John 6:56-69 nrsv
New Revised Standard Version
56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me,
and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the
Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that
came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died.
But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” 59 He said these things
while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
The Words of Eternal Life
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This
teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” 61 But Jesus, being aware that his
disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? 62
Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I
have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there are some who do
not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not
believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65 And he said, “For this
reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the
Father.”
66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no
longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to
go away?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the
words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the
Holy One of God.”[a]
John 6:56-69
The Message
53-58 But Jesus didn’t give an inch. “Only insofar as you eat
and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the Son of Man, do you have
life within you. The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and
drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day. My flesh
is real food and my blood is real drink. By eating my flesh and drinking my
blood you enter into me and I into you. In the same way that the fully alive
Father sent me here and I live because of him, so the one who makes a meal of
me lives because of me. This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread
and later died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always.”
59 He said these things while teaching in the meeting place
in Capernaum.
Oh Lord this reading is hard…we have been
talking about this for weeks and yet Jesus goes on speaking about the bread of
life, about him being the bread of life and how we must consume that bread and
drink his blood. Ugh! Does he have to be so graphic? Why
is this so hard to hear? Why do his own followers walk away?
I have to tell a story Now this is kind of
telling on someone, but we had a congregant back in NoHo who stopped coming to
church because at communion we were eating of the flesh and drinking the blood
of Christ and that was cannibalism.
One commentator believes we need to move away
from the metaphor...
“In Jewish culture, the idea of eating meat
with blood was taboo. In fact, it was a prohibition given to humanity in general
after the flood in Genesis 9: 4. The Law repeats this prohibition to the people
of Israel (Lv 17:11, 14; 19:26; Dt 12:23). In addition, blood and fat were the
parts of the animal that were to be given exclusively to God in the sacrifices
(Lev 3: 16-17; 4: 18-35; 9: 18-20). Thus, the reference to the flesh and blood
in these words of Jesus has nothing to do with the Eucharist (although
historically it has been interpreted that way and some believe that this
section about flesh and blood was added to the original discourse) , but with
the sacrifice of the tabernacle or the temple that restored or celebrated the
communion between the believer and God. Truly, we must not concentrate on the
metaphors of bread / meat / blood that Jesus uses throughout the chapter, but
on what is done with those elements: eating. To eat the manna in the desert was
to receive life. To eat the separated loaves for the priests of the temple was
to have communion with God. Also to eat the sacrificed meat on the altar was,
for the believing Jew, to have communion with the same God. Eating is
synonymous with accepting, receiving, believing, trusting, welcoming, staying,
etc., all words that the Gospel of John uses repeatedly to describe the
challenge with which Jesus confronts us-the obligation of the true disciple or
the true disciple. to remain faithful to the Lord and to remain in communion
with Him. And given the context of sacrifice in the words "flesh and
blood," the nuance here is that we must accept Christ, not only descended
from heaven but also raised on the cross (Jn 3:14). In this approach, according
to which the person and the way of Jesus are understood both through the cross
and through the resurrection, all the gospels are in agreement.”[1]
I like his explanation sort of but for me it
robs John’s Gospel of it’s approach though he does keep the heart of the
message.
How does Johns Gospel open?
In the beginning was the
Word,
And the Word was with
God,
And the Word was God.
This [Word] was in the
beginning with God.
Everything came to be
through [the Word],
And apart from [the
Word] nothing at all came to be.
What came to be in [the
Word] was Life,
And the Life was the
light of human beings.
And the Light shines in
Darkness,
And the Darkness did not
master [the Light] ….
The Genuine Light, which
enlightens every human being, was coming into the World.
He was in the world,
And the world came to be
through [the Light];
And the world did not
know [the Light].
[The Light] came to his
own,
And his own did not
accept him.
But as many accepted
him,
He gave them power to
become children of God.
[They were the ones] who
believed in his name,
Who were not born of
blood,
Nor of will of flesh,
Nor the will of man,
But of God.
And the word became
flesh…[2]
The commentator wants us to move away from
metaphor and struggle with the literal concept of consuming that which feeds us
with God at table. But I hear something different if we listen to how John
opens this Gospel with Metaphor as Jesus being the Word of God with us from the
beginning through which all things are made then the word became flesh and
walked among us ministered to us taught us and then returned to heaven leaving
us nothing but…His word, the word. We are called to feast upon the
word of Christ. We are called to feast upon the Gospel.
