of Scripture had been read this day, Jesus compared himself to the manna from heaven that sustained the Hebrew people for forty years in the wilderness. He claimed to be the living bread that gives eternal life. When we put our faith in Jesus as the one who died for our sins and gives us eternal life, we come to the sacrament of bread and the fruit of the vine, giving thanks for Jesus, his sacrifice for our sins, and the forgiveness that is freely given. Partaking of Holy Communion is an opportunity for us to proclaim our faith and continue to feed on every word that Jesus spoke to us.

Holy God, we give thanks for you and for the food you provide. Sustain us with your words. Strengthen us with increasing faith. Abide in us as we abide in you. Amen.