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This week, we set out to explore some of the meanings in one of the more challenging passages in the four gospels, John 6, where Jesus introduces the concept of His disciples' need to eat His flesh and drink His blood. The chapter is an interwoven dialogue of the miracle of the loaves and fishes and its connection to the Bread of Life discourse, shedding light on the profound significance of Jesus' sacrifice and atonement for our sins. We dissect Jesus' sacrifice and its unifying significance in our lives, analysing the metaphorical language of invitation to partake in His life-giving sacrifice.
From this understanding, we discussed three commitments of a disciple.
- Disciples are committed to seeking first Christ & His Kingdom
Matthew 6:25-34 NIV
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life. 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
- Disciples are committed to the power of the Cross
Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV
”fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.“
- Disciples are committed to Christ's all-sufficiency
John 6:66-68 NIV
”From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.“
Discussion Questions
1. Reflect on John 6:35, where Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst." How do you understand this statement in the context of spiritual sustenance and communion with God?
2. The sermon discussed the importance of Jesus' sacrifice and the metaphor of consuming His flesh and blood. How does this relate to our understanding of Jesus's death and the atonement for sin as described in Hebrews 9:22?
3. Considering the Lord's Prayer, particularly the line "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11), what does this request mean to you?
4. How can we apply Jesus' teaching to "seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33) in our daily lives, especially in light of the sermon's message about prioritising spiritual realities over earthly matters?
5. In the sermon, the cross was highlighted as a symbol of God's love and the atonement of sin. How does understanding the full significance of the cross change your personal approach to idea of discipleship, as reflected in Galatians 2:20?
6. As we prepare our hearts for Easter, how can we ensure that our focus remains on Jesus and the significance of His death and resurrection, in line with the sermon's invitation to embark on a Lenten Bible reading plan?
7. Reflect on John 6:56, where Jesus says, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them." How does this verse challenge or enhance your perception of remaining in Christ and the concept of eternal life?
8. In light of the sermon's emphasis on the Lord's Prayer, discuss how we can incorporate this prayer into our daily lives to maintain a constant reminder of our dependence on God's provision and forgiveness.