RBWords

  

     What did Jesus do to cause the people to react the way they did?  He fed the multitude with the loaves and fishes.  Their reaction is understandable but mistaken.  He is not a "prophet/king" in the sense that the crowd understands it.  This would be one of the accusations of the religious leadership when he is brought before Pilate later on!  In this case, the only thing he could do is get away very quickly before the mob got out of hand!  It is only after this passage and the interlude of his walking on water that we get to the real message intended by the sign:  Jesus is the "bread of life."  This will become clear when we pick up, on Monday, the discourse for which today's sign serves as a "platform."

 

     There is an old "scholastic" dictum:  Whatever is received is received according to the manner of the one receiving it!  We may think we are in control of what we are doing or saying, but we really aren't!  Often we cry out:  "That's not what I meant!"  Anyone in a position of leadership knows this!  Scripture scholars tell us that the "messianic expectations" of the Jewish people at the time Jesus was living were quite diverse  The term, "the Prophet," could mean many things but Jesus had his own understanding, which would be a very difficult one to communicate, as we will see. 

 

     The Gospel of John uses misunderstanding as a way of advancing the story, but it is important to realize that it is we who are doing the misunderstanding and we must pay close attention and put aside our own agendas if we want to get the message!  AMEN