The Paradox of the Lord’s Supper

GOSPEL MEDITATION # 17

The Paradox of the Lord’s Supper

John 6:41–59 (also see Exodus chapters 16 & 17)

  1. Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
  2. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace.
  3. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
  4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
  5. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
  6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
  7. As recorded in John 6:35 we find Jesus saying, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” This, one of the seven “I am” statements in John’s Gospel, sets the tone for this meditation.
  8. The leaders of Israel “grumbled” when they heard Jesus’ statement. Just as the Jewish leaders grumbled about the manna and the water from the rock as found in Exodus 16 and 17.
  9. Jesus, this young man from Galilee, plainly states that He alone is the savior who has been sent down from heaven just as the manna was sent down from heaven during the Exodus.
  10. For a second time Jesus states that He is the bread that came down form heaven. At the time of the Exodus, the “fathers” ate the manna yet died.
  11. In stark contrast however, Jesus is the bread that came down from heaven, which bread when received brings everlasting life.
  12. Jesus says to His listeners, “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.”
  13. This powerful metaphor, and of course not to be taken literally as cannibalism was anathema to Jews, points to the crucifixion of Jesus where His body is killed and His blood is shed.

 

The Paradox of Striving and Resting

Paradoxes of the Bible # 15

The Paradox of Striving and Resting

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

  1. Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
  2. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace.
  3. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer.
  4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
  5. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
  6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
  7. Chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians is focused on the resurrection. Paul reminds the Church at Corinth about the gospel he preached to them, which is says is saving them but warns them to “hold fast.”
  8. Here is the paradox then, we are fully and completely safe in Christ yet we are to hold fast, strive and rest at the same time.
  9. Paul then goes on to remind the Corinthian brothers and sisters of what he proclaimed to them. First that Jesus died for our sin, was buried, was raised from the dead, then appeared to them, and even to Paul himself.
  10. Though “least” among Jesus’ followers, he received a complete welcome into the Church of God.
  11. It was all of grace, complete salvation; Paul did not save himself.
  12. The result of Paul’s salvation was that he “worked harder than any of them.” He did not work in order to achieve salvation, that was a done deal. No, the grace he experienced spurred him on to be the evangelical missionary he was.
  13. Even the hard work that characterized Paul’s life, this too was all due to the grace of God, a gift given.
  14. There is no greater gift, after salvation, than to be able to strive for all we are for the cause of Jesus.
  15. By this time Paul had experienced much opposition from those who hated Jesus. Paul, undeterred, pushes on despite it all.
  16. Every Christian can have this testimony to leave behind.

Paradoxes of the Bible # 15

The Paradox of Striving and Resting

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

  1. Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
  2. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace.
  3. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer.
  4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
  5. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
  6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
  7. Chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians is focused on the resurrection. Paul reminds the Church at Corinth about the gospel he preached to them, which is says is saving them but warns them to “hold fast.”
  8. Here is the paradox then, we are fully and completely safe in Christ yet we are to hold fast, strive and rest at the same time.
  9. Paul then goes on to remind the Corinthian brothers and sisters of what he proclaimed to them. First that Jesus died for our sin, was buried, was raised from the dead, then appeared to them, and even to Paul himself.
  10. Though “least” among Jesus’ followers, he received a complete welcome into the Church of God.
  11. It was all of grace, complete salvation; Paul did not save himself.
  12. The result of Paul’s salvation was that he “worked harder than any of them.” He did not work in order to achieve salvation, that was a done deal. No, the grace he experienced spurred him on to be the evangelical missionary he was.
  13. Even the hard work that characterized Paul’s life, this too was all due to the grace of God, a gift given.
  14. There is no greater gift, after salvation, than to be able to strive for all we are for the cause of Jesus.
  15. By this time Paul had experienced much opposition from those who hated Jesus. Paul, undeterred, pushes on despite it all.
  16. Every Christian can have this testimony to leave behind.

 

Paradox # 14 All About Prayer

Paradoxes of the Bible # 14

The Paradox of Prayer

Matthew 6:5–8; Romans 8:26–27; Philippians 4:4–7;

Hebrews 4:14–16; 1 John 1:1–4.

  1. Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
  2. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace.
  3. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
  4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
  5. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
  6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
  7. In Genesis we find the first humans in fellowship with their Creator. Face to face in the garden then all was lost and the direct connection was severed.
  8. Then followed untold millennia with only commands and attention to the details of sacrifice at the temple with priests as intermediaries. Still no personal fellowship.
  9. When the right time arrived, Jesus, by means of His person and work, made it possible to have a direct and personal connection with God. So personal that God the Holy Spirit actually indwelt those sons and daughters.
  10. We find then that God knows our needs before we ask Him while at the same time we are called to ask in any case.
  11. We also find that the Holy Spirit, living and abiding in each follower of Jesus, also prays for that follower with groans or words that are inexpressible. Truly incredible.
  12. We will ask however, why would the Creator God desire to have intimate fellowship with those who sin against Him? This drives us to the mystery of the love of God, yet we are told, “For God so loved the world.” And it is here that we find the call to prayer.
  13. Lovers most enjoy being able to be in close fellowship with each other, to talk at the deepest levels, to reveal all that can be revealed.
  14. So then, by means of prayer we have personal fellowship with our God. And this is but the beginning. At the end of the age, we will be in face to face communion once again.