Theological Term of the Week

Bread of Life Discourse
Jesus’ teaching discussion on the bread of life found in John 6:22-58.  

• From scripture, an excerpt the bread of life discourse:

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:47-51, ESV)

• From The God Who Is There by D. A. Carson:

Jesus says he is the Bread of Life and unless we eat him we will die. At a superficial level, the notion of eating Jesus might sound jolly close to cannibalism. Or those of us who are more religiously inclined might think, “Maybe it’s the sacrament of holy communion or something like that.” Originally, that was not what Jesus meant at all. We must not forget that in the ancient world just about everybody worked with their hand or on farms, so they were closer to nature than we are today… . [I]f you were to ask anybody in the first century where [food] came from, they would reply, “From plants, fish, and animals.” They have grown or caught this food themselves. So anybody in the first century knows that you live because the chicken died… . All of this organic material that we feed ourselves with—which we must have or we die—has given its life for us in substitution… .

Either you die or something else living dies so that you may live. Jesus picks up on that language and says, “Unless you eat my flesh, you will die. I die so that you may live.”

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Heidlberg Catechism

Question 26. What do you believe when you say, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

Answer: That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them, (a) and who likewise upholds and governs the m by his eternal counsel and providence,(b) is, for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father. (c) I rely so entirely on him that I have no doubt that he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body (d) and further, that he will make whatever adversity he sends me in this valley of tears turn out for my good, (e) for he is able to do it as Almighty God, (f) and willing to do it as a faithful Father. (g)

(Click through to see scriptural proofs.)

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Sunday's Hymn: Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Saviour, like a Shepherd lead us,
Much we need thy tend’rest care;
In thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.

We are thine; do thou befriend us,
Be the Guardian of our way;
Keep thy flock, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Hear the children when they pray.

Thou hast promised to receive us,
Poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
Grace to cleanse, and pow’r to free:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Let us early turn to thee.

Early let us seek thy favor;
Early let us do thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Saviour,
With thy love our bosoms fill
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still.

— Dorothy A. Thrupp

Fernando Ortega

Bethany University Choir

Piano by Rick Betts

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• Be Thou My Vision at Graces Daily
• ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus at The Happy Wonderer
• Be Still, My Soul at Luma Simms
• Beyond Sects at Tried With Fire
• Lord’s Day 9, 2014 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Lifting Up Our Hearts - 18 at The Upward Call
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: It’s alive!
• The Treasury of David: Psalm 16:5 at Theology for Girls

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.