John 6:60-69 Commentary

Summary

This presentation explores John 6:60-69, delving into the Bread of Life discourse and the pivotal question Jesus poses to his disciples about their faith. It examines the challenges of accepting Jesus' teachings, particularly his identity and the significance of the cross. The speaker discusses the historical and theological context, including the Johannine community's struggles with belief and schism. The summary emphasizes the importance of understanding Jesus' identity for faith and the Eucharist, encouraging reflection on personal faith journeys and the enduring relevance of these teachings.

Takeaways

• 📜 The presentation concludes the series on John 6, focusing on the 'Bread of Life' discourse and the pivotal scene between Jesus and Peter.
• 🔍 The session begins with an introduction, reading of the text, analysis of the chapter's structure, background exploration, commentary, and concludes with a prayer.
• 🗣️ The Gospel of John 6:60-69 raises the question of commitment to the Christian faith, particularly in the face of challenging teachings.
• 📖 The text is compared with Mark's Gospel, highlighting the similarities and differences in the portrayal of Peter's confession of faith.
• 🏛️ The Johannine community experienced divisions, reflected in the Gospel's language about being 'put out of the synagogue' and internal schisms.
• 💬 The term 'this teaching is difficult' (John 6:60) conveys the challenge and potential offense of Jesus' teachings, particularly regarding his identity and the necessity of the cross.
• 🌟 The Gospel emphasizes Jesus' dual nature as both fully human and divine, using the 'I am' statements that echo divine names from the Old Testament.
• ✝️ The central event of the Fourth Gospel is the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, which is a recurring theme and a source of shock for the audience.
• 🚶 The disciples' turning away from Jesus (John 6:66) signifies a real challenge within the Johannine community and a test of faith for believers.
• 🙏 Peter's response to Jesus' question (John 6:68-69) is a declaration of loyalty and recognition of Jesus as the 'Holy One of God', underscoring the depth of faith within the community.
• 📝 The presentation suggests that the Gospel of John is relevant to modern believers, offering insights into faith, discipleship, and the challenges of understanding Jesus' identity and mission.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the presentation on John chapter six?

The central theme of the presentation is the exploration of the 'Bread of Life' discourse in John 6:60-69, focusing on the identity of Jesus and the challenges of faith presented in his teachings.

What is the significance of the question 'Do you also wish to go away?' in the context of John 6:60-69?

The question 'Do you also wish to go away?' is significant as it directly addresses the disciples' and the audience's commitment to Jesus, challenging them to reflect on their faith and reasons for staying or leaving in light of difficult teachings.

How does the presentation relate the teachings in John 6 to the broader context of the Johannine community?

The presentation relates the teachings in John 6 to the Johannine community by discussing the historical context of the community's experiences with expulsion from the synagogue, internal divisions, and the challenge of accepting Jesus' identity and teachings.

What does the expression 'this teaching is difficult' (John 6:60) signify in the context of the presentation?

The expression 'this teaching is difficult' signifies the disciples' struggle to accept Jesus' teachings, particularly those concerning his identity and the necessity of his death and resurrection for salvation, which were challenging to their preconceived beliefs.

How does the presentation connect the identity of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel to the divine name 'I am'?

The presentation connects the identity of Jesus to the divine name 'I am' by highlighting instances where Jesus uses this name, such as in John 6:48 and 8:58, emphasizing his divinity and unique relationship with God.

What is the pastoral situation that the writer of John's Gospel addresses in relation to the Eucharist?

The pastoral situation addressed is the participation in the Eucharist without an adequate faith in Jesus or understanding of his death and resurrection, which makes the Eucharist difficult to comprehend for some members of the Johannine community.

How does the presentation discuss the significance of Peter's confession in John 6:68-69?

The presentation discusses Peter's confession as an affirmation of faith in Jesus as the 'Holy One of God' and the source of eternal life, reflecting on the personal journey of faith and the communal response to Jesus' teachings.

What is the role of the Spirit in understanding the teachings of Jesus according to the presentation?

According to the presentation, the Spirit plays a crucial role in giving life and understanding to the teachings of Jesus, as stated in John 6:63, emphasizing that the words of Jesus are 'spirit and life'.

How does the presentation use the comparison between John 6 and Mark 8 to highlight similarities in Peter's confession?

The presentation compares John 6:60-69 with Mark 8:27-30 to highlight the similarities in Peter's confession of Jesus as the Messiah and the divine identity of Jesus, showing how John's Gospel adapts and nuances the Markan account.