“Eating is synonymous with accepting, receiving,
believing, trusting, welcoming, staying, etc., all words that the Gospel of
John uses repeatedly to describe the challenge with which Jesus confronts
us-the obligation of the true disciple or the true disciple. to remain faithful
to the Lord and to remain in communion with Him.”[3]
I suspect some people in Jesus’ crowd heard
these words with this exact interpretation some did not but those who were
challenged by Jesus words used the excuse that his words are too hard. Much
like the young man asked how to get to heaven…he was already doing what was
easy for him. Keeping the Sabbath…Tithing, feeding the hungry…So Jesus says
let’s go a step further sell all you own give it away and follow me…the man
went away sad because the call was too hard….
“Throughout this chapter's discussion about the
bread which gives life, Jesus' words have been greeted with misunderstanding,
confusion, and objection from the crowd, referred to either simply as
"they" or "the Jews." In verse 60, we hear about the
reaction from the "disciples" (in John not to be equated with
"the twelve"; see verse 67). We may expect better things from them.
After all, they were the ones who sat together with Jesus at the beginning of
this text, who followed Jesus' instructions in gathering up the leftovers of
the bread and fish, and who were rescued from the storm at sea by Jesus.
Perhaps most importantly, we expect that "the disciples" belong to
"us," and not to "them."
Thus we may be stunned when we hear that the
disciples are now the ones who are bothered by what Jesus has said. We may have
been tempted to simply write off the rest of the crowd as stubborn and obtuse,
but the reference to "the disciples" sounds uncomfortably close to home.
In verse 61, the disciples begin to grumble (NRSV "complain"), just
as "the Jews" did in verse 41. Here, the problem seems not so much
that the disciples have difficulty understanding what Jesus is saying; they
understand quite well but cannot believe and follow what Jesus has said. How
often do we find the same to be true about ourselves?
As has been Jesus' habit throughout this
conversation, he meets objections by sharpening the point of his message,
raising the offense rather than softening it, and thereby bringing the
conversation to a crisis. In verse 62, Jesus points to his "going up"
(NRSV "ascending"). We may think first of Luke's ascension scene, but
we need to remember that this is John's story, and in John's telling Jesus
returns to the Father by being lifted up on the cross.”[4]
Some of the followers of Christ can already see
where all this is leading there have been a few hints along the way as Jesus
has upset some of the Leadership of the community. This is too hard…others just
hear the literal as opposed to the metaphor and do not even try to understand and
dismiss Jesus. Others are still seeking literal food not understanding that
they will just be hungry again and not fulfilled.
Another commentator reflects;
“The text tells us: "Since then many of his
disciples went back and no longer walked with him" (v. 66). Why did they
stop following Jesus? Is it because they did not understand the way Jesus
offered the eternal bread? Is it possible that some have believed that Jesus
would give them a bread that literally would not end? In a society of scarcity
like Jesus’, the idea of endless sustenance would undoubtedly have attracted
many. But we see through the scriptures that God's plan has never been to serve
as a food-providing machine. The earth in its fullness has always been able to
supply humanity and the creatures of the world with what is necessary. But
human greed has created systems of inequality that favor a few and leave most
people in a state of need.”[5]
This statement made my mind jump my train of
thought, honestly my mind often jumps the track, but this time it jumped to a
good track, I hope, for this led me to think about feeding the hungry and what
it means especially since one of the greatest inequalities in this world
remains food!
I see by your web page that you all collect food
for the outside the gates food Pantry. I read there was a box just outside
the narthex. So I have made a contribution. It is not a lot when you read
their wish list;
Meat & Protein Items: Peanut butter; Canned meats (ham, chicken,
tuna, Spam, salmon); Canned stews and chili; Bean soups; Canned or dried beans
Canned Vegetables (any kind)
Canned Fruit (any kind)
Grains/Cereal:
Assorted breakfast cereal; Oatmeal; Grits; Pasta; Rice; Crackers; Flour;
Cake mix; Cornbread mix, Pancake mix, Granola bars, etc.
One-Dish Boxed Meals: Mac & Cheese; Tuna Helper; Hamburger
Helper; Rice-A-Roni; Scalloped potatoes; Mashed potatoes; Stuffing mix
Heat & Eat:
Soup (any kind); Ravioli; Spaghetti & Meatballs; SpaghettiOs; Corned
beef hash; Pork & beans; Baked beans
Oils & Condiments: Cooking oil; Sugar; Salt; Pepper; Other
assorted spices; Mayonnaise; Ketchup; Mustard
Other:
Jelly; Jam; Syrup; Jell-O; Pudding mix; Canned evaporated milk; Non-fat
dry milk; Instant coffee; Tea; Hot chocolate
Non-Food Items:
Toilet paper; Soap; Toothbrushes; Toothpaste; Combs; Shampoo; Dish
detergent; Laundry detergent.
Every little bit helps.
But what does it mean to be hungry? Bread for the
world explains it this way.
“Everyone feels hungry on a daily basis.
