Embracing Mystery: Nourishment Through Union with Christ

 

Summary

In a world that constantly pushes us toward complexity and busyness, there is a deep invitation to return to simplicity, to the basics, and to the table—where true nourishment is found. Life can easily become a drudgery when we lose sight of these foundational things, and we begin to feel isolated or alone. Yet, the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 offers a profound picture of what it means to be truly nourished—not just physically, but spiritually and relationally. Jesus, weary and hungry, finds his strength not in food, but in doing the will of the Father and abiding in deep union with Him. This mysterious union is a theme that runs throughout the Gospel of John, culminating in Jesus’ radical invitation to “eat my flesh and drink my blood”—an invitation into a seamless, abiding relationship.

There is a mystery at the heart of our faith, a tension we are called to sit in rather than resolve. We are stewards of the mysteries of God, not because they are unknowable, but because they are truths that cannot be fully explained by human logic. The Christian life is not about having every answer, but about learning to abide in Christ, to feast on Him, and to let Him reveal what He desires in His timing. Religion often tries to explain away mystery, delay the reality of heaven until after death, or create division over what cannot be fully understood. But the invitation is to embrace the mystery, to live from the reality of our union with Christ now, and to let that union become our source of life and transformation.

Jesus is the mirror of God’s intention for humanity. He shows us what it means to be fully alive, fully human, and fully connected to the Father. Our nourishment comes from abiding in Him, just as He abided in the Father. This is not a striving or performing, but a resting and receiving—a participation in the divine life. Communion, the table of the Lord, is a tangible expression of this mystery. As we partake of the bread and the cup, we are not just remembering His death, but celebrating His resurrection, His ascension, and our oneness with Him. We are invited to feast on Him, to let Him be our sustenance, and to trust that everything else flows from that place of abiding.

Key Takeaways

- Embracing the Tension of Mystery
The Christian journey is filled with mysteries that cannot be fully explained or reasoned out. Rather than striving to resolve every question, there is a deep spiritual maturity in learning to abide in Christ and let Him reveal what He desires, when He desires. This posture of trust and surrender opens us to deeper revelation and intimacy with God. [13:44]

- Nourishment Through Abiding, Not Striving
True spiritual nourishment does not come from striving, performing, or waiting for our needs to be met before we rest in God. Instead, it is in the very act of abiding—remaining connected to Christ and doing the will of the Father—that our souls are fed and our lives are transformed. The miracle we seek is often found in the abiding itself. [09:34]

- Union with Distinction: The Mystery of Oneness
Our union with Christ does not erase our individuality, but brings us into a mysterious oneness where we remain distinct yet fully joined to Him. This mirrors the unity within the Trinity and the union of marriage—distinct persons, yet one in purpose and love. Living from this union is the foundation of our identity and calling. [25:36]

- Communion as Participation in the Divine Life
The table of the Lord is more than a memorial; it is a participation in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. As we partake, we are invited to receive all of Christ—His healing, His victory, His presence—without needing to fully explain the mystery. The bread and cup become a means of abiding, a tangible way to feast on Him and be sustained. [42:41]

- Letting Everything Flow from Abiding
When Christ becomes our focus and our feast, everything else—our needs, our waiting, our transformation—flows from that place of union. Rather than pulling at God for specific outcomes, we are invited to simply abide, to let Him nourish and sustain us, and to trust that He will work in us and through us as He desires. This is the heart of living in the tension of mystery and the joy of the Christian life. [47:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:39] - The Call Back to Simplicity and the Table
[03:06] - The Samaritan Woman’s Encounter and Its Ripple Effect
[05:32] - Jesus’ Mysterious Nourishment: Doing the Father’s Will
[08:03] - Abiding as Spiritual Nourishment
[10:55] - The Living Water and Bread of Life
[13:44] - Embracing Mystery and Stewarding the Unexplainable
[16:35] - Heaven, Eternity, and Living from a New Reality
[19:27] - The Incarnation: Jesus as Fully God and Fully Human
[21:25] - Jesus as the Mirror of God’s Intention
[23:23] - Union in the Trinity, Baptism, Communion, and Marriage
[25:36] - The Mystery of Oneness and Union with Distinction
[28:13] - The Offense and Invitation of “Eat My Flesh, Drink My Blood”
[33:54] - The Seamless Union: Abiding in Christ
[38:07] - Abiding Before Doing: The Source of Identity and Action
[42:41] - Communion: Embracing the Mystery at the Table
[47:49] - Abiding, Feasting, and Letting Everything Flow from Union
[52:37] - Receiving All of Christ: Transformation and Healing
[55:30] - Living in Expectation and the Tension of Mystery

