John – Chapter 6:32-40
6:32-33 “Jesus interprets the Scriptures” – Remember that Jesus called the Scriptures (5:39) and Moses (5:45-47) as witnesses to who He is. Jesus is the center and content of the Scriptures, i.e. “the truth.” The books of Moses are the basis for knowledge of Jesus’ identity. The history of Israel, especially the exodus, is the narrative framework of the story of Jesus. Thus, the final meaning of the exodus and the manna is in the mystery of Jesus’ person and work. This is also indicated by the strong contrasts of “not Moses,” the change of verb tense of “has given” to “gives,” and manna is bread from heaven but not “true” bread from heaven. 6:32-37 “I AM the Bread of Life” – Bread of God (v. 33) parallels the Lamb of God (1:29, 36). The Bread which God gives is His Son, given into death as the Paschal Lamb. While it seems Jesus doesn’t answer the crowd’s question, the answer is in this self-identification of Jesus. Jesus is not only the source of life, but He is also the content and substance of life. Therefore we have eternal life when we have Jesus. It is hard to not see in these word of Jesus a referenced to the eucharistic bread which he will give to those who come to Him and receive Him in faith. 6:37-40 “I have come to do the will of the Father” – Jesus reminds the crowd of the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. They, like the Israelites in the wilderness, see signs but do not commit heart and soul to their Redeemer. They, like the Israelites in the wilderness, remain murmurers. And, they like the Israelites in the wilderness, those in the crowd are in threat of going into death. The will of the Father that faithfully completed by Jesus (Mt 26:39, esp. use of comparable language in Mk 14:36 and Jn 6:38). God’s will to save is not only the cause but also the very content of the sending of the Word into the flesh. It is the will of God that Jesus not “lose” or “let perish” anything the Father has given Him. Faith is given in Jesus, and having Jesus we have possession now of the life that will be revealed fully at the end of time in the resurrection of the dead. 6:37-40 and…