Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading 
John 6:27–40

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.”

Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.” (NRSV)

Reflection

Finding and following the will of God—why is that so difficult for us?

“Show us signs that we might believe. Moses gave us signs. What miracle will you do?”

Evidently they weren’t paying attention when Jesus fed the masses earlier in the chapter. So the ever-patient teacher tells them again. The bread provided by God through Moses was not eternal. Now God is feeding you (us) through Christ, the bread of life. The will of God is that you (we) follow the one God sent. To believe and to follow the example of Christ. These are actions rather than feelings, I think. By doing the things Christ did, we are (I am) filled. By giving of ourselves (myself), we are (I am) fed. Perhaps it’s not about me.

I remember learning this as a young teacher. The more I make it about the students, the more they learn and value the experience. Perhaps the same is true of our life as a church. The more I give, the more I’m involved, the more I risk doing things outside my comfort zone, the more I seem to receive.

Humans are seekers who have trouble knowing when they’ve found something. Perhaps this is why, just after Jesus finishes explaining that he is the bread of life and to follow his actions will lead to one’s fulfillment, the crowd says, “Wait a minute, isn’t this Joseph’s kid? Why is he lecturing me about how to live?” Seekers who only want to look through their own lens. No wonder we have trouble finding or discovering fulfillment.

Prayer

Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. Guide me to new actions and new outlooks. Adjust my lens to help me see your will and my part in it. Soli Deo Gloria. Amen.

Written by Robert Sinclair, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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