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<DIV><FONT size=4>As so often happens in John, Jesus refuses to answer the
question which they have asked, but instead redirects the conversation to more
important issues. Because they have focused on the wrong "bread," Jesus
redirects them toward the bread which "endures." The word translated "endures"
(<I>meno</I>) in verse 27 is a word which takes on profound meaning as it is
used throughout the fourth Gospel, especially to describe the relationship
between Jesus and the believer. In the end, this "enduring" or "abiding" will
mean nothing less than the Father and the Son dwelling with the believers
through the Paraclete (14:23; see also 6:56). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=8/2/2009&tab=4"><FONT
size=4>http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=8/2/2009&tab=4</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Brian Peterson, Professor of New Testament<BR>Lutheran
Theological Southern Seminary<BR><EM>Columbia, SC</EM> <BR>- - - -
-</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>...it seems that John doesn't want us to read, or hear, these
stories on their own, but as part of a larger story, one that resembles several
that we've heard before. This is one way that John wrestles with the profound
question of Jesus' identity, and what it means to have faith in him.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><EM>Mahatma Gandhi, 20th century<BR></EM>There are people in
the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of
bread.<BR><BR><EM>Mother Teresa, 20th century</EM><BR>There is more hunger for
love and appreciation in this world than for bread.<BR><BR><EM>D.T. Niles, 20th
century</EM><BR>Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where he found
bread.<BR><BR><EM>Bishop Desmond Tutu, 20th century</EM><BR>I don't preach a
social gospel; I preach the Gospel, period. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
is concerned for the whole person. When people were hungry, Jesus didn't say,
"Now is that political or social?" He said, "I feed you." Because the good news
to a hungry person is bread.<BR><BR></FONT><A
href="http://i.ucc.org/StretchYourMind/OpeningtheBible/WeeklySeeds/tabid/81/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/217/Bread-of-Life-Jul-27Aug-2.aspx"><FONT
size=4>http://i.ucc.org/StretchYourMind/OpeningtheBible/WeeklySeeds/tabid/81/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/217/Bread-of-Life-Jul-27Aug-2.aspx</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Kate Huey, UCC</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>In 6:27 Jesus exhorts the crowds to work for the food of
eternal life. This is an interesting use of the word, ‘work’, which in some of
our traditions is the opposite of ‘faith’. Here, on the contrary, it is a way of
talking about faith and means something like: ‘set your heart on, make it your
goal, put your effort into, work on acquiring’. 6:29 tells us what this effort
entails: believing in the one whom God has sent. 6:28 has the crowd speak of
‘the works of God’. The effect of the dialogue is to address the question of
spirituality. Where do we find God? In wonders? In some mighty achievements of
our own or of others? John reduces the options to one: we find God in
relationship. That relationship is established when we believe that Jesus is the
message and messenger from God. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MkPentecost9.htm"><FONT
size=4>http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MkPentecost9.htm</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in
Australia</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Jesus tries to clear up the misunderstandings: <LS></FONT>
<LI><FONT size=4>it was God, not Moses who gave you manna; </FONT>
<LI><FONT size=4>the Father gives bread now; and </FONT>
<LI><FONT size=4>manna met physical needs but “true bread” is more than that.
</LS></FONT>
<P><FONT size=4>Then v. </FONT><A
onmouseover="window.status='Click here to read the text'; return true"
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href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?version=nrs&word=John+6%3A33"><FONT
size=4>33</FONT></A><FONT size=4>: Jesus himself is the true bread, the “bread
of God”: he “comes ... from heaven and gives life ...”. They still do not grasp
that <EM>he</EM> is the bread, Finally, he says: I am the sustenance of life
itself, of very existence, for those who trust in me; I will fill their every
need.</FONT></P></LI></DIV>
<P><A href="http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/bpr18m.shtml"><FONT
size=4>http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/bpr18m.shtml</FONT></A></P>
<P><FONT size=4></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal</FONT></P>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><EM>Verse 27</EM>: “food”: The </FONT><A
onmouseover="window.status='Click here for glossary window'; return true"
onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true"
href="javascript:glossary('torah')"><FONT size=4>Torah</FONT></A><FONT size=4>
was familiarly known as <EM>bread</EM>.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><EM>Verse 35</EM>: The Eucharist is not yet clearly in view;
the thought here is rather of the moment of conversion than of the continuing
life nourished by the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/bpr18l.shtml"><FONT
size=4>http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/bpr18l.shtml</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></P>
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