The Gospel of John: Real Food and Real Drink
Pastor Joy Patterson
In her sermon titled "Real Food and Real Drink," Pastor Joy Patterson delves into Jesus' challenging words from John 6:41-58 where He declares, "my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink." She begins by acknowledging the difficulty of understanding spiritual truths through earthly examples, comparing it to describing the Swiss Alps to someone who has only known the Saharan desert.
Pastor Joy explains that Jesus was prophesying about the New Covenant He would establish, even before the Last Supper occurred. She notes that when Jesus made these statements about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, He was seeding faith in His listeners, as "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). Though His words seemed grotesque or confusing to His audience, they carried profound spiritual significance.
The sermon provides important context about covenants in Scripture. Pastor Joy explains that in the Old Testament, covenants were established through animal sacrifices—the animals were cut open and their blood sealed the agreement. She references Jeremiah 31:31-34, where God promised a new covenant that would be written on hearts rather than stone. This New Covenant, Pastor Joy explains, is what Jesus was establishing through His sacrifice.
Drawing from Hebrews 9 and 10, Pastor Joy illuminates how Christ's sacrifice was superior to animal sacrifices because it could "cleanse our conscience from dead works." She highlights the powerful moment when "the curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle" (Luke 23:44-46) at Jesus' death, connecting this to Hebrews' statement that the curtain was Christ's flesh. This tearing represented the establishment of the New Covenant and removed the separation between God and His people.
Pastor Joy shares a poignant image of God the Father tearing His robes in grief and love as the curtain was torn, crying out "I love you" to both His Son and to all humanity. She emphasizes that Jesus gave His life willingly—"the bread I will give for the life of the world is my flesh"—as part of a beautiful partnership with the Father and Holy Spirit.
In the practical application portion, Pastor Joy challenges her audience to examine what they're spiritually feeding on. She contrasts the life-giving nourishment of God's Word with the "counterfeit" sustenance we often choose—social media scrolling, song lyrics, video games, and other distractions that momentarily satisfy but ultimately leave us spiritually depleted. She points out that when believers consume these things, they're also placing them before the Holy Spirit who dwells within them.
Pastor Joy concludes by reminding believers that the New Covenant is available to access daily, not just during monthly communion services. She invites those who have never entered the covenant to acknowledge their sin and repent, citing 1 John 1:9. For believers who have drifted from feeding on God's Word, she encourages a return to the table God has prepared, emphasizing that His covenant is stronger than any illness, lie, hurt, or agreement we've made. The sermon closes with an altar call inviting response to these truths.