What is the significance of the phrase 'flesh is useless' in the context of the presentation?

The phrase 'flesh is useless' signifies the limitations of human understanding and the need for spiritual discernment to grasp the teachings of Jesus, especially in relation to his identity and the salvific event of the cross.

What does the presentation suggest as a way to deepen understanding of the Fourth Gospel?

The presentation suggests reading Sean Freyne's book 'The Sign' published by Dominican Publications as a way to deepen understanding of the Fourth Gospel and its theological themes.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Introduction to John 6's Final Presentation

The presenter warmly welcomes the audience to the concluding session on John 6, focusing on the pivotal dialogue between Jesus and Peter. The session's structure includes an introduction, scripture reading, chapter overview, background analysis, commentary, conclusions, and a closing prayer. The key question from the gospel, 'Do you also wish to go away?', is highlighted as it resonates with the audience, prompting reflection on personal faith and commitment to Christianity. The summary of John 6:60-69 is provided, depicting the disciples' struggle with Jesus' teachings, particularly the metaphor of the Bread of Life and the deeper spiritual understanding required. The presenter also invites the audience to consider the chapter's context within the broader narrative of John's Gospel.

05:00

🔍 Exploring the Backgrounds of John 6

This section delves into the various backgrounds influencing the narrative of John 6. Five key areas are discussed: the expulsion from the synagogue, the schism within the community, the challenging core teaching, the identity of Jesus, and the significance of the cross. The text's references to being 'put out of the synagogue' indicate the historical separation between Judaism and Christianity. Internal divisions within the early Christian community, as mentioned in John 6:66 and 1 John 2, are examined. The difficulty of the teaching in John 6:60 is explored, with the term 'scleros' suggesting an almost impossible acceptance of Jesus' identity and teachings. The presenter also reflects on the high Christology presented in the Gospel of John, emphasizing Jesus' dual nature as both human and divine, and the implications of this for the community's understanding of Jesus.

10:01

🕊 The Identity of Jesus and the Centrality of the Cross

The paragraph emphasizes the significance of Jesus' identity and the central role of the cross in the Fourth Gospel. It discusses how the identity of Jesus is portrayed through various scenes in John 6, each highlighting a different aspect of who Jesus is. The paragraph also touches on the shocking nature of the crucifixion and its role in God's plan of salvation, as reflected in 1 Corinthians 1. The audience is guided through the metaphorical eating of Jesus' flesh and drinking of His blood, which signifies belief in His sacrificial death and resurrection. The literal misunderstanding of this metaphor by some disciples is noted, drawing a parallel to similar misunderstandings by Nicodemus and the woman at the well. The paragraph concludes by reinforcing the challenging nature of the cross for the audience, especially for those of Jewish background.

15:04

🗝 Jesus' Resurrection and the Disciples' Reactions

This section discusses the theme of Jesus' resurrection and the reactions of His disciples to His teachings. The 'ascending' of Jesus is highlighted as a double echo of Jacob's ladder and His own resurrection, with references to John 1:51 and 3:13. The tension is increased by questioning the disciples' acceptance of the cross and the resurrection. The paragraph also touches on the spiritual versus physical aspects of life, with Jesus emphasizing that it is the Spirit that gives life, and the flesh is of little use. The theme of betrayal is introduced, along with the idea that not all who are exposed to Jesus' teachings believe in Him, reflecting the mystery of grace and the varied responses to Jesus' identity and mission.

20:04

🛣️ The Journey of Faith and Peter's Confession

The paragraph focuses on the journey of faith and the response of Simon Peter to Jesus' question about whether the disciples also wish to go away. Peter's rhetorical question implies that there is no one else to turn to but Jesus, who holds the words of eternal life. The paragraph invites the audience to reflect on their own faith journey and experience with Jesus. Peter's confession that Jesus is the 'Holy One of God' is unique to the Gospel of John and is explored in the context of Old Testament usage and its implications in the Gospel. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the consecration of Jesus, as discussed in John 10:35-36 and 17, and the importance of recognizing Jesus' unique role and identity.

🏔️ Conclusions on John 6 and Reflections on Faith

The final paragraph summarizes the insights gained from the study of John 6, emphasizing the Gospel's focus on Jesus' identity and His work on the cross and resurrection. The traditional sequence used by the evangelist is noted, along with the editorial amendments made to address the specific context of the Johannine community. The primary focus on Jesus' identity and the secondary focus on the Eucharist are highlighted, reflecting the pastoral situation of the community. The paragraph concludes with a prayer for guidance and faithfulness, and an acknowledgment of the relevance of John 6 to contemporary believers. The presenter expresses gratitude for the audience's engagement with the series and recommends further reading on the Fourth Gospel, specifically Sean Freyne's book 'The Sign'.

