Feeding on Jesus (By Fr. Ogoe, based on John 6:54-58)

 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever. (Jn 6:54-58)

In chapter 6 of the Gospel of John, we are given one of the most profound and precious revelations of God’s love for us in Christ Jesus: those who believe in the Son of God are invited to nourish themselves with his Body and Blood. Wow! This is the greatest nourishment any person can dream of! This indeed is the best of God!

The Bible is full of convincing proofs of God’s love for his children. But this reaches its climax when God offered his only Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. If you are not sure about that, pay attention to what St. Paul said: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39). The list goes on . . . Nothing will be able to separate those who believe in Christ from God’s love for them. The Father has given us the ultimate proof of his unconditional love for us: “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).  Jesus revealed himself as the Son of God come to demonstrate the Father’s love. Jesus’s sacrificial death as atonement for our sins represents God’s best. If you are looking for proof, there you have it! Listen again to what St. Paul said: “He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?” (Rom 8:32).

Let us return to the Gospel of John: Here, Jesus goes very deep, revealing the love plans of God for his children. As if Jesus’s atoning death is not enough, he now reveals that he will give his Body and Blood as real food and real drink for us. And he meant it! At the Last Supper, he did exactly that, leaving us the memorial of his atoning sacrifice as nourishment. Can you imagine that? This is God’s best. Here is the beauty of being under the New Covenant cut in the Blood of Jesus: You do not have to worry about trying to become like Jesus. All you have to do is keep feeding on Jesus! Feed on his Word! Feed on his Body and Blood! Keep feeding on him. That is all.

Listen to what Jesus himself said: “Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me” (Jn 6:57). Did you hear that? Jesus says the one who feeds on him will have life because of him. That is a powerful revelation! If you keep feeding on Jesus, you’ll unconsciously become like him. You will be living good life without even realizing. All you need to do is to feed on him. Jesus does not need you to be holy before you can feed on him. All he wants is for you to believe in him as your Savior. If you keep feeding on Jesus (God’s best for you!), you’ll be filled with abundant supernatural life. His life in you will overflow into good works. It will overflow to the people in your life. It will overflow into every area of your life. You will become healthy and strong in all things! Do you believe this?

 In Psalm 36: 8-10, David declares: “How precious is your love, O God! We take refuge in the shadow of your wings. We feast on the rich food of your house; from your delightful stream you give us drink. For with you is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light.”

Beloved, I hope this revelation will spur you on to greater faith in Jesus. Enjoy Jesus. Feed on Jesus. Feast on Jesus. Feed on God’s best for you. Feed on his Word. Feed on his Body and Blood. You know the result.