[Propertalk] Gospel references for August 16, 2009, Part 2

[Joe Parrish]

In Genesis 9:3-4, God explicitly forbids Noah and his family (and thereby, all humans, because in the Biblical story, since they are the only human survivors of the flood, all humans are descended from them) from eating blood:
          Every living thing shall be food for you; and just as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.
          Only, you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

Malina and Rorhbaugh then point out that in Leviticus both blood and the flesh of the kidney and its surrounding fat are ritually dedicated exclusively for God: the blood is thrown on the altar; the kidney and its fat are burnt. They comment:

  Thus, the prohibitions of fat and blood (from human consumption) single out those organs ... that serve as the seat of life. Life is from God alone and belongs to God alone. To ingest fat or blood is to strive to be like God. Page 136.

Thus, the crowd listening to Jesus would hear his words, "eat my flesh and drink my blood," as blasphemy, as an abomination, as a violation of a core belief about the Holy and our proper relationship with the Holy. 

http://www.holytextures.com/2009/07/john-6-51-58-year-b-pentecost-august-14-august-20-sermon.html

David Ewart, United Church of Canada, 2009

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The text calls us beyond being casual receivers of God's bounty John 6:1-16) and connected recognizers of God's presence (John 6:17-26) to a new committed relationship with Christ, the bread of heaven.

http://jointhefeast.blogspot.com/2009/07/august-16-2009-john-651-58-martha.html

Martha Rollins, Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education, Richmond, VA 2009

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What bread and wine do we feed on, do we abide in? Do we abide in the bread and wine of human reason? Experience? Logic? Do we abide in the bread and wine of the Mosaic Passover, i.e. the Law? Or, do we abide in the bread and wine that is the flesh and blood of Christ?

http://www.crossings.org/theology/2009/theolo742.shtml

Bill White, Crossings Community,  Chesterfield, MO

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In my own spiritual path, sometimes I've confused manna for living bread. Both are God-given, but manna doesn't nourish indefinitely. Think of manna as the aspects of the church life that are suitable and grace-full but fleeting. Manna is the preaching style of a certain pastor whom you love (but what do you do when a new pastor comes along with a different style)? Manna is the program ministry of the congregation, or the church's music, wonderful and beneficial but sometimes a source of disagreement. Manna is the small group to which you're attached -- but people move away and the group magic disappears. Manna is the congregation that you love -- that you'd rather would never change. And what if a crisis in your congregation brings out the worst in the people you trusted as spiritual models? Our walk with Christ can be hampered, even ruined, when we allow impermanent aspects of church to define our spiritual journey.

http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=3421

Paul Stroble, 2006

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51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. This is the only time that the phrase, "living bread," is used in the Scriptures and is parallel to Jesus saying that he was the "living water" to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:10).

Jesus is the source of life, the source of eternal life, the source of the values of our daily lives, the source of love for our daily lives. The basic food staple of the world is bread and Jesus is the basic spiritual staple of the world. 

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...the English word, "forever," occurs 352 times in the whole Bible; 302 times in the Old Testament and 52 times in the New Testament. It occurs seven times in the four gospels and five times in the Gospel of John. In other words, the word, "forever," is important in this gospel. 

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Capernaum was in existence from the second century BCE. to the seventh century CE. Capernaum was built along the edge of the Sea of Galilee and had up to 1500 residents. 

http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_b_holy_communion_GA.htm

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