Keywords

💡Bread of Life

The term 'Bread of Life' is a metaphor used in the script to describe Jesus Christ, as it is a central theme in John 6:60-69. It refers to Jesus' teaching where He claims to be the spiritual nourishment that gives eternal life. In the script, it is mentioned as 'the bread of life, exploring John 60 to 69,' which signifies the discussion on the spiritual sustenance provided by Jesus.

💡Disciples

Disciples in the script refer to the followers of Jesus. They are depicted as individuals who hear Jesus' teachings and react to them. The term is used in the context of those who initially followed Jesus but found His teachings difficult and, as a result, some turned away, as seen in the line 'many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.'

💡Spirit and Life

'Spirit and Life' is a phrase used by Jesus in the script to emphasize the spiritual nourishment and eternal life that His words provide. It is a key concept in understanding the spiritual teachings of Jesus, as mentioned in 'the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.' This phrase is central to the script's exploration of the spiritual sustenance offered through faith in Jesus.

💡Faith

Faith in the script is the belief and trust in Jesus Christ, particularly in His teachings and identity. It is a recurring theme, with the script discussing the faith of Peter and the challenges faced by the disciples in maintaining their faith, as in 'we have come to believe and know that you are the holy one of God.'

💡Eternal Life

Eternal life is a concept in the script that represents the everlasting life granted by God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a central promise of Jesus' teachings, as seen in 'you have the words of eternal life.' The script explores the concept in relation to accepting Jesus' identity and teachings.

💡Schism

Schism in the script refers to the division or split within the Christian community, which is a historical context for the Gospel of John. It is mentioned in relation to the community's experience of internal divisions, as indicated by 'the Joanna and community also experienced internal divisions or what would later be called schism in the Christian movement.'

💡Identity of Jesus

The identity of Jesus is a pivotal theme in the script, focusing on who Jesus is according to the Gospel of John. It is explored through various teachings and events, such as 'you are the holy one of God,' and is central to the disciples' faith and the community's understanding of Jesus' role.

💡Cross

The cross in the script symbolizes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, which is a central event in Christian theology. It is related to the teachings about Jesus' sacrifice and the salvation offered through it, as discussed in the context of 'the central event of the fourth gospel is the lifting up of the son of God on the cross and into resurrection.'

💡Resurrection

Resurrection in the script refers to the rising of Jesus Christ from the dead, a fundamental belief in Christianity. It is connected to the themes of eternal life and Jesus' identity, as seen in 'the lifting up of the son of God on the cross and into resurrection.'

💡Eucharist

The Eucharist is a sacrament in Christianity, symbolized by the breaking of bread, which is discussed in the script in relation to Jesus' teachings. It represents the communal participation in the memory of Jesus' sacrifice, as hinted at in 'the secondary focus is on the Eucharist.'

💡Johannine Community

The Johannine Community refers to the community of believers associated with the Gospel of John. The script discusses the context in which this Gospel was written and its relevance to the community's experiences, as in 'the pastoral setting is participation in the Eucharist without an adequate faith, in Jesus or an understanding of what happened for us in his death and resurrection.'

Highlights

Introduction to the final presentation on John 6, exploring the 'Bread of Life' discourse and the pivotal scene between Jesus and Peter.

The presentation sequence includes a welcome, reading of the text, examination of the chapter's context, background discussions, commentary, conclusions, and a prayer.

Gospel of John 6:60-69 raises the question of disciples' commitment, resonating with those who have faced challenges in their faith journey.

Jesus' teaching in John 6 is described as 'difficult', reflecting the challenge of accepting his identity and the significance of the cross.

The Johannine community experienced divisions, with some disciples turning away due to the challenging teachings on Jesus' identity and the centrality of the cross.

John 6:60-69 corresponds to Mark 8:27-30, highlighting the confession of Peter and the differences in how the Gospels present this event.

The Gospel of John follows a Markan sequence with adjustments, emphasizing the identity of Jesus and the eucharistic themes.

The expression 'to be put out of the synagogue' reflects the historical separation between Judaism and early Christianity.

The term 'scleros' in John 6:60 conveys the difficulty of the teachings, suggesting an adverse reaction due to their challenging nature.

