John 6:41-59
“Notice what you notice.” Today we continue the exchange between Jesus and “the crowd” that follows John’s account of Jesus walking on the water. As is often true for me in John’s accounts of Jesus’ conversations with Jewish leaders and others, I find it hard to see how Jesus is answering the questions they are asking. And I can fully understand the confusion reflected in their questions based on His prior responses, as in Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’? (their question in v. 42 based on His words in vv. 35-40) or in How can this man give us His flesh to eat? (their questions in v. 52b based on His words in vv. 48-51). To me there are always some transition sentences missing in Jesus’ replies!
Following the conversations is less important than reading Jesus’ spoken word. Today’s verse that hit me was verse 44, No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. That verse is particularly relevant today, in that Carol and I just left my younger brother Dickie (Richard) a few hours ago, whose prostate cancer has spread to his lymph nodes and who has fundamental problems with Jesus because no one can prove to him that God exists. And if there is no God, then Jesus is no different than Buddha or Confucius or even Ghandi. We spent a good deal of time with him in pleasant conversation trying to find the right words to say. He is facing possible end-of-life issues and his salvation is more important to us than his health. But clearly we don’t want to lose him, especially in his current faith state. We need the Father and His Holy Spirit to forcefully draw him. Could you please pray with us?
Slava Bohu!