Living in the Spirit

August 1, 2021

Scripture Reading:
John 6:24-35
So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ So they said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” ’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’

Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’

To get his point across, Jesus often spoke in hyperbole*. How else can we help each other understand something beyond our ability to perceive fully—something by faith we accept as true. We describe God as being all-powerful, all-knowing, and always present because we understand the meaning of these words when fully describing aspects of God around which we can wrap our heads. Jesus talks about the higher plain of spiritual hunger and thirst by using some things we all experience routinely. Can any of us envision a day when we are not hungry for food, thirsty for water? Yet, Jesus assures us that our spiritual needs are met when we are in a relationship with God. Such a relationship forms the foundation for our dealing with all the challenges of life, enabling us to love like Jesus and work as partners in Christ’s service.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for helping us understand your more fully to serve your more nearly. Amen.

* Hyperbole: extravagant exaggeration that represents something as much greater or less, better or worse, or more intense than it really is or that depicts the impossible as actual. https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/hyperbole

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.