Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

August 25, 2024

Sermon Text: John 6:51-69

Other Readings: Joshua 24:1-2,14-18 and Hebrews 11:24-28

 

1. Explain what Jesus means when he says, “The flesh counts for nothing” (John 6:63).
   1. Jesus’ flesh and blood in Holy Communion don’t do anything for us
   2. The body is less important than the soul
   3. We cannot spiritually rely on human strength or reasoning because it’s corrupted by sin
   4. Other

 

2. While Jesus mentions eating his flesh and drinking his blood and while the words of institution for Holy Communion sound very similar, it seems wisest to say that Jesus is not directly talking about Holy Communion. After all, one does not have to take Holy Communion to have enteral life but Jesus does state that “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (v. 53). So, theologians refer to this eating as “spiritual eating,” that is, faith in general. Based on that, do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Explain your position.

Agree or Disagree? “John 6 does not directly refer to the Lord’s Supper, but spiritual eating is required to properly receive the Lord’s Supper.”

 

3. What is a teaching in Scripture that you struggled with (or do struggle with) because it seems offensive and/or hard to understand?

 

4. In your experience with other people, what are some teachings of Scripture that they find offensive or hard to understand? What words, phrases, or verse(s) from this text could you use to help them work through that?

 

5. Of all the names that Peter could have used for Jesus, he used “the Holy One of God.” Why might he have used that name? How does that name strengthen your faith in Jesus?

 

 

1. Letter “c” is the best answer. We know that Jesus’ flesh and blood benefit us in Holy Communion because he and St. Paul (in 1 Corinthians 10 and 11) say so. We know that God cares deeply about our bodies because the Son of God took on our flesh and retains his human body even after his resurrection so that our bodies will also be raised. Jesus here is using “flesh and blood” as a way to refer to the whole person before conversion so as to contrast what the Holy Spirit does in and after conversion (John 6:63 and 3:6).

 

2. We agree with the statement. To properly receive Holy Communion and benefit from it, one needs faith to receive the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation offered in it. Then what about the eating of Christ’s body and blood that we do in Holy Communion? That is often called sacramental eating because while we do take in Christ’s true body and blood, it is not done in the same way that we eat and digest steak.

 

3. Answers may vary based on personal perspective. If there are teachings of Scripture that you currently struggle with, do not let it be a sign that you are a bad Christian or even an unbeliever. Simply commit yourself to what Scripture says and to prayer so that the Holy Spirit can help you work through it.

 

4. Answers will vary based on personal experience; thus, so also will applications from this text. That said, verses 63 and 69 can help frame many conversations. Verse 63 reminds us that any conversation of Scripture ultimately has to submit itself to the authority of Scripture and approach it with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, not sinful human reason. Verse 69 reminds us that everything Jesus teaches us is to help us attain eternal life.

 

5. “The Holy One” is a key name and concept in the Book of Isaiah, a prophet who lived about 700 years before Christ came to earth. Isaiah contains many key prophecies about what the Messiah would do. So, in many ways, “the Holy One” is a way of identifying Jesus as the Messiah/Christ, especially since Peter acknowledges that Jesus is “of God,” that is, he has come from God. It strengthens our faith to know that even though Jesus is the Holy One of God, he came not to destroy sinners who entered his presence but to give them his holiness which leads to everlasting life.