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 Setting
- The discourse is introduced by vs. 22-24, an awkward segue that provides
movement from the previous day’s events and the new setting of Capernaum.
Q/A -the crowds offer an awkward question in the Greek
text; the "when did you come here?" question is literally, "when have you been
here." It is q question that is a cross between, "When did you get here?" and
"How long have you been here?" Theologically, however, the meaning is much
deeper-it is a question of Jesus’ origins, a favorite theme in John (cf.
7:28). As Brown states, "the mention of the Son of Man and the bread from
heaven would constitute a theological answer to how Jesus had come here." [1]
Everlasting Life - Jesus speaks in John’s gospel of
eternal life not so much as a future reality nor as an endless time lime of
life beyond death. Rather, eternal life is a powerful metaphor for living now
in the unending presence of God. [2]
What Are The Works of God? - Vs. 28-30: performing the
works of God = performance of some specific, measurable act (28, 30). Jesus’
response indicates that works = faith in God (vs. 29, cf. 4:34).
Mini Exegesis of v. 35-I am the bread of
life. Whoever come to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will
never be thirsty. Note Jesus’ use of the e?? ??µ? ("I am") saying. The use
does not reveal Jesus’ essence but reflects his dealing with people, in this
case, his presence nourishes others. . . . comes to me . . . believes in me:
These two lines form a synonymous parallelism and echo Sirach 24:21-"Those who
eat of me [Wisdom] will hunger for more; and those who drink of me will thirst
for more." Sirach and John 6:35 are making a similar claim-in Jesus’ saying,
people will never hunger/thirst for anything other than Jesus’ own revelation
and presence. [1]
 Think of
double-entendre used in speech discourse. The meaning that occurs at two
levels creates the tension, the irony, and sometimes the humor of the literary
or verbal conversation. Recall such a conversation that you’ve had recently
that may shed some light on this lesson’s use of double-meaning in the
discourse between Jesus and the crowds concerning bread and eternal life.
Which of the five senses is most important to you in worship? How do the
senses work together to create meaning at the Table? Through the proclamation?
 This lesson would
provide an opportunity to explore how eucharist appears in the Gospels. You
might want to describe where the last supper event occurs in the life of
Jesus. In the synoptic gospels, not only does it come at the close of the
ministry of Christ, but it is front and center among the actual upper room
events. In John things are very different. The teaching about paraclete, the
prayer for unity and/or footwashing is at the core of the Last Supper.
Yet in this lesson we have John’s vision of eucharist. For the Johannine
community, all of Jesus’ life rather than a specific event, institutes the
sacrament of the eucharist. Jesus says that he is the food that gives life,
not manna, and in the eating of his flesh and the drinking of his blood
(6:53-56), believers share fully in eternal life. [3]
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[1] Raymond E. Brown, Anchor Bible, Vol. 29 (NY: Doubleday, 1966), page
263.
[2] The New Interpreter’s Study Bible (Nashville:
Abingdon Press, 2003), page 1919.
[3] Ibid, page 1920.
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