Jesus' identity in the Fourth Gospel is portrayed as both human and divine, using the divine name 'I am' from the burning bush.

The central event of the Fourth Gospel is the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, which was a shocking revelation for the early Christian community.

John 6 emphasizes the necessity of the Spirit for life, contrasting the limitations of the flesh and the life-giving power of Jesus' words.

Peter's response to Jesus' question in John 6:67-68 is a declaration of faith, affirming Jesus as the source of eternal life and the Holy One of God.

The Gospel of John addresses the pastoral situation of the Johannine community, focusing on the identity of Jesus and the proper understanding of the eucharist.

The presentation concludes with a prayer for guidance to remain faithful to Jesus Christ, whose words are spirit and life.

Recommendation of Sean Gohain's book 'The Sign' for further exploration of the Fourth Gospel's themes and its relevance to contemporary faith.

Transcripts

a very warm welcome as always to all of

you to the final presentation on john

chapter six we come at last to the scene

between

jesus and peter with the great question

so i look forward to being with you

during this last presentation

the bread of life

exploring john 60 to 69 the conclusion

for this final presentation on john 6

we'll follow the following sequence

first of all a welcome and introduction

then we'll read the text itself

look at the place in the chapter as a

whole

and then we'll spend a good deal of time

on

various backgrounds

before coming finally to a commentary

some conclusions and as always a prayer

to conclude

so a very warm welcome again to

everybody

our gospel today has a question which in

a way jumps off the page do you also

wish to go away

that gospel will have a particular

resonance for us today some have indeed

gone away

and this leaves those of us who have

remained with the question why have i

not also gone away what keeps me engaged

in the christian project a good strong

personal question

and here is our gospel for today

john 6 60-69

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

for the last time we take a quick look

at john chapter 6 as a whole

and as seen in all the previous

presentations there are

six moments and we're in the fifth the

faith of peter versus 60 to 69 in fact

the remaining verses could also be added

as part of the scene

you may like to pause the presentation

here and glance once more at all of

chapter 6.

to appreciate this last scene we need to

go back to a slide which was in the very

first presentation that is

john's following of a markan sequence

and we saw there that inspired by mark's

double telling of the multiplication

john's gospel shows the following

sequence

number one the multiplication for five

thousand number two the walking and the

sea number three request for a sign

number four remarks on bread number five

the faith of peter and number six a

short one passion theme and betrayal

and you'll notice there on number five

that john 6

6069 corresponds more or less to mark 8

27-30 the confession of peter at

caesarea philippi

and here are the two texts directly

compared

we've already read john 6 so may read

mark 8 27-29

jesus went with his disciples to the

villages of caesarea philippi and on the

way he asked his disciples who do people

say that i am

and they answered him john the baptist

and others elijah and still others one

of the prophets

but he asked them but who do you say

that i am and peter answered him you are

the messiah

and there are many similarities i've

underlined a few of those so asked 12

peter answered and you are

of course john's gospel changes the

question and also changes the answer

we now come to the various backgrounds

and for this presentation i have

selected five

the expulsion from the synagogue the

schism in the community the core

teaching is difficult the identity of

jesus and the place of the cross

and we look briefly at each one of those

the community for which this gospel was

written experienced several critical

moments

and one of these critical moments is

registered in the text with a unique

expression to be put out of the

synagogue as you can see from the text

there this expression occurs in chapter

9 chapter 12 and chapter 16.

the main

story is the story of a man born blind

and this expression to be put out of the

synagogue is not something which

happened during the ministry of the

historical jesus but reflects the much

later painful parting of the ways

between judaism and emerging

christianity

the joanna and community also

experienced internal divisions or what

would later be called schism in the

christian movement

the evidence for this is in our verse in

john 6 66 they turned back and no longer

went about with him but also in the

first letter of john chapter 2 where we

read

children it is the last hour

as you have heard

that the antichrist is coming so now

many antichrists have come

from this we know that this it is the

last hour

they went out from us

but they did not belong to us for if

they had belonged to us they would have

remained with us but by going out they

made it plain that none of them belongs

to us

so some kind of

breakdown our division did occur

we can always ask what might have

triggered this and in fact john chapter

6 is a good clue with his teaching on

the identity of jesus and the centrality

of the cross

the expression this teaching is

difficult is found in john chapter 6

verse 60.

