Reading the Gospels for Lent

 

Read ~ John 5-7

A quick scan of these three chapters starts to reveal themes in John.  We see again Jesus questioning the religious traditions, particularly around healing in chapter 5. Notice that Jesus is clear in chapter 5 that he is not doing this to be a contrarian, but longs to share God’s love in ways that can never be confined or defined in any one place or person.  Jesus then heals in another way in chapter 6 by offering food to nourish us.  He nuances what fills us by reminding us that God is the bread of heaven (see below for a comment about I AM statements).  Chapter 7 is this wonderful overview of different scenes that create tension.  In any good story you need some conflict.  No one really wants to read a story that goes, “Welp, I was born, and everything has gone according to my plans, and I am thriving.”  One, that is a really short story; and two, it is boring (and three it is a bit annoying because it is so far removed from our lives).  Lean into the conflict and complications of John’s gospel in chapter 7.

 

A few questions to ponder: Where do you long for healing in your life this week?  Where have you found bread to fill you spiritually?  D.T. Niles once said, “Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where s/he found bread”.  Where are you feeling some conflict and complications in the story of your life right now?  Who are the family members that question you or who are the people in your life who have self-appointed themselves the police to correct/advise/save you?

 

One thought for today is in John, you will read seven I AM statements. Jesus says, “I AM” the bread of life (6:35), the light of the world (8:12), the door (10:7), the good shepherd (10:11, 14), the resurrection and the life (11:25), the way the truth and the life (14:6) and the true vine (15:1).  You can read these as if Jesus is saying this about himself.  Like when I say I am a runner or a proud purveyor of awful jokes or a husband/father/pastor.  Many times, we read these statements as Jesus literally saying this is who he is.  There is another way to read these statements too.  The phrase “I AM” in Hebrew is Yehweh…as in God’s name God gave Moses at the burning bush.  Jesus might not be talking about himself as much as he is preaching about God.  To be sure, in John, God and Jesus have been in cahoots since the beginning- see chapter 1.  In Jesus, God is dwelling among us.  So where one ends, and the other begins is confusing.  Perhaps it is less about drawing a distinctive line and more about Jesus saying God pervades all that is.  God’s fingerprints are on all of life, especially the ordinary stuff of life like bread and doors and light.  In the mystery we need tactile and tangible things to wrap our minds around.  So, Jesus says look at bread and light and doorways and your profession and vines and the art project of life to be witness of how God shows up.  May this truth be discovered in your life this day.  Amen.