41 The Jewish opposition grumbled about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
42 They asked, “Isn’t this Jesus, Joseph’s son, whose mother and father we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
43 Jesus responded, “Don’t grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless they are drawn to me by the Father who sent me, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, And they will all be taught by God.[f] Everyone who has listened to the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father. 47 I assure you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that whoever eats from it will never die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Reflection:
Sometimes we miss things right in front of us or maybe we just refuse to see a different pattern or perspective. It happens to all of us. Something that is there right in front of us and we miss it, or refuse to accept things as changed, a different or fresh perspective.
According to Psychology Today, social scientists say that our first impressions of people are often formed within the first ten seconds of meeting someone. Of course these impressions are only right about 30% of the time, but kudos to the folks who can sum things up even that quickly. Then again, this means that we are wrong much more than we are ever right.
Perhaps, in Jesus’ case, the people who thought that they knew him, just refused to see things differently. “Isn’t this Jesus, Joseph’s son, whose mother and father we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven?” Perhaps Jesus was just so different that many people just could not see a new mindset. The impression that they had from Jesus was a perspective that they had developed long ago, most likely when he was a child. Now the perspective that the people have about Jesus needs an update. The group needs to see things differently, yet they could not and would not do this. Therefore they are angry with Jesus’ words when he announces, “I am the Bread that came down from heaven.” Now this is a perspective that they just cannot bear and changing their mindset is something that most won’t do.
Yet, Jesus spoke with authority, quoting the prophets, that they “will all be taught by God.” This is learning which calls for a changing one’s mindset and Jesus’ followers did change their mindsets. Some will begin to see Jesus for who he really was and is, as God incarnate. Furthermore, his sheep knew his name, and many would begin to hear him, listen and act on this belief. We know this directly because otherwise we wouldn’t be here today if this belief hadn’t been passed down. Many will turn their mindsets to believe in Jesus when he says, “No one comes through the Father except by me!” Many will believe that he is the living Bread of Life that has come down from heaven to feed people’s souls, offering eternal life, and salvation. It will take a change in mindset to know that Jesus is who he said he was.
by Barbara Carlson
For Pondering and Prayer
What does it take to believe in Jesus as God incarnate? Has it been a perspective that is difficult for you to change or have you always believed as long as you can remember? Is there a time that you can remember that you did not see Jesus as the Bread of Life? Has this been a challenge for you? Why or why not?
Prayer: Gracious God, Thank you for your love and promise of salvation. Amen.