when many of his disciples heard it they

said this teaching logos is difficult

scleros

who can accept it and the word scleros

has a range of meanings it can mean

externally hard or rough in some way

it can also mean

causing an adverse reaction because of

being hard or harsh or unpleasant

it could also mean being difficult to

the point of being impossible implying

an adverse force that is unyielding

and number four being unyielding in

behavior or or attitude and the

metaphorical use here seem to point us

in the direction of

interpretations three and four so it's a

strong expression this is difficult to

the point of being impossible to accept

now we can always ask what teaching was

that that caused such a reaction

so in a very brief and inadequate way we

can ask what is the identity of jesus in

the fourth gospel and two things may be

said

first of all he comes across as a real

human being who gets tired who has

friends who can be angry and who suffers

when his friend lazarus dies

so very human

at the same time the only begotten son

the one who makes the father known the

word made flesh

and in this gospel jesus uses the divine

name i am who i am from the burning bush

and a few texts can illustrate this

very early in the gospel in 1 18 we read

no one has ever seen god it is god the

only son who is close to the father's

heart who has made him known

and in our chapter 6 48 i am the bread

of life using the divine name from the

burning bush

669 is worth repeating for the unique

expression we have come to believe and

know you are the holy one of god

and towards the end of the gospel thomas

makes a remarkable confession of faith

my lord and my god

so part of the problem for the some

members of the community was the very

high teaching about the identity of

jesus and his place in god

the significance of the identity of

jesus for this chapter is also apparent

from a slide i have used before

each of the sections as we saw lands in

on something about the identity of jesus

for the multiplication of the loaves

this is indeed the prophet a potential

king

for the walking and the sea it is i egoi

me the name of god

the request for a sign led to a

definition of jesus to believe in him

whom he has sent

in the remarks on the bread we saw

regularly i am the bread of life and

here we have you are the holy one of god

in section 5

and finally in section 6 the centrality

of jesus is clear because

the very last sentence is the one who

was going to betray him

so john 6 has in the foreground the

identity of jesus who is he for the

believing community a good question for

us also today

the central event of the fourth gospel

is the lifting up of the son of god on

the cross and into resurrection as

already anticipated in john 3 16.

this teaching that god revealed himself

and made himself known and offered

salvation through the brutal event of

crucifixion was always shocking

it was shocking already for the pauline

communities we read in 1 corinthians 1

as follows

for sins in the wisdom of god the world

did not know god through wisdom god

decided for the foolishness of our

proclamation to save those who believe

for jews demand signs and greeks desire

wisdom but we proclaim christ crucified

a stumbling block to jews and

foolishness to gentiles but to those who

are the called both jews and greeks

christ the power of god and the wisdom

of god

for god's foolishness is wiser than

human wisdom and god's weakness is

stronger than human strength

something of the challenge of believing

on the cross is in our

chapter 6 verses 52 to 57 where we read

as follows

then the jews disputed them on

themselves how can this man give us his

flesh to eat

so jesus said to them very truly i tell

you unless you eat the flesh of the son

of man and drink his blood you have no

life in you

those who eat my flesh and drink my

blood have eternal life and i will raise

them up on the last day

for my flesh is true food and my blood

is true drink

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

and we saw in a previous commentary on

verse 52 that the literal understanding

resembles the literal understanding of

nicodemus and the literal understanding

of the woman at the well in other words

it is a mistaken line of

interpretation if we ask ourselves when

in this gospel does jesus give his flesh

and his blood the answer is on the cross

because there is no lord's supper in the

fourth gospel

and that context to eat his flesh means

first of all to believe in the salvation

coming through the death and

resurrection of jesus and then at a much

secondary level to consume the sacrament

this remained a kind of shock for the

audience especially for those of jewish

background always

so with that great deal of background in

mind we can turn to our commentary

john 6 60

when many of his disciples heard it they

said this teaching is difficult who can

accept it

and be

it is not only the jews who react

negatively but his disciples that is

members of the joannaand community

and the teaching as we saw is to do with

the identity of jesus and the place of

the cross

verses 61-62

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

and this ascending is a double echo of a

previous theme of jacob's ladder in the

fourth gospel and also jesus own

resurrection we can see that in a couple

of quotations

in john 1 51

very truly i tell you you will see

heaven opened and the angels of god

ascending and descending upon the son of

man a clear echo of jacob's dream and

jacob's ladder

that's also echoed in 3 13 no one has

ascended into heaven except the one who

descended from heaven the son of man the

reference the resurrection then is clear

at the end of the gospel when jesus is

talking to mary magdalene

do not hold on to me because i have not

yet ascended to the father but go to my

brothers and say to them i am ascending

to my father and your father to my god

and your god

and the effect of this reference is to

increase the tension because does this

offend you means does the teaching of

the cross offend you what about the

teaching of the resurrection all the

more so

john 6

63 to 64.

