John 6:24-35 Gospel reading for Sunday 5th August 2012
In a few recent sessions with school staff groups, as we have explored the image of God that society holds, I have asked a question something like ...
"If you were God, and had just finished rattling together the universe, had overseen the early development of the jewel of your creation (humans), and you now decide that it is time to reveal yourself, your God nature (who you are) to the people ... where would you start? How would you start?"
Tough job being God, especially trying to get the people to see the real you. That's a bit of the frustration that we can read between the lines in this story ... the scene immediately following Jesus feeding the 5000 and The walking on water. (Note the down-grading of the title by which Jesus is addressed. There were many rabbis in Israel - they were respected, but nothing more than as good teachers and for being knowledgeable about God things -after all, that was their job).
Jesus declares that He is The bread of life ... but the people are on a completely different wave length. They just don't get it ... they have been asking for 'signs' (miracles). Jesus obliges with an impressive feast conjured from almost nothing out in the desert. But the people were hard to please. By comparison with Moses, who had fed a whole nation in the desert for years, this guy was very average - just feeding a small group of people. Yet they were happy to take their fill. The crowds were in fact following Him for the wrong reasons. They were looking to again physically fill their bellies! They would take a free meal anytime.
Here Jesus unfolds the first of the seven 'I AM' statements, "I am the bread of life", but since we get the rest of the explanation on the bread of life in the reading next week, I'll delay further comment until then.
In the meantime the link to Exodus 3 and the story of Moses and the burning bush is worth noting. There is a fascinating thread of connection here in the context of the whole idea of God revealing Himself to the people. The crowd would have collectively raised their eye-brows when Jesus used the term 'I AM', because of its connection to the name of God.
Some interesting thoughts to 'chew over' this week ... we in our Lutheran schools have the job of 'feeding' the masses. Are we feeding them 'real bread' or are we just giving them a belly full of earthly food? For what reason/s do students and families continue to seek out Lutheran schools? (Maybe they seek us for the wrong reasons too.) How do we respond to that? How do we go about showing them the 'real bread' of Jesus?
Nev
Hello Nev - I continue to be inspired by your writing and how you pose the Big questions. Your question on why people are choosing Lutheran Schools is to me the Big question. I have heard the line that it is because we are safe places, have good ideals, operate well in terms of staff and student opportunities. The one I am always interested in is we like the values, which rightly or wrongly is code for we like the Christian ideals that are presented to our kids, BUT that is as far as we want it to go. I cant prove this but it is a perception.
ReplyDeletePressed enter to early! The feeding of the 5000 in schools is now as big a challenge as it is for the Church - particularly in Secondary Schools. There are ways that work for engagement of kids but often they are not seen as worthy because they are not the way it should be done or has been done, or it is Hillsong based, or it is not Lutheran but recognised as authenticlly Christian. We blame the Church sometimes for not hitting the mark, but what about other groups including schools. Is there a way that we can feed more of the 5000 - can we step up and really have the conversation rather than fighting amongst ourselves.
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