Friday, November 16, 2018

Grace and Truth, John 6:22-71


This was a difficult chapter for me to unravel, with many truths from Jesus hard to understand and hard to accept.

It was the day after Jesus fed the five thousand, which caused many to follow him and seek him out. Jesus told them he knew they only came, not because they cared about him, but because they’d eaten the bread. He warned them not to strive only after physical goods, which will not last, but for what will last for eternity.

Jesus told them he is the bread of life, and that he would give his life for the world. He said that those who eat his flesh and drink his blood are the only ones who will have eternal life.

After a long time to study this, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we know that Jesus is talking about spiritual things. But at that time, people grumbled against him, and many of his followers left him.

It seems that Jesus showed his human feelings then, asking if his close disciples would leave him too, and Peter gives one of his great statements:

Verses 68-69 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Some of this chapter is hard to understand, but some things are easy, and I cling to these.

Verses 28-29 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Verses 37-40 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

3 comments:

  1. Hi Kathy,
    I remember after collecting clothing and school items for a village in Kenya, I had the opportunity to distribute what I had collected. I became very anxious because the entire village lined up. I had only two suitcases of goods, and it seemed so insufficient. But I kept praying as I handed out items, shirts, socks, shoes, and whatever. Everyone in the village received something! I don't know how I had enough! It seemed like God blessed the goods and multiplied them. But these things don't happen in today's world, I thought. However it happened, there was enough for everyone! I called it God's Sufficiency. That verse always reminds me of how God as God stretches little things to meet people's needs, he stretches our faith.
    Love you!
    Amy

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  2. Reminds me of a man we met who, while on mission in Haiti, lived in a house in which the fresh water tank had to be filled by truck. He wanted to be generous to his neighbors, so he left a hose through the fence posts day hours, maybe 8-5. Something led him to think that wasn't enough, so he stopped bringing the hose in, and left it out full time for community use. He said that once he stopped only sharing during the day, for the rest of his year there, he did not have the tank filled.

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  3. Kathy, your blog this week gives me much to ponder and meditate on. The things Jesus said are truly amazing. Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving!

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