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

in effect

these are passion themes

which is very consistent with the topic

of jesus death and resurrection

and the sentence the spirit that gives

light the flesh is useless echoes

something in mark 14 38

keep awake and pray that you may not

come into the time of trial the spirit

is indeed willing but the flesh is

weak and the passion theme continues in

the reference to betrayal which is

frequent in john's gospel and in john 6

71 judas son of simon iscariot is

actually named

as we saw many times the verb to believe

is vast in this gospel occurring no

fewer than 98 times

john 6 65 and he said

for this reason i have told you that no

one can come to me unless it is granted

by the father

and this reflects the mystery of grace

all have the same hunger the heart all

see the evidence of jesus but not all

believe

something similar was reflected earlier

in john 6 44

no one can come to me unless drawn by

the father who sent me

john 6 66

because of this many of his disciples

turned back and no longer went about

with him

it's worth noting that it is not the

jews at this point who walk away but the

disciples that really means members of

the later joanna in community

in the

historical jesus the story of rich young

man does show us a story of a person who

did walk away but on account of the

challenge of discipleship not on account

of the identity of

jesus and i put in there again that

quotation from

1 john 2 18 to 19 a little unkind it

says that those who went out from us

would not have gone out for us if they

had really belonged in the first place a

bit harsh i suppose in today's context

and so we come to the great question in

verse 67

so jesus asked the twelve

do you also wish to go away

and as i've noted before john's gospel

is peppered with really good questions

and as at caesarea philippi this

question seems to jump off the page and

address

us in our own time do you also wish to

go away

and it's good to give time to reflecting

on what answer would i give now at this

point in my life

when we come to the last two verses 68

and 69

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

and peter's first reaction is a

rhetorical question to whom can we go

implying no one else

and then you have

experience the experience of jesus his

words the gift of eternal life you also

have been there a journey of faith we

have come to believe and we know

and these

reactions from peter invite us to

reflect on our own experience and our

own journey of faith

in the center then is an affirmation

unique in the fourth gospel jesus is the

holy one of god

now this expression is used in the old

testament meaning men consecrate to god

in some way for instance samson in the

book of judges or aeron in psalm 106

but in john's gospel it seems to imply

more and i put there a quotation from

john 10

35-36 which might capture it if those to

whom the word of god came were called

gods and the scripture cannot be

annulled how can you say that the one

whom the father has made holy and sent

into the world is blaspheming because i

said i am god's son

and there's a longer reflection on the

consecration of jesus so to speak in

john 17 which would be worth meditating

on its own merits

having experienced together john chapter

6 and having mulled over it in the

various sessions

some conclusions can be indicated

the great journey of john 6 lands firmly

on the identity of jesus and his work

the cross really but not excluding the

resurrection

the writer made use of a traditional

sequence as also preserved in mark which

we saw several times with significant

adjustments

and the evangelist makes clear editorial

emendations so the text will speak to

the context of the joannen community of

faith at the time of writing using their

typical language of faith

and as i emphasized more than once the

primary focus of john 6 is on the

identity of jesus in each scene

and the secondary focus is on the

eucharist this reflects the pastoral

situation into which the evangelist is

writing

the pastoral setting is participation in

the eucharist without an adequate faith

in jesus or an understanding of what

happened for us in his death and

resurrection

this pastoral situation is not unknown

today of course and makes participation

in the eucharist difficult to understand

the writer continues his reflections on

the eucharist in john 13 at the washing

of the feet

a prayer in every age o god you give

your people freedom to walk in faith or

turn away

grant us grace to remain faithful to

your holy one whose words are spirit and

life

jesus christ our lord who lives and

reigns with you in the unity of the holy

spirit god forever and ever amen

so thank you very much everybody for

your patience and staying with this

program of six modules on john chapter

six i hope you found it worthwhile

it was a challenge for me to put all

this stuff together and try to make it a

bit relevant for us today i do believe

the chapter speaks to a pastoral

situation which is very like our own and

so it can help us today as we try to

make decisions for our future as

individual believers and as members of

the faith community

i also hope that this presentation on

john 6 would have intrigued you about

the fourth gospel which is such a

marvelous text and it's wonderful that

it survived and that we still have it

today to reflect upon

if you were to read any book on this

then i would certainly recommend sean

gohan's book the sign published by

dominican publications thanks very much

everybody