How do we feed upon the Word of God?

A mother feeds the body of her child with food.

A teacher feeds the mind with information.

Jesus feeds the soul with spiritual truth using the Bible.

The devil poisons the mind with false doctrine. He tempts the soul with wicked suggestions. He even tempted Jesus Mat 4:1-11.

Feeding upon the Word of God

Writers are continuously feeding people’s minds with ideas – some good and some bad.

“As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country” Pro 25:25. One ‘drinks in’ good news like a thirsty person drinks cold water. Similarly with feeding.

Jesus quoted the Bible: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God” Mat 4:4.

What does this imply? It indicates that those who do not feed upon the Word of God are spiritually dead – dead in their soul. This is biblical doctrine and this is what Jesus taught. They need spiritual life, which comes from God through His Holy Spirit.

I have great joy in reading and studying the Christian Bible, having fellowship with God as I drink into my soul the words of eternal life. Jesus says: “The words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life” Jn 6:63. They are living words through which His Holy Spirit imparts spiritual life 1Pe 1:23. The apostle Peter tells us that the Holy Spirit has now recorded what we need to know in the Holy Bible 2Pe 1:19-21.

Feeding upon Jesus Christ

Jesus said to His audience: “Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” Jn 6:53-54.

What did He mean? Some people understood it literally and because of this many of His disciples gave up listening to Him Jn 6:60-66. This literal interpretation of Jesus’ teaching is quite common. The same happened with Nicodemus who understood Jesus’ teaching on being “born again” in a literal manner Jn 3:3-7. Roman Catholic teaching continues to do so, but it is evident that Jesus is speaking spiritually.

So what does Jesus mean by calling Himself “the living Bread that came down from heaven” Jn 6:48-58? We need bread, or food, in order to live. We will die without food. Jesus means that we need Him to have spiritual life. How?

Why does Jesus say that we must feed upon His flesh?

In explaining feeding upon His flesh, Jesus speaks about His body and His blood Jn 6:53-56, which is a reference to His own death by crucifixion. He explained this when He instituted the Lord’s Supper Mat 26:26-29, referring to His “broken body” and His “shed blood” Mk 14:22-25, which the Christian Church continues to commemorate according to His commandment 1Cor 11:23-26. He means that we must feed upon the teaching and meaning of His atoning death at Calvary Lk 23:33-34.

Those who believe in Jesus Christ and His atoning death for His sinful people 1Tim 1:15 are feeding upon Christ’s broken body and shed blood, and they have eternal life from God’s Holy Spirit, and the forgiveness of their sins for Jesus’ sake.

We learn about this in the Christian Bible, which the Holy Spirit has given to us Jn 16:10-16, and as we drink in the refreshing news that God has provided a Saviour, and as we learn how Jesus has done so, we feed upon Christ. As we trust His atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins, we are feeding upon Christ’s body and blood.

There are many other things to feed upon in the Bible.

If you find any part of the Bible difficult to understand, then pray to the Holy Spirit, Who gave it to us, through Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest Who is in heaven to intercede for sinners Heb 4:14-16.

If you find it difficult to believe in Jesus Christ, and some do, then seek Him through Bible reading and praying to Him. Come and welcome to Jesus Christ.