"John 4-8"
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Some meals have the power to transport us back to a simpler time. Often high in calories and loaded with sentimental attachment — we call them comfort food. Maybe it's a freshly baked apple pie, a big bowl of macaroni and cheese, or a tray full of warm chocolate chip cookies.
In this week's readings in John's gospel, Jesus serves up a few "dishes" that aren't just comforting but eternally satisfying.
The Food of God's Work
On Monday (John 4), Jesus offers a Samaritan woman "living water" from "a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:9-14). His disciples return with lunch, but Jesus declines, saying, "I have food to eat that you do not know about ... My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work" (John 4:32-34). And when the Samaritan woman brought her friends to hear his teaching, many of them believed. Then he continued God's work by healing an official's son in Capernaum.
On Tuesday (John 5), Jesus tells a man by the pool of Bethesda to "Get up, take up your bed, and walk" (John 5:8). And as the Jews criticize him for healing on the Sabbath, he tells them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working" (John 5:17). He explains his authority to judge the world and calls everyone to believe in God's Son and be saved (John 5:19-29). For further proof, he summons four witnesses to the stand — John the Baptist, his miraculous works, God the Father, and Scripture (John 5:30-47).
- What do you learn about teaching the gospel from Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman?
- Are you willing to believe the testimony Christ presented?
The Bread of Life
Then on Wednesday (John 6), as Jesus teaches across the Sea of Galilee, he provides a miraculous meal for over five thousand people (John 6:1-15). Then he walks on water to meet his disciples in the middle of the night (John 6:16-21). And after the crowds chase him down, he challenges them with these shocking words:
"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst ... Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:35, 54-55).
Though his disciples believed, many in the audience turned away and stopped following him from then on (John 6:60-69).
How would you have reacted to Jesus' statement about eating his flesh and drinking his blood?
Rivers of Living Water
On Thursday (John 7), Jesus' brothers urged him to attend the Feast of Booths in Judea. But instead of going, Jesus follows behind secretly to listen in on the festivities (John 7:1-9). He went to the temple to teach (John 7:14-24), but his message raised plenty of questions (John 7:25-36). And on the final day of the feast, he stood up publicly and said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'" (John 7:37-38). But again, many were unwilling to believe.
Finally, on Friday (John 8), the Jews came to test Jesus, asking him what they should do with a woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). Pointing to their hypocrisy, he called on the sinless ones to stone her first. And after they all went away, he told her to "go and sin no more" (John 8:11). He continued teaching that he is the "light of the world" (John 8:12-30), that his words "will set you free" (John 8:31-38), and "before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:48-59).
- What did Jesus mean when he said, "rivers of living water" would flow from our hearts?
- How does Christ's compassion for the adulterous woman change the way you relate to the world?
