13th Sunday After Pentecost
John 6:56-69 (NRSV)
The bread of eternal life
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, "Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father."
Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Story
John came that day and saw something amazing. Something that not everyone gets to see. John was always with his wife in almost everything. But this one thing, John could not share. John's wife Martha was about to give birth to a daughter. As John witnessed the birth of his daughter he noticed that amazing moment. John saw that first deep breath of his daughter. Here was flesh and with this breath was spirit. Flesh and spirit combined in a spiritual moment of new life. Joy abounded in the delivery room with laughter. John and Martha decided that their daughters name would now be Joy.
As Joy grew in the love of John and Martha, she experienced so many new life events. Joy was baptized and confirmed. Joy stood before the congregation after having been taught the Word from the Bible, the Sacraments, the Ten Commandments and the Creeds, and confessed her belief and faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior. Moments of laughter and joy were to follow.
In life John noticed that these great events were crowned with joy and a deep laughter. A laughter that caused one to take in deep breaths of air and expel a spirit from within. God was with Joy, John and Martha through all the ups and downs of life and family together. The family stood firm on the side of Jesus and lived faithful lives to God's call.
John had aged and was now ill himself. John had been placed in a nursing home that could provide for all of the special needs John had in old age and failing health. It was on one evening that John was fading rapidly that Joy received a call from her mother, Martha. A call to come to the nursing home.
As John lay in his death bed, he recounted to Joy and Martha that one great event when he saw the breath of God in both of them. John witnessed to Martha's breathing through the pain of Joy's birth and saw the breath of God surround her in her pain. John also witnessed to Joy's birth and that first cry when Joy took in a deep breath that surely was a gift from God.
John continued to witness to the many joyful events of life and the sad ones as well where the Spirit of the breath of God was in all those present. As Joy and Martha heard John emphasize the wonder of spirit and life, they were to see John breath his last breath. The spirit leaving the flesh of John.
In this brief moment of time of John's long life, we witness spirit within flesh and the life God has so graciously given. We rejoice in the life of John and those many breaths that God's Spirit breathed into John's flesh sustaining life. And yet we realize that there is so much more to life than this flesh. All through life John, Joy and Martha had taken a stand with Jesus in belief and faith, knowing the special life giving breath that Jesus breathes into them as their faith grew. What a joy it was to witness this breath into flesh throughout John's earthly journey. This breath that brings comfort and joy to Martha and Joy as they mourn the death of John in the surety of the hope that only Jesus could bring in Jesus life in the flesh.
Prayer
Lord, as we live life, breath your spirit into each one of us that we boldly stand with you and you stand with us in this life in the flesh. Lead us in this earthly journey to do your will in your way... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment