New Testament 149

New Testament 149 May 6, 2015

 

The Sea of Galilee from right near ancient Capernaum Photo by Berthold Werner (Wikimedia CC) Click to enlarge.
The Sea of Galilee from right near ancient Capernaum
Photo by Berthold Werner (Wikimedia CC)
Click to enlarge.

 

John 6:26-59

 

Jesus’ famous “Bread of Life” sermon, given in the synagogue at Capernaum, is recorded only in the gospel of John.

 

And — I hope I’ll be forgiven for saying this — its setting features elements of humor.

 

In John 6:26, Jesus tells the multitude who’re following him that their motives are somewhat low; they don’t care about spiritual things so much as they care about food.  (He had just miraculously fed them.)  “Do not labor for the food which perishes,” he admonishes them, “but for the food which endures to eternal life” (6:27).

 

Well, they respond in 6:30-31, okay.  But we need a sign from you so that we can have confidence in your claims.  How about . . . um, giving us food?

 

On a more serious and profound note, I’m struck by 6:33, where the Savior explains that “the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.”

 

We should think, in this context, of the opening lines of the gospel of John as a whole (1:1-14).  And we should think of God, and of his agent in creation, the Son, as the authors of order and life in our universe.

 

Powerful stuff.

 

 


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