The Spirit Gives Life

AM Psalm 5, 6 • PM Psalm 10, 11
Job 6:1-4,8-15,21 • Acts 9:32-43 • John 6:60-71

In our gospel reading today, people are bailing on Jesus. He had just explained to them the symbolism of communion, and, to their credit, it sounded like he was instructing them to eat him. Apparently literalists have been struggling since the beginning. It opens up with their reaction to his teaching. “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Since they couldn’t wrap their brains around it, they left.

It’s easy to surmise that the appeal for these people was the message of eternal “life.” Even when the crowd left, the twelve stayed because they had recognized that Jesus’ message was about eternal life. Again, stepping away from literalism allows for a much broader perspective on both the Spirit and life. 

Jesus gives us a clear challenge to change perspective: “It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is useless.” So what is our definition of “life”? I think the error they were making and many make today is being focused on the flesh-based life. Of course, the main foundation of our experience on this earth is our flesh-based life, but it is when we can understand that it is merely the vehicle that carries us on a spiritual journey, then we are able to find and draw on the Spirit. The Spirit moves in every way around our flesh-based lives. Recognizing it allows a peace that surpasses whatever is happening to our body. The more we come to understand this truth, the more we recognize the Spirit at work, we can assist with that work by flowing with the spirit, and that is the key to “life” that has eternal impact on the world around us. 

This is a hard teaching. May God give us the wisdom today to begin to accept it. 

Written by Dan Robinson

Dan Robinson is the Media Ministries specialist at St. Paul’s, overseeing the streaming of services online.