Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.
John 6:27a
Well, this a pretty straightforward metaphor concerning our relationship with our own future. Nothing we haven’t heard before— don’t get so caught up in the now that you forget the really longrange planning that needs to be done to make sure we have earned our way to be with Christ forever. This is great advice, and like most great advice, hard to take on board.
John, Chapter 6, is one of the chapters in the Bible you can read over and over again and see something illuminating and new each time. It is chock full of mystery (can two measly fish and five loaves of barley bread really feed the gathered crowd?) and adventure (Jesus walks on the water!) and answers many questions the Jews have been struggling with (Who are you EXACTLY?) It is also filled with beautiful language — “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (KJV)” The language Jesus uses in this chapter of John is compelling and, if you are ever in the throes of doubt, I would recommend that you read John 6 in the King James Version.
In the end, this straightforward metaphor challenges us to keep moving forward through our lives always aware that the greatest sustenance we can take is available for each and every one of us right now—the knowledge that Christ loves us, sacrificed his body for us, and waits for us.
JoEllen Kelly
