Today's gospel is the final discourse on the "bread of life."
Christ continues the "I am the bread of life" theme and it becomes
the moment of truth, of decision. He continue to pry apart the physical and the spiritual, much as the Old Testament law separated blood (life) from flesh. This must have been revolutionary religious thinking for them. And grisly.
"It is the spirit that gives life,
while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life."
It is too much for many of His followers.
"As a result of this,
many of his disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer accompanied him."
Not the best recruiting gospel.
Then, strangely, He mentions the ascension. He is almost speaking to the future of past events as those present would not understand its significance.
Now, with much of His support melting away, Christ asks the disciples if they will leave too.
Peter again becomes Everyman: "To whom should we go?"
Christ continues the "I am the bread of life" theme and it becomes
the moment of truth, of decision. He continue to pry apart the physical and the spiritual, much as the Old Testament law separated blood (life) from flesh. This must have been revolutionary religious thinking for them. And grisly.
"It is the spirit that gives life,
while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life."
It is too much for many of His followers.
"As a result of this,
many of his disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer accompanied him."
Not the best recruiting gospel.
Then, strangely, He mentions the ascension. He is almost speaking to the future of past events as those present would not understand its significance.
Now, with much of His support melting away, Christ asks the disciples if they will leave too.
Peter again becomes Everyman: "To whom should we go?"
No comments:
Post a Comment