Friday, February 16
You Have the Words of Eternal Life . . . Alleluia
Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Daniel D. Maurer from Clergy Stuff.
I don't know about you, but when I read the passage we have set before us today, I hear the music in my head! It's the tune from Setting One (or Two? I can't remember) of the LBW, the Lutheran Book of Worship (the old "Green Book"). When I was serving as a pastor in western North Dakota nearly a decade ago, often the country churches I served had selected to continue using the "old" liturgies in the LBW. There is something about a familiar tune that keeps us feeling . . . comfortable.
The irony, of course, is that Jesus wants to deliver us out of our comfort zones and his teaching of "eating his flesh" and "drinking his blood" is anything but easy to understand. However, that's precisely what keeps me coming back to scripture, and that's also what makes Jesus new . . . every time I meet him again. The wonder of our worship is that it can take age-old stories and re-tell them in a new and fresh way.
Narrative Lectionary Text: John 6:60-71
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.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.’ He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.