Word to the Wise
Tuesday, April 17, 2018 - 3rd Week of Easter - Tues
[Acts 7:51-8:1a and John 6:30-35]TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018. TUESDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER [Acts 7:51-8:1a and John 6:30-35] The crowd said to Jesus: “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and Ives life to the world.” So they said to Jesus, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” [John] The dialogue/discourse after the multiplication of the loaves and fishes is known as the “bread of life discourse.” The question from the crowd is interesting because one might assume that they had just witnessed that multiplication, which could remind them of Moses and the manna in the desert. Scripture scholars tell us that this may reflect debates taking place at the time the gospel was composed. In any case, the stage is set for Jesus to declare what the sign is going to be. I have already noted such things as the “Amen, amen...” statements, and we have another one here. There is also misunderstanding/explanation. One might go back to the dialogue with the woman at the well at John 4:15 to see a very similar response. There the woman thinks Jesus will give her a steady supply of water. Here the crowd asks Jesus: “Sir, give us this bread always,” thinking of a steady supply of food. Jesus responds with another “I AM” statement: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” The discourse is moving toward two important things for our faith. First, our faith in Jesus is the source of eternal life. It is that faith which enables to accept what is coming up in this discourse about Jesus giving us his flesh to eat and his blood to drink. We are coming to that soon, but first we will hear more from Jesus about the power of faith in him and his mission. More of that tomorrow. AMEN
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