Category: John

Read John 6:60-71

Jesus’ teaching was not easy to understand. If he was indeed the Messiah, then why wasn’t he saving them from the oppression of the Roman authorities? Why wasn’t he showing any strong military tendencies? Jesus, the Messiah, was the savior of the world, a much bigger assignment. Yet his words were confusing. He was not saying what the people expected. He was not telling them what they “wanted” to hear.

People who had been following him left. Jesus even gave the Twelve  an opportunity to leave, too. (Did you like how “Twelve” was capitalized to distinguish them from the disciples?) Peter spoke for the group when he said, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.  We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”  Continue reading “John 6:60-71 – Outta Here”

Read John 6:22-59

The people are eager and looking for Jesus. They figure out a way to find him. What are their motives? Jesus suggests they want more food or to see him do something else amazing. Instead, they request to learn how to do amazing things, too. Jesus’ counsel to them is simple. He told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” I’m not sure that’s the answer they were expecting, certainly not hoping for.

If that is our message today, as well, it’s simple yet very difficult. We need to believe in someone we have not seen. The people Jesus was speaking to directly had seen him. He was in their presence. Yet, what was their response? They asked to see more. They fondly remembered their hero, Moses who had fed manna to their ancestors. But this was bread from heaven supplied by God, not Moses. They got the story a little mixed up. Continue reading “John 6:22-59 – Bread of Life”

Read John 6:16-21

Right on the heels of Jesus’ miracle of feeding 5,000 people, we have another. Jesus walked on water. How often have we used that phrase, “walked on water” to signify that someone is holy or set apart? We are definitely seeing God’s power, the wind of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, all present at this moment. There is a fancy word for that, theophany. There are similar accounts in two of the other Gospels. John’s version is the shortest, I believe.  Continue reading “John 6:16-21 – Walking on Water”

Read John 6:1-15

Today’s reading, the feeding of the 5,000, is told in all four gospels. This is an important message for us. Let’s watch a re-enactment of it as told by John’s gospel HERE.

There are some differences between the versions, but I’m not going to focus on those. Instead, what struck me today was how hungry the people were. I’m not necessarily talking about a hunger for food, but for something deeper. It’s like Jesus had this magnet inside him and the people were drawn to him and wanted to swarm him everywhere he went, much like celebrities today who have to fight off paparazzi. Jesus was so much more than a famous person, he was God. Continue reading “John 6:1-15 – Hungry?”

Read John 5:31-47

What a day. First Jesus heals the man at the pool, and then it’s showtime. Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders who are less than pleased. Have you ever been in the “hot seat”? Meaning, caught off guard and not prepared for questions or what is being asked of you to do? It’s uncomfortable. But not for our Lord. He may have wanted to avoid confrontation, but it was likely to happen. It had to happen.

So what did  Jesus have to say? His words probably rocked the world of those listening. However, they listened with deaf ears. Jesus even said their approval or disapproval means nothing. He told them the love of God was not inside them. Imagine if he said that about you – it would hurt me at least. These leaders were too focused on rules and regulations, man made not God made. There were blind to see that God was standing right before them. The Son of God. Continue reading “John 5:31-47 – Jesus Reveals Himself”