491 -- Hall of Fame Chaper
June 14 (6/14) in Godsfield -- John 6:14
(For Better or Verse: Each day in 2025 I will begin this Godsfield e-mail with a Bible verse that corresponds with the month (chapter 1-12) and day (verse 1-31) it is sent. This month features a lot of sixth chapters! Those with eyes and ears, let them see and hear.)
John 6:14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
Wonderful chapter. Beautiful chapter. Dicey chapter. Long chapter. Eventful chapter. Hall of fame chapter.
John packs it all in this chapter, one that I could cover well only if June had 71 days. (It doesn't.). But here, Jesus has just backed up his words with action. It was a perfect combination.
Thousands of people (5,000 men plus women and children) had followed Jesus to a high place overlooking the Sea of Galilee, a beautiful vista about nine miles from Bethsaida, but without concession trailers or a food court.
Jesus had been teaching throughout the area and his words had been spoken with great authority. He has healed people of illness and possession. And a great crowd came to him. Jesus challenges his disciples to feed them, and when they are stumped with any human solutions, he uses five barley loaves and to fish to feed them all.
And now, people know this is the prophet God has sent, promised through Moses 18 centuries earlier.
Happy ending!
Until the people want to crown him king. Until the disciples run into a storm rowing home. Until Jesus walks to them and gets them across the lake (coolest things ever, but better described in Matthew and Mark). Until the people find He is gone and come to find him.
Until Jesus tells them he is more than Door Dash for crowds. Until he tells them he is the Bread of Life, which is exciting for us, but troubling for them, especially when he brings up eating his flesh and drinking his blood.
Until the Jews take issue with Jesus talking about being one with the Father and going through him for eternal life. Until his disciples complain about such a hard teaching. Until Jesus' "mega-church" goes from more than 5,000 to about a dozen, when this flesh and blood talk scares them away.
Until Peter says the words that are spoken or such in many churches every Sunday: "Lord, where shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Quite a chapter. And there is a happy ending, but not for quite a few more episodes. And just when you think it can't get any worse.... it doesn't! Hope is resurrected.
The happy ending becomes eternal.
Love ya,
Paul