BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

Jesus has been traveling around and healing people wherever he goes. But the religious elite take offense to the point of plotting to kill him. Why? Healing people isn’t bad, but he’s doing it on the Sabbath, and the leaders see this as an obvious violation of God’s law. But they also saw Jesus’ acts of healing as breaking an even more serious law.

After Jesus miraculously fixes a paralyzed man’s broken back, “the Jewish leaders were trying even harder to kill him [Jesus] because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was also calling God his own Father, thus making himself equal with God” (John 5:18).

Jesus does not refute this accusation—he doubles down. Jesus says he and the Father are one. He is saying that eternal life comes through him and that the Hebrew Scriptures are being fulfilled in him. Notice Jesus’ courage here. This isn’t a macho attitude or an aggressive dismissal of his opposers. This is fearless truth-telling in the face of murderous hatred. Jesus speaks every word with love, seeking to rescue and heal everyone, including his enemies.

In contrast to the response of the religious leaders, the crowds often favor Jesus and welcome his gift of life and healing. In John 6, as Passover approaches, the people follow Jesus into the wilderness, eager to benefit from a miracle-working prophet. There, Jesus feeds the hungry multitude with bread and meat, recalling the way Yahweh once fed Israel with bread, or manna, and quail meat in the wilderness.

The crowd’s response? They see Jesus’ power and want to take it for their own advantage. Jesus can make our dreams come true, they think, so let’s seize him and make him our king (John 6:15). Jesus escapes across the sea, but the persistent crowd tracks him down, demanding answers and more food. Jesus’ responses drive away the crowds and most of his followers. Peter speaks for the small remnant who stays: Where else could we go? Only you, Jesus, speak words of eternal life.

Reflection Questions

• What claims does Jesus make about himself in today’s reading? How do his signs and miracles validate those claims?
• Meditate on John 6:25-29. What parallels can you see to the story of the woman at the well in John 4?