The world belongs to God
The earth and all its people
How good and lovely it is
To live together in unity
Love and faith come together
Justice and peace join hands
Song “I raise a hallelujah”
Let us in silence remember our faults and failings
Christ have mercy on us, and deliver us from our sins and may we amend our lives
Amen.The Lords Prayer in our own language
Song “Im leaning on you”
Reading John 56-69
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206%3A56-69&version=NIV
Reflection
The crowd are looking for Jesus. He has left the place where the feeding of the 5,0000 took place, so they cross over to the west side of the lake. They have got into boats that have arrived from Tiberias, and on landing at Capernaum, they go looking for Jesus. They are somewhat confused, wondering how he was able to get to the other side of the lake, given that he didn't leave with his disciples. He walked over the water. Jesus questions their motivation., Have they come after him for more free food or for more signs? Jesus then calls on them to work for a food that does not rot away, a food for eternal life. The crowd then ask Jesus for yet another sign, like the manna Moses gave the children of Israel in the desert. Havent they seen enough!
The structure of the whole passage hangs on the discourse.
"Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever", v53-59.
"This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?", v60;
"the Spirit gives life .... The words I have spoken .... are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some ... who do not believe", v61-67.
"Do you want to go away as well?", v67.
"Lord, to whom shall we go?" v68
"have I not chosen you ..?" v69-71.
John places this dialogue in the synagogue at Capernaum. The context is the build-up to Passover. The imagery has moved from loaves to bread. Often when our bellies are full, our soul seeking is dulled. What is required of us is to ask for the bread of life. This is the opposite to an ideology of scarcity. All can be fed. The bread from heaven is for the world. The emphasis on signs reverberates with us in the present day. We are often lured by superficiality rather than real substance.
There is grumbling from the Jews as well as his disciples. We don’t know the make up of this group but Peter, says, somewhat desperately says, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of life."
If they are offended at his words what will happen when they see him arrested, convicted, tortured and killed. They wanted a warrior Messiah who would free them from the Romans. Disciples and others? Eating and drinking Jesus blood and body is hard to understand. So if his statement that he is the source of life through death offends them, what are they going to think when they see him ascend to heaven?! v61-62. Does this shake your faith?!
The disciples say that the Spirit is the source of life, not words, not flesh and blood. "Not so", says Jesus; "the words I have spoken to you are both Spirit and life." Our human spirit, psyche, soul, infused with the words of Jesus, produces life, like eating the bread of heaven. Its not dualistic. Jesus gives life and food. Some of them don’t believe it and set out to betray him. Some leave. Its too much to bear. He turns on the others and asks if they want to leave too, but Peter knows there is nowhere to run. Jesus is now talking to the twelve disciples.
Do we have recognized the truth when we see it in our age of so many lies and deceptions or have we become too cynical?
"You have the words of eternal life."
Song “He will hold me fast”
We pray for people and situations we are concerned about including Afghanistan, dealing with climate change, people having to go back into lockdown, for the desperate people crossing the sea in dinghies, continuing deaths from Covid 19, unrest in many other countries, protection for key workers, for people on low or no incomes, for those who are vulnerable in any way, , for those who are alone and those suffering with depression.
May we not fail you. Amen
Song “In Christ Alone”
The blessing of God be upon you
On those you love and those you meet
This day and forevermore. Amen
With thanks to Rev Brian Finlayson