Most people are able to satisfy this craving and need. Even if not immediately,
they can count on having a meal or snack within hours. This is not the type of
hunger that Bread is concerned with.
People who suffer chronic hunger don’t have the
option of eating when they are hungry. They do not get enough calories,
essential nutrients, or both. People who are hungry have an ongoing problem
with getting food to eat. They have a primary need — how to feed themselves and
their children today and tomorrow. They have little energy for anything else…
It is commonly known that the cause of hunger in
the world is not a shortage of food but rather access to food.
Some people are hungry because food is in short
supply in their area and for a specific reason. It may be because they can’t
afford to buy enough food. It may be both.
Some countries have a “hunger season” every
year. It's when the previous harvest is gone, and the next harvest is not yet
ready. It can last as long as three or four months.
The U.S. doesn’t have that kind of a hunger
season, but for many families, some weeks are hungrier than others. These
usually come toward the end of the month, as families run short of food before
they have money to buy more. People can’t simply decide to spend less on rent, but,
if necessary, they can spend less on food.
For many low-wage workers, retirees, people with
disabilities, and their families, even careful planning cannot stretch the
grocery budget throughout the month. Less expensive — and less nutritious —
filler foods can keep children’s stomachs from growling, but they can’t provide
what children need to grow and learn. Adults who are missing meals because they
can’t afford to buy food can’t concentrate as well at work…
People in certain conditions, whether they live
in the developing world or the United States, are extremely vulnerable to
hunger. A month of bad weather for a farmer or an illness for a worker and a
loss of income can mean less food and the prospect of hunger.
Food insecurity is the more formal term for this
condition. People living with food insecurity lack a stable, reliable means of
getting the meals they need.”[6]
I thought I could share a few statistics with
you as well. According to second harvest;
“On March 31, 2021, Feeding America released
local-level food insecurity projections for 2021 which show that food
insecurity has remained elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels for 96% of
counties. In Central Florida, Feeding America projects that 13.8%, one in seven
people and 20.1%, one in five children, live in households that may be food
insecure in 2021.
The study, The Impact of the Coronavirus on
Local Food Insecurity in 2020 and 2021, provides a snapshot of food insecurity
at the state, congressional district and county level prior to the pandemic and
presents the likely impact the ensuing economic crisis has had on food insecurity
levels in the U.S. In addition, for the first time, Feeding America has
produced local-level projections of very low food security, a more severe range
of food insecurity that involves reduced food intake and disrupted eating
patterns.”[7]
“95 million more meals a year are needed to fill
the hunger gap that exists in Central Florida.
One in seven people are facing hunger in our
community.
More than 500,000 people in Central Florida
don’t know when or where their next meal will come.
One in five children in Central Florida face
hunger.”
“What are the Effects of Food Insecurity?
Chronic Disease
Food Insecurity is associated with higher
probability of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, coronary heart
disease, hepatitis, stroke, cancer, asthma, diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease
and kidney disease
Child Hunger
Hunger can harm a child’s opportunities to reach
their full potential and contribute fully to their communities—which affects
society.
Children from food-insecure homes may be more
likely to:
Have lower math scores
Repeat a grade in elementary school
Experience developmental impairments in areas
like language and motor skills
Have more social and behavioral problems
Be less prepared for the workforce as adults
Senior Hunger
Seniors who are food-insecure have:
Higher rates of chronic diseases
Poorer general health
Three times higher prevalence of depression
Diminished capacity to maintain independence
while aging”[8]
.
As we feast on the word of God…and when we share
in the table of remembrance called communion we also share a table with those
who around us are hungry for real food.
You see “God's plan has always been to
live in communion with his people; God is still waiting for us to create a
world that reflects the image of God-in love, justice, fulfillment, mercy,
equality, etc. We see it in Genesis, when God created the human being to share
in the work of creation. We see it in the Law, according to which the
sacrifices have in mind a companionship between God and the person and
community. We see it in the Prophets, who insist on the responsibilities of the
people to form a just society. And John, at last, tells us that the Word that
created the world became flesh to call people to a community to opposed to the
values of the Roman Empire and any political or economic system that
dehumanizes the being”[9] Jesus is always calling us
to be an anti-Imperial, anti-hierarchical society in which its members, are
empowered by the Spirit that Jesus emphasizes in the fourth gospel, live in
communion with God and with one another. We are called to Feast upon the word
and share in communion as one people, as one spirit, and as the one body of
Christ. Amen
[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3779
[2] King,
Nicholas. The Bible: A Study Bible. Buxhall, Stowmarket, Suffolk: Kevin Mayhew,
2013.
[3] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3779
[4] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=372
[5] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3779
[6] http://www.bread.org/what-hunger
[7] https://www.feedhopenow.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=about_hunger
[8]
Ditto
[9] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3779
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