HOW WE REMAIN GROUNDED WHEN JESUS PROVOKES US?: INSIGHTS FROM THE HEART
HOW WE REMAIN GROUNDED WHEN JESUS PROVOKES US?: INSIGHTS FROM THE HEART
Blog Article
One early morning, due to jet lag, I found myself reflecting on John 6:67, where Jesus the Christ posed the question, "Will you also leave me?" This contemplation led me on a journey that I would like to share with you.
In this instance, Jesus speaks these unexpected words to His twelve disciples following what many considered one of the most confusing and, arguably, "unappealing" discourses of His public ministry up to that point.
The Context
Understanding the context is crucial: Jesus performed a miracle by feeding a multitude of approximately 20,000 people with just five loaves and two fish. When the crowd sought Him out, He revealed their true intentions, indicating that they were not pursuing Him for spiritual sustenance but rather for material gain. (This topic deserves its own discussion at another time). In His grace, He encouraged them to seek what is genuinely important—Himself. "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal" John 6:26–27.
The Peak of the Conversation Jesus then makes declarations that incite anger, confusion, and offense among His audience:
1. Drawing a Comparison with Moses: He juxtaposes His miracle of feeding "20,000 in a single day" with Moses’ provision of food for "millions of Israelites throughout their time in the wilderness." At first glance, Moses’ miracle appears to be more impressive.
However, Moses only offered temporary nourishment for forty years, and ultimately, they all perished (many in disbelief).
Jesus's Spiritual Growth, on the other hand, not only provided temporary sustenance but also promised eternal life to those who partake of Him, assuring that they will never die. (John 6:49-51).
2. Affirming His Divine Position: Jesus clarifies that it was not Moses who supplied the bread, but His Father, and reveals that He (Jesus) is the genuine bread from heaven (John 6:32-33). This reinterprets the significance and their comprehension of the miracle in the wilderness.