Contents
Introduction
From Jesus the living bread to Jesus the message of eternal life. Gradually, the circle is closing in. The sheep is slowly being separated from the goat. Judgment is gradually being delivered. It is progressively becoming clear why different people followed and keeps following Jesus. Everything Jesus has said concerning his being the bread of life; the living bread; eating the flesh of the Son of Man and drinking his blood; having eternal life and being raised from the dead on the last day, took place while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum (cf. John 6:59). Hearing these teachings, many of his disciples lamented: “This is a difficult saying! Who can understand it? Who can keep to it (cf. John 6:60)? Yes, the teaching is difficult, hard or strong because they took what Jesus said literally. Not only that, it is a difficult and impossible teaching because Jesus did not tell them what they wanted to hear.
Does this scandalize you?
“Aware that his disciples were murmuring, Jesus said to them, does this scandalize you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” (John 6:61–62). There are two kinds of reactions to the words of Jesus. These reactions were manifested by many of Jesus’ disciples and by others. While many of his disciples who heard the teaching complained, his words are hard and impossible to understand and therefore, to put into practice, others probably his intimate disciples (the Twelve) too, had the same feeling. Unlike the “many disciples”, who complained openly, some (maybe the Twelve disciples too) lacked the courage to speak out. Instead, they preferred murmuring. When Jesus said he was the bread of life and the bread that came down from heaven (cf. John 6:35.38), the Jews murmured saying “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father……
Conclusion
Jesus’ disciples complained and murmured against the words of Jesus that it is hard and difficult to understand. They murmured because what they heard was not what they expected to hear. Their murmuring offered Jesus the opportunity to make them decide what to do. While many left, some continued following him, which means, they now understand the meaning of Jesus’ words. Today, almost every Christian pretends to understand the Scripture. Having seen that many of the disciples (fake disciples we should say) left and stopped following him, Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked them if they too desire to go away (cf. John 6:67). The contemporary religious leaders should learn from Jesus. Do not follow every wind that blows. Certain wind can blow you away from God and can even destroy you. In fact, many have been destroyed by this wind. Mind whom you follow. Mind where you go. Pay attention to what you do. Not everything that glitters is gold. As Jesus warned, not all who say Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven (cf. Matt 7:21).
FOR DETAILS, GET YOUR OWN COPIES OF THE BOOK “THE WORD OF LIFE: SUNDAY REFLECTIONS” (vols. I and II)!! The reflection for the 21st Sunday of the year (B) is found in vol. II pages 359–372. Happy reading!
For details on how to get it, contact the author on this link: https://m.me/uchennabiblia?fbclid=IwAR2yeg4a6sDGBp9QGkIvKj6FSADumMokN6lshdE0zuo-JHs6qOmlhA7jyHo or email me at: postmaster@uchennabiblia.com or simply send an SMS on 08116100926, and I will get back to you.
