pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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The Spirit Gives Life

Reading: John 6:22-7:10

John 6:51 – “Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of this world is my flesh.”

After feeding the 5,000, the crowd realizes that Jesus is “missing.” They follow the disciples by boat to Capernaum and find Jesus already there. They ask how he got there. Ignoring their question he implies they are looking for more bread. Jesus encourages them to work for “food that endures for eternal life” – the food that he will give. The crowd wants to know what to do to receive this bread. Just believe in the one sent by God. The crowd, though, wants a sign, something like the manna. Their hearts and minds are stuck in the concrete and tangible. Jesus tries to get them to understand the spiritual.

Jesus first reminds them that it was not Moses who gave the manna. He says that in the same way God has once again sent bread from heaven. The crowd desires this bread. To them Jesus says, “I am the bread of life.” Eat and never be hungry. Believe and have eternal life. Their ancestors are manna and died. Eat from Jesus and never die. He declares, “Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of this world is my flesh.”

The crowd is lost. How can one literally eat his flesh and drink his blood? Jesus says this is necessary to remain in him and for him to remain in them. They are stuck in the literal. They grumble. This is a hard teaching. Jesus reminds them that the Spirit gives true life. He’s inviting them to think spiritually. The flesh cannot do this. God must enable people to believe in and to receive Jesus. Many cannot hear what Jesus is saying. Many turn away and no longer follow him.

Jesus asks the 12 if they want to leave too. Peter asks, “Where would we go?” Peter declares that Jesus holds the words of eternal life and is the one sent by God. The 12 believe. Jesus’ brothers struggle. They want him to go to Judea, to “show yourself to the world.” Jesus tells this his time has not come yet. Or has it come?…

Prayer: Lord God, sometimes we too get stuck, get hung up on something, fail to understand. Here we too can struggle with belief. In these moments, Lord, may the Holy Spirit lead and guide us, opening our hearts and minds to your will, your way, your plan, your purposes. You are truly the word of life. Thank you. Amen.


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Produce Fruit

Reading: Matthew 3: 7-12

Verse 8: “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance”.

Many people were coming out into the wilderness to see John the Baptist. It was your typical Sunday morning crowd this day in Matthew 3. Many came to hear John’s call to repentance and to be baptized in the waters of the Jordan River, symbolizing being made clean. Some came to support those making a choice to seek a new life. They had walked the narrow road since coming to see John themselves. Some came because they thought they should. Their minds were on a million other things and their hearts were even further from faith in God. But this day, some came to see the show. They would gather later, to ridicule it within the safety of their little circle.

This day the usual preaching and baptizing comes to a screeching halt as John yells out, “You brood of vipers”! I bet you could have heard a pin drop. He asks them who warned them to “flee from the coming wrath”? He is calling them out for coming to the river and then returning to their unrepentant lives later that afternoon. The Pharisees and Sadducees do not even think about stepping into the river. Why would they?

This would be like our communion stewards going to someone who remained in the pew instead of coming forward and being told, “No thanks. I’m good – haven’t sinned since I took communion last month”. We may be taken aback by such a thought, but there will be folks who move with the crowd, who take communion and just go through the motions. They will move through the line, they will take the bread and the juice, without ever searching their hearts, without ever seeking to repent of their sins. They will go through the motions planning on returning to life as it was.

John says to the Pharisees and Sadducees, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance”. Live lives that look like you have repented of your sins. Live lives that look like you love God and neighbor more than you love yourself. Don’t just appear to love God and neighbor. Really love them in concrete and practical ways. Love God and neighbor in ways that make them feel loved by you.

John proclaims that one day Jesus will “gather his wheat into the barn”. Live lives worthy of being gathered into Jesus’ barn. Produce fruit that builds the kingdom of God both in your heart and in the hearts of others.

Prayer: Lord, show me today how to love you more and to love others more. Convict me when I fall short of what you call me to. Guide me by your Holy Spirit to be your love in the world today. Amen.