“Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” (John 6:56) – no wonder people distance themselves from Jesus.  “This is a hard saying” (John 6:60).

The context of John 6 is important. The listeners ask: What should we do? (28) Jesus replies: Believe in me (29). To which the listeners replied: How do you prove to us that you are the promised prophet? Moses gave us bread from heaven (30-31).

Now Jesus takes up this illustration. “I am the bread of life” (35).

Those who desire for a life with God receive Jesus into their lives and he becomes part of us, just as bread and drink feed our bodies.

Through us, the kingdom of God becomes visible.

Not all listeners understand the message of Jesus. They get stuck in the literal sense and do not understand the spiritual message.

Even if we (flesh and blood) do not understand everything, trust in Him (=faith) is the key.

In describing Jesus (Revelation 1:14-16), John seems to be struggling for words.

I find the image of the resurrection of Jesus on the Isenheim Altar very appropriate. The face of Jesus shines like the sun.

This is how I imagine how John saw Jesus. For his face shines like the sun (Revelation 1:16). So it is obvious that John is blinded and does not see everything clearly.

The statement is: The bruised Jesus is now a majestic appearance. The symbol of beauty and perfection. I don’t know if we would have chosen the same words. But the picture that John had of the crucifixion and what he now saw was like day and night.

The two-edged sword in the mouth of Jesus does not fit into the picture. But Simeon already said about Jesus in Luke 2:34-35: “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

With our reaction to the words of Jesus we judge ourselves.

In his introduction to Revelation, John focuses on the central person of the book.

Jesus is the divine person visible to us.

He is the origin and source of all things and will bring everything to completion.

Jesus’ characteristic is that he loves us. “Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood” (Revelation 1:5).

He is the high priestly king for his churches and leads us back to our destiny. As priests (Revelation 1:6) and representatives of God, we be present to serve and encourage one another.

the gifts of genius that ensured the survival of the Jesus family.

In Haggai 2:8 God says, “Gold is Mine.” Jesus is not just any child; God is paying the bills.

Incense represents purification, worship, and prayer. The life of Jesus is a ministry to God.

Myrrh disinfects and heals. Myrrh reduces the pain of life.

Sometimes we wish our security in advance. But it is a characteristic of God that he often intervenes at the crucial moment. The gifts of the wise men also came at exactly the right moment – just before the escape.

The gifts were easy to take with them and all served well as payments. God knows, what we need, when.

Matthew tells us that Jesus will be born as King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2). The astrologers from the east call him that. In John, after the multiplication of bread, the people’s desire was to make Jesus king (John 6:15). He refuses.

Being a king according to their ideas is not his.
Continue reading Christ the King Day →