Saturday 15 July 2023

Psalm 73:1-14

Background

This chapter in John’s Gospel begins with an eager crowd of thousands of men, plus many women and children, who wanted to hear Jesus speak. They followed him all over the place with such persistence that he needed to get away on his own. The mood has changed rather however by the end of the chapter. Now, not just the crowds but also many of those who had been loyal followers were disappearing. 

There had been excitement, hope and anticipation because here was someone who seemed to hold the answers and actions the Jews needed in face of Roman oppression. However, once the crowds heard Jesus’ explanation of his nature, it seems they vanished. The Jewish audience in the synagogue took offence at his words. Now we hear that many of those who had been with him for some time, decided his message was too hard to swallow and the risk of continuing with him too great. Would the apostles think the same? Were they ready for what was to come? As was so often the case, Peter spoke on behalf of them all, whether with their authorisation or not. These 12 men, who were with him throughout the three short years of his ministry on earth, leaving family behind much of that time, had made declarations of faith and commitment, and had gone out to minister in his name. At this moment they could not imagine any alternative person or group to follow, though, as we know, when the crunch really came, one (Judas) gave him up to the authorities, and the others melted away or denied him.

The discussion in this chapter has been about who Jesus was. Was he just a man from Nazareth, or was he from heaven? Was he like the manna given to the Israelites in the desert by God which didn’t last, or was he God present with them always?  Was he a cause of offence or God drawing all people to him? Was he the life of God from whom we can receive life in abundance?

To Ponder:

• You may have had just one moment of decision to follow Jesus, or maybe you’ve had several key moments. What led up to the decision(s) and how did you feel afterwards?
• To what extent was this a rational, thinking or debating process? And to what extent was it about feeling drawn to Jesus and then feeling there was nowhere else you could go?

Prayer

Bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore. Amen.