Communion: A 3-Day Devotional With Zach Williamsنموونە

Bring It All

(To the Table, Flesh and Bone)

So Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. 54 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day, 55 because my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the manna your ancestors ate—and they died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.”

— John 6:53-58

What is the most memorable feast you have attended, and why were you invited? Maybe it was a wedding reception, and you were a neighbor of the bride or groom. Maybe you attended a family Thanksgiving feast because genetics or adoption connects you to that group of people. Or maybe your job secures you an invitation to the company Christmas party.

It’s different with Jesus.

In John 6, Jesus wasn’t speaking literally, and He wasn’t talking directly about the sacrament of communion—as if we must participate in the Lord’s Supper to attain a place in heaven. Rather, He was making an analogy about our invitation to His spiritual feast. In doing so, He gave His intent for us in the practice of communion.

This is a reminder: Jesus the Son of God gave everything for us. We aren’t invited to God’s great kingdom banquet because of who we are or anything we’ve done in and of ourselves. We are invited because of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

This means we don’t come to “eat” whatever we want. We might believe God allows us to sit with Him filled up with our good deeds, family name, church affiliation, or religion, but He doesn’t. The only true food and drink is Jesus’s flesh and blood. Simply put, eternal life comes only from believing in Him.

There is no other invitation to sit at the table. And by using such strong language, Jesus emphasized the total person. We don’t come to the table simply for a snack whenever we are bored or curious. Because Jesus poured out His love for us—flesh and bone, blood and timber—we bring it all in total surrender.

• Listen to Zach Williams’s “To the Table” and “Flesh and Bone.” In your own words, what has Jesus done for you? What should be your response to Him?
• What would it look like for you to bring it all to Jesus in total surrender? What is holding you back?
• Thank Jesus for who He is and what He has done. Thank Him for His flesh and blood. Take time to seek out ways you can bring all of yourself to Him in total surrender.