“You are what you eat”
The first time I read the gospel I was confused, like the Jews in the story. I asked, “What is Jesus on about?” Flesh and blood, eating and drinking, real food and real drink??
As I looked again and prayed for the Holy Spirit to help make some sense of what Jesus is saying, the phrase “You are what you eat” popped into my head. As a child we’re taught that what we eat affects our health and wellbeing e.g. chips or banana? lollipop or tuna?
Jesus is saying the same thing: “You are what you eat, so eat me.”
1. What does Jesus mean by flesh and blood?
Jesus is talking about his death on the cross. He’s predicting his death.
The conflict between Jesus and “the Jews” has been slowly escalating but now it’s unmistakable: there is violence in the air. There will be a violent encounter between Jesus and his enemies, in which his flesh will be pierced and blood poured out.
2. What does Jesus mean by eating and drinking?
What you eat and drink becomes part of your body and nourishes you.
Jesus is saying the same thing: “You receive nourishment when you eat my flesh and drink my blood” i.e. when you receive his death. His sacrifice on the cross is freely offered to you, to make it part of your life and body, to build you up and make you strong.
The word “eat” here literally means “chew”: Jesus invites you to chew on his death. Like sheep or cattle (and other ruminant animals) that chew cud, you are invited to chew on Jesus’ death and mull it over.
3. What’s the result of the diet?
If you go on a diet or change your eating habits it’s usually to achieve a desired result. Instead of eating junk food, you eat healthy food to feel better and live longer e.g. “the CSIRO total wellbeing diet” advertises it can help you lose weight & reduce risk of disease (diabetes, stroke).
We might call the diet Jesus talks about “the JESUS eternal wellbeing diet.” This diet also has a result: eternal life. Receiving Jesus’ death, chewing it over, getting nourishment from Jesus, leads to eternal life! Which diet can claim this?!
Application: What are you eating?
This week I urge you to consider what you’re eating. Where are you getting nourishment? Are you eating all the unhealthy things the world tempts you with? Money, power, prestige, a fun life that’s all about me, me, me? These things are just junk food and lead to death.
Jesus invites you to live “The JESUS eternal wellbeing diet.” He invites you to chew over his death, to work out what it means, to make it part of your life and body. When you consume Jesus’ death, you also share in his resurrection: eating his flesh and blood means you will be raised on the last day & have eternal life. Sounds like a pretty good diet to me!
We need to eat every day. Likewise, we’re called to receive Jesus every day. We don’t receive Jesus once, but rather we receive Jesus every day/minute/second. As you eat breakfast each morning this week, I challenge you to ask Jesus, “How will I receive you today? Where will I meet you today? What are you doing in and through my life this day?”
Let us pray. Dear heavenly father: thank you for sending Jesus and that he offers his flesh and blood for us through his death. We’re sorry for the times we consume the junk food the world offers — we’re sorry for focusing on ourselves instead of you. Help us to chew on Jesus’ death — to understand what it means for us today and make it part of our everyday life. As we are nourished by Jesus’ flesh and blood, make our faith strong, raise us up on the last day, and bring us to eternal life. Amen.
