Lenten Reading and Devotion - March 10, 2023

For thought and reflection this week, I want us to look at one simple word from this week's readings. It is found in John 6: 41, 43, and 44 (NIV), and it is the word "grumbling." As we come to the context in which the term is used in chapter 6, Jesus has fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. Then afterward, there were twelve baskets full of bread left over. He has given abundantly, but the people want more. Jesus declares himself The Bread of Life, and both the
Jews and the disciples grumble and complain. His words and actions never seem enough for those around Him. So, John here uses the word grumble to describe their responses to Jesus in chapter 6.

Now, if you have read the Old Testament, you know John is striking a chord with Jewish readers. Part of their history was God delivering them from Egypt and then providing for them. In the wilderness, God provides bread from heaven to keep them alive. Yet even with God as their provider and deliverer, they grumbled! The God of the universe delivers a people out of slavery, but they still grumble! Jesus, the Bread of Life, provides physical food, miraculous healings, phenomenal
teachings, and offers eternal life...yet they grumble!

We would like to say, "those people in the Bible are crazy! We would never do that..." But let's be honest; we are just like them. God gives us an abundance of grace, love, and material possessions... yet we always find something to grumble about, don't we? He gives us everything we need, but we want something or someone else. Somehow, we are never satisfied or thankful for what God has given or still offers.

So, may I suggest we do two things for this season of Lent? One, stop
grumbling or complaining. We are too blessed to be grumbling. Second, start being more thankful to God for what He has