Wednesday, August 19, 2015

We

In the Gospel of John, Jesus performs seven miracles prior to his resurrection. Up until John 9, those are:
  • Turning water to wine
  • Healing the Official's son
  • Healing the lame man at the pool
  • The feeding of the 5,000
  • Walking on water
Perhaps the main thing we should note from each of those miracles is the belief of those involved, and this belief can be noted in many other stories from John as well. Some of those believing in Jesus along with each miracle are:
  • Mary, Jesus' mother 
  • The official, who "took Jesus at his word and departed" in John 4:50
  • The man healed by Jesus who met Jesus later after picking up his mat
  • The boy who offered his small meal 
  • The disciples
In the ninth chapter of John, Jesus performs another miracle and brings up a phrase he used earlier in chapter four while including his disciples in that phrase. The disciples are asking Jesus about whose sins caused this man's blindness, and Jesus explains that the blindness is there in order that God's work might be done. Jesus continues by using the image of light, which he has used before, saying of himself, "I AM the light of the world." Now, let us bounce back to John 4.

In John 4, Jesus is talking with a Samaritan woman while his disciples have gone into town to buy food. When they return, they are unaware that Jesus had been talking to the woman and told her that he is the Messiah who is being waited for. The disciples offer him the food and Jesus replies, saying, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." That work is what truly satisfies Jesus. The work of showing he who is the light of the world, the bread of life. 

In John 9, before Jesus heals the blind man, he tells his disciples, "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

In John 4, Jesus says that his sustenance is to do the work of God. In John 9, he includes the disciples in that kingly task: to do the work of God, that being to show Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus is the light of the world, and he has given us the responsibility, privilege, and ability to participate in the work. We must do the work of God, showing that Jesus is the light of the world. That is our true food.



In His Majesty's Service.

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