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Columba Comments...
Short reflections written by members of our
congregation
9 August 2009
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Scripture: John 6.35, 41-51
Exploration
“I am the bread of
life .” This is the first of eight “I am” statements—the others are:
I am the living bread that came down from heaven (6.51);
I am the light of the world (8:12; 9:5);
I am the gate for the sheep (10:7, 9);
I am the good shepherd (10:11, 14);
I am the resurrection and the life (11:25-26);
I am the way, and the truth, and the life
(14:6);
I am the true vine (15:1, 5).
These are powerful symbols of the nature of divinity found in Jesus.
In comparing the living bread with the manna given in the
wilderness, the message is that something much better and more
powerful is given here. What is given is ‘eternal life’.
Eternal life in John’s Gospel is different to resurrection life.
Eternal life is something we experience in the present. It means
sharing in God’s life now. It is living in relationship with God.
Resurrection life is something for the future.
Eternal life comes through seeing and believing in Jesus (v 40, 47).
Later verses show it also comes through eating Jesus' flesh and
drinking his blood (v 54), and (by implication) listening to Jesus'
words (v 68).
God draws people to Jesus. This is not like bugs being drawn to a
light. God is active in the drawing, like hauling in a net full of
fish. God takes the initiative. The means of drawing us in is
through his teaching. What Jesus says is irresistibly attractive.
There’s a catch, though. You can draw a horse to water but can’t
make it drink. Likewise, people can be attracted to Jesus but still
not believe in him.
For us who believe, we have to give God all the credit. God drew us
to Jesus. God gave us our faith in Jesus. God gives us eternal life
now. Jesus will raise us up on the last day.
This is a message worth proclaiming.
Trevor Burt
Questions for Reflection
- Bread nourishes and sustains life. In what ways is Jesus
‘bread’?
- What is eternal life? How do we gain it?
- After people are drawn to Jesus, how can we help them make the
next step of believing?
- What nourishes your faith?
- Jesus, bread of life, sustains us through the Eucharist. How
do you cope with the idea of eating Jesus’ ‘flesh’?
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