In today's section, we read about:
Jesus feed the 5000 and walks on water
Jesus claims to be the Bread of Life; the Light of the World; the gate for the sheep; the Good Shepherd; the resurrection and the life; the Way, the Truth and the Light; and the true grapevine
Jesus teaches that he is the Son of God and rebukes the people for not acknowledging this
Jesus refuses to condemn the woman caught in adultery and heals a man born blind
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead
The last supper where Jesus washes his disciples' feet, promises the Holy Spirit and warns his disciples to remain in him
Some thoughts that occurred to me:
Although the feeding of the 5000 appears in all the gospels, it is only John who tells us about the young boy whose lunch was taken. What would he have felt when this all unfolded? Did he offer the food voluntarily? If so, what an inspiration of how God can take the little we have (although it probably seems a lot more to us!) and use it way beyond everything we could possibly imagine. Even after everyone has eaten their fill, there are 12 baskets left over!
In 6:20, we see what Jesus says when the situation threatens to overwhelm the disciple - "don't be afraid. I am here." These men were serious sailors, and yet Jesus being with them was all they needed!
Works vs faith - 6:29 shows that much is semantics that confuses us needlessly, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” cf Eph 2:8-9.
The people miss the point completely in 6:30-31. The miracle comes not from Moses, but from God. They want manna (which means 'what is it?'), but Jesus offers us not a 'what', but a 'who' - himself.
As well as the fact that what is required is to be believe (not to try to earn by what we do), we are reminded that everything comes from God, He is the first mover - 6:44, "For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up." 6:63 as well, "The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life." 6:65, "That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
7:24 - "Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly” - cf 1 Sam 16:7, "The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
I like the response of the guards who had been sent to arrest Jesus on why they hadn't done so - 7:46, "We have never heard anyone speak like this!” The whole scenario in chapter 9 is farcical. The Pharisees are so blinded by their desire to be proved right in their denial of who Jesus is that they make themselves look completely and utterly ridiculous, bringing in the man's parents even though he was a full grown adult. Even the man who was healed can see how ludicrous the whole episode is, but comes out with a great line in 9:25, “I don’t know whether he is a sinner. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”
I wonder why none of the other gospels tell the story of Lazarus. This was clearly a huge event which made an enormous impact on people around (12:9-11, where the priests even wanted to kill poor Lazarus!)
I may be totally off the wall here, but it seems that John really has it in for Judas, and is indulging in a bit of post hoc rationalisation. I can accept some of them, but he seems to go over the top in 12:6. I don't think it's important, just an observation.
The whole theme of sacrifice is one that isn't one that is often emphasised a lot. But I was struck by the way in which 12:24 sums up both Jesus' mission and the way in which he makes absolutely no bones about what is necessary for him to do to achieve what the Father has in mind for him - " I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honour anyone who serves me."
One verse from today - " I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die" (Jn 11:25-26).
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