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Abiding in the Mystery and Nourishment of Christ

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### Bible Reading

- John 4:1-42 (Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well)
- John 6:53-58 (Jesus: “Eat my flesh and drink my blood”)
- 1 Corinthians 4:1 (“regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God”)

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### Observation Questions

1. In John 4, what physical and spiritual needs are present in the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman? How does Jesus respond to both? [05:32]
2. According to Jesus in John 4:34, what is the source of his nourishment? How does this differ from what the disciples expected? [05:32]
3. In John 6:53-58, what does Jesus mean when he says, “eat my flesh and drink my blood”? How do the people respond to this teaching? [29:21]
4. What does Paul mean when he calls believers “stewards of the mysteries of God” in 1 Corinthians 4:1? [13:44]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus uses the language of food and drink to describe our relationship with him? What does this say about the kind of connection he wants with us? [34:46]
2. The sermon talks about “abiding” versus “striving.” What is the difference between these two ways of living out faith? Why is abiding so important for spiritual nourishment? [09:34]
3. The idea of “union with distinction” is mentioned—being one with Christ but still ourselves. How does this shape the way we see our identity and purpose? [25:36]
4. The sermon says that embracing mystery is a sign of spiritual maturity. Why is it sometimes hard to sit in the tension of not having all the answers? How can this posture actually deepen our faith? [13:44]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon invites us to return to simplicity and “the table.” What is one area of your life that has become unnecessarily complicated or busy? How could you intentionally return to simplicity this week? [01:39]
2. Jesus found nourishment in doing the will of the Father, even when he was physically tired. Is there a place in your life where you are waiting for your needs to be met before you rest in God? What would it look like to abide in him right now, even in the waiting? [09:34]
3. The message challenges us to embrace mystery instead of always needing answers. Can you think of a spiritual question or area of your life where you feel tension or uncertainty? How might you practice “sitting in the tension” and trusting God to reveal what you need in his timing? [13:44]
4. When you take communion, do you tend to focus only on remembering Jesus’ death, or do you also celebrate his resurrection, ascension, and your oneness with him? How could your experience of communion change if you approached it as a participation in the whole life of Christ? [42:41]
5. The sermon says, “Let everything flow from abiding.” What is one practical way you can shift your focus from striving for outcomes to simply abiding in Christ this week? [47:49]
6. The idea of “union with distinction” means you are fully yourself and fully joined to Christ. Is there a part of your personality or story that you struggle to bring into your relationship with Jesus? How might you invite him into that area? [25:36]
7. Think about the last time you felt spiritually dry or isolated. Did you try to “fix” it by doing more, or did you try to rest and receive from Jesus? What could you do differently next time to let him be your sustenance? [09:34]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help you abide in him, to embrace the mystery of faith, and to let your life flow from your union with Christ. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas where you are striving instead of resting, and to nourish you with his presence this week.

Devotional

Day 1: Nourishment Through Abiding in Christ
True nourishment comes from abiding in Christ and doing the will of the Father, not merely from physical sustenance. Jesus, weary from his journey, was revitalized not by food but by fulfilling the Father's purpose, showing that spiritual nourishment is found in union with God. Just as our bodies are sustained by food, our souls are sustained by remaining connected to Christ, allowing his life to flow into every part of us. When we abide in him, we receive the strength, peace, and purpose that we truly need, even in the midst of our own weariness or waiting. [07:40]

John 4:31-34 (ESV)
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

Reflection: Where in your life are you striving for satisfaction or strength apart from abiding in Christ? What would it look like today to pause and let him be your true source of nourishment?


Day 2: Embracing the Mystery of Faith
The Christian life is full of mystery, and we are called to steward these mysteries with faith rather than needing to explain or control everything. There are truths in God that cannot be uncovered by human logic or reason, but are revealed by the Holy Spirit as we walk with him. Instead of striving to have every answer, we are invited to sit in the tension, trust God’s goodness, and allow him to reveal what we need in his timing. This posture of humility and wonder opens us to deeper revelation and intimacy with God. [13:44]

1 Corinthians 4:1 (ESV)
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Reflection: What is one area of your faith or life where you feel uncomfortable not having all the answers? Can you bring that to God today and ask for the grace to trust him in the mystery?


Day 3: The Mysterious Union—Oneness with Christ
Jesus reveals that we are invited into a mysterious union with him, just as he is one with the Father, and this oneness is the foundation of our identity and purpose. This union does not erase our individuality but transforms us as we abide in him, allowing his life to flow through us. In marriage, communion, and baptism, we see pictures of this union—distinct yet deeply connected. Jesus is the mirror of God’s intention for us, showing us what it means to live fully alive, connected to the heart of the Father. [23:23]

John 17:20-23 (ESV)
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

Reflection: How does knowing you are invited into oneness with Christ change the way you see yourself and your relationship with God today?


Day 4: Feasting on Christ—Receiving True Life
Jesus calls us to “eat his flesh and drink his blood,” a call to receive his life as our sustenance and to celebrate our seamless union with him. This is more than a symbol; it is a spiritual reality where we are nourished, sustained, and transformed by his presence. In communion, we remember not just his death, but his resurrection, ascension, and ongoing life in us. As we habitually feast on him, we discover our true identity and are empowered to live from his life within us. [34:46]

John 6:55-57 (ESV)
“For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.”

Reflection: As you take communion or spend time with Jesus today, what does it mean for you to truly “feast” on him and let his life become your own?


Day 5: Simplicity and Thanksgiving at the Table
Returning to the table—communion—is a call back to simplicity, gratitude, and the sustaining presence of Jesus in our daily lives. The table is not just about remembering Christ’s death, but also his resurrection, victory, and the joy set before him. Each time we partake, we are invited to focus on Jesus himself, to receive all his benefits, and to let him nourish and refresh us anew. In this place of thanksgiving and simplicity, we find unity with him and with one another, and everything else flows from that abiding relationship. [41:38]

Luke 22:19-20 (ESV)
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

Reflection: How can you intentionally return to the simplicity and gratitude of the table today—whether alone or with others—and let Jesus be your focus and your sustenance?

Quotes

Jesus is the mirror of God's intention for us. He's holding up a mirror and says, this is who you were created to be. From the foundation of the earth, this is what God was going for. That you would look like this. You would sound like this. You would be connected to the heart of the Father because he loves you. He made you in his very image and his likeness. [00:21:47]

An encounter with Jesus can change everything. And it changed her life. But it didn't just change her life. Like, it changed her village. [00:03:50]

He replied, if you only knew the gift of God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me and I would give you living water. I would give you living water. Jesus replied, anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. [00:11:43]

The gospel, the good news, is actually offensive, and it will offend your mind. It will offend people's minds. And God's okay offending our mind. What he's doing is he's connecting to our heart, and that begins to train and teach and transform our mind. [00:29:45]

The eating of my flesh and drinking of my blood is the celebration of our seamless union. You in me and I in you because you won't find you until you find me. [00:35:27]

If we just learn to abide and we begin to do the will of the Father, that it becomes actually nourishment for our soul. [00:10:00]

We remember and celebrate him. We receive him and all his benefits. We partake of him, this great mystery, and he nourishes, refreshes, and sustains us. [00:42:54]

There are some things in this life, in this walk with God, that you're not going to be able to explain. You're not going to be able to reason it. And you may even have trouble explaining it, because some things just take faith. I don't know how it happens. It just happens. He says it. I believe it. That settles it. [00:14:42]

We are already living from heaven. We are already living in and from eternity. [00:18:18]

You're what we need. You are our nutrition. You are the one that sustains us and nourishes us. And I feel like everything else flows from that. And I'm saying to you, like some of you, like you're still sitting in the midst of attention of something you're waiting for. You're waiting for God to do. You're waiting for a miracle. You're waiting for a change. You're waiting for a promise. And I'm asking you in this moment, it's not that you're fully letting go of that, but it's not the focus right now. That he becomes the focus and he becomes the meal that you're feasting on this morning. That you're feasting, you're abiding, and there's union. And I believe that from that place, everything else flows. [00:48:10]

Chatbot

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1. How does abiding in mystery deepen spiritual nourishment?
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