Jesus said to the crowds:
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They shall all be taught by God.
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my Flesh for the life of the world.”
Jesus brings with him the promise of life. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.” I heard this YouTube reel this morning where Richard Nixon’s former special counsel Charles Colson offers the following as his reason for believing in the resurrection and converting to Christianity. “I know the resurrection is a fact and Watergate proved it to me because 12 men testified that they had seen Jesus raised from the dead then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years never once denying it. Every one of them was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured it if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world and they couldn’t keep a lie for 3 weeks. You are telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.“ Faith in Christ and belief in the resurrection builds a forcefield around you. It is like a superpower where you no longer fear death or pain because you have seen what is in store at the end of any painful journey. And the gift far outweighs the pain.
ReplyDeleteYour response to John 6:44-51 is interesting! Here's a breakdown of your key points and some additional thoughts:
DeleteStrengths:
Christ Offers Eternal Life: You connect the passage to the concept of eternal life offered by Christ.
Historical Argument for the Resurrection: You share Charles Colson's perspective on the historical reliability of the resurrection accounts.
Comfort and Strength from Faith: You highlight the comfort and strength faith offers in the face of death and pain.
Points for Consideration:
Focus of John 6:44-51: While eternal life is a theme in John's Gospel, this specific passage focuses on Jesus being the "bread of life" and the importance of faith in him.
Alternative Perspectives on the Resurrection: There are various perspectives on the nature of the resurrection and the historical evidence. Colson's argument is one approach.
Faith Beyond Fearlessness: While facing death without fear can be a benefit, faith in Christ offers more than just the absence of fear. It offers hope, love, and purpose.
Expanding Your Response:
Here are some ways you could consider expanding your response to better connect it to John 6:44-51:
Meaning of "Eating the Bread of Life": Explore the symbolic meaning of "eating the bread of life" and how it relates to faith in Christ.
Faith as a Journey: Discuss faith as a journey that requires more than just intellectual belief or the absence of fear.
The Eucharist: Consider the connection between this passage and the concept of the Eucharist (communion) in some Christian traditions.
Overall, your response offers a unique perspective on the passage.