Psalm 69; Jer. 22:13-23; Rom. 8:12-27; John 6:41-51
Jehoiakim was one of the sons of Josiah, one of the reforming kings, a man who is described this way: Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him. Jehoiakim, however, paid tribute to Pharaoh and made himself more or less a vassal king and Israel a client nation of Egypt for the first 8 years of his reign. He “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” During his reign Nebuchadnezzar came down against him and laid siege to Jerusalem and the final three years of his reign he was a vassal king of Babylon, it is said that Nebuchadnezzar made him his servant. The prophet warns Jehoiakim against his course of action as king and calls him to be like his father and yet holds out no hope that he will indeed turn to the Lord. His wealth is increasing and therefore he believes he can do as he pleases.
Who does he think he is? That is the question they begin to ask when Jesus refuses to provide more bread. The day before they wanted to make Him king because He had provided for them and today they suddenly remember he is the son of Joseph and Mary yet He claims to come from heaven. He is pointing them to the bread from heaven, even those who ate the manna died in the wilderness. In those words and the command to stop grumbling among themselves Jesus is reminding them of the generation which came out of Egypt and their constant grumbling against Moses and the Lord and their fate was that they did not enter the land. Here, He says that not all will enter the kingdom of God either, only those the Father draws and it will be on the basis of believing in Him. What He says is indeed difficult to accept if you think you know who He is, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Those are the boldest words any man could ever speak and yet they have reason to believe based on the signs He has done.
Paul says that we are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him. Why is suffering with him necessary? What purpose does that serve? I believe that it is indeed necessary so that we will indeed know the need of redemption and so that we can groan with creation for the coming of God’s kingdom. We and all creation participate in the fall but even in a fallen state this world is a wonderful place, there is much to attract us and delight us and if we do not know suffering in some measure we can become attached to the world and its delights but God calls us to desire more. Have we accommodated ourselves too much to the world to groan for the coming of His kingdom to want something more and better?
The bread that I will give
Is My flesh for the life of the world
And he who eats of this bread
He shall live for ever
He shall live for ever
And I will raise him up
And I will raise him up
And I will raise him up on the last day
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