8-17-15 - Difficult Teaching

What kind of sermon did you hear yesterday? Hopefully something with some grit and challenge to it, but maybe not as outrageous as the folks in the synagogue in Capernaum heard from their homie, Jesus:

“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them… But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. (This week's gospel passage is here.)

I imagine they were wishing for a parable right about then, or for him to say he was talking in metaphors. But he just kept getting more and more graphic and direct, until even some of his disciples said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?”

This teaching is difficult. I was in a conversation about that yesterday, that this chapter in John’s gospel is among the most difficult passages in the whole New Testament to interpret. It’s somewhat comforting to know that it was as hard for his original audience, and not only that something got lost in 2000 years of translation.

But other parts of the Gospels are not much easier, when you think about it. Jesus’ parables often fly in the face of human ideals of fairness and good sense. Jesus’ miracles strike many today as unbelievable, and often offended people who witnessed them. Jesus can seem rude in his contentious interactions with religious authorities and harsh in his instructions to disciples. If we don’t find ourselves somewhat outraged on a regular basis, maybe we’re not reading this book deeply enough, or letting it get to us.

Today I invite you to read through these words aloud a few times and let them settle in you (an ancient way of reading Scripture called lectio divina). “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them… But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

First time through, just notice what sticks out for you, or what you get stuck on, like a snagged zipper. Don’t overthink, just notice. Then read it again and see what reactions you’re having to it – positive, negative, bored, engaged, inspired, despairing… what are you feeling? You might begin to talk with God about that reaction. Ask wondering questions if they come up.

Finally, read it again and contemplate what invitation you hear in this text. Pray that too.

Some of Jesus’ disciples turned away from him after he started saying these things. We are invited to stay with him and talk it out. Outrage can give way to deeper relationship.