Beyond the Weekend

July 22 | Communion

July 22, 2022

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:54

Read: John 6:35-54
Listen: 
John 6

TODAY’S MESSAGE

When Jesus explains to the crowd he’s more than Moses, the group gets confused quickly. Jesus first says he is the bread from heaven. Then he says they need to eat his flesh and drink his blood to have eternal life (John 6:54-56). The Jewish law forbids eating human flesh and drinking blood (Leviticus 17:10-11). The crowd is disgusted and walks away without further clarification.

Jesus speaks figuratively. He tells his disciples, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life (John 6:63).” Jesus’s meaning is spiritual and not clear to those listening. He’s referring to the cross and how his flesh will be sacrificed in our place and his blood shed to seal the new covenant God will make with humanity. His death is the final sacrifice for all sin for all time (Hebrews 10:12). Those who believe he died in their place will have eternal life.

Jesus makes this symbolism clear at the last supper when he “took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to [the twelve], saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’  In the same way… he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’ (Luke 22:19-20).” This past weekend we celebrated communion. We ate bread and drank juice to honor and remember Jesus’s death on the cross. Communion reminds us where real life comes from and what it cost.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Offer a prayer of gratitude to God for giving his Son to be the Bread of Life for us. Thank Jesus for taking your place on the cross so you can be with God for eternity. Thank the Holy Spirit for helping you understand Jesus’s teaching and drawing you to God so you can have real life.


2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE

Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse! View previous verses at beyondtheweekend.org/biblememorypractice.

JEREMIAH 31:33

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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