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Columba Comments...
Short reflections written by members of our
congregation
2 August 2009
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Scripture: John 6. 24-35
Exploration
We continue
reflecting on Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel where Jesus feeds the
5,000, walks on the Sea, and converses about living bread.
Three forms of bread are referred to, somewhat interchangeably: the
barley bread that the crowd ate, spiritual bread that comes from
heaven and nourishes, and Jesus himself who brings eternal life.
John is not relating the details of a historic event here, but is
using an event to make theological points. We need not get caught up
in the details, but rather, we gain most by asking—What is John
saying to us?
A strong theme that emerges is that the crowd doesn’t understand who
Jesus is, despite the signs. They continue to misunderstand.
A sign is of no value in itself. Street signs are a means to an end,
for instance. In John’s Gospel miracles are called signs, and the
people get caught up in these miracles. They want to know how Jesus
got to Capernaum—”Rabbi, when did you come here?” The last thing
Jesus would say is “I walked on the Sea.” Another miracle, another
sign to be misunderstood, another thing to distract.
The crowd also misunderstand about work—What work of God must we do?
they ask. Jesus notes that God does the work, and the result is
belief. Faith is a gift from God, not something earned or rewarded
for effort.
Another theme is control. Last week we heard how the crowd wanted to
make Jesus king by force. Now they say, “Give us this bread (from
heaven) always!” We hear echoes of the Samaritan woman at the well,
“Give me this living water.” (Ch 4).
The answers to these questions are found in relationship, “Come to
me.” The passage concludes by bringing the living water and the
living bread together—I am the living bread. Whoever comes to me
will never hunger or thirst again.
Questions for Reflection
- What do you gain by being a member of this church?
- The crowd seeks Jesus for the signs—why do you seek Jesus?
- Do you struggle to receive God’s offer of eternal life as a
free gift, or do you feel you have to work for it?
- Despite believing in Jesus, we get hungry and thirsty. How can
you grow in your relationship with God in Christ?
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