June 8, 2023
Today’s Reading:
Daily Lectionary: Song of Solomon 5:2-6:3, John 6:1-21
Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” (John 6:5)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we are reminded that throughout the Scripture, God is the God who feeds His people and gives them what they need. God gave Adam and Eve the fruit of all the trees of creation save the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God gave Joseph’s brothers food to eat in the midst of a famine in the land for seven years. God gave the people of Israel manna and quail in the wilderness. And the list could go on.
In the New Testament we see the same story repeated over and over again. God in the flesh is the God who feeds His people and gives them what they need. Here in John 6, Jesus fulfills Psalm 23 and all the other Scriptures about God feeding His people. Jesus leads the people on the hillside, has them sit down, and feeds them.
Jesus then took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, He told His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
Like the prophets of the Old Testament, Jesus fed the people with the daily bread of God’s Word, His very Word, and the daily bread for their physical hunger as well. Not only does Jesus speak God’s Word, He is God’s Word in the flesh. Jesus is the very bread of God come down from heaven.
When Jesus feeds the thousands here in John 6 he is giving us a preview of the greater feast that is to come on the night when He is betrayed. When you come to the Lord’s table and receive the Lord’s body and blood, Jesus is doing the same thing for you that he has done throughout Scripture; Jesus gives you the daily bread of His body and blood. Jesus is the God who feeds you and gives you what you need, His very life. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Lord Jesus, You are the God who feeds us. Give us this day our daily bread with blessings for body and soul, at our table, and at the table of your holy altar, that we may have life in your name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
-Pastor Samuel Schuldheisz is Pastor at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA
Audio Reflections Speaker: Jonathan Lackey is an LCMS seminarian.
Study Christ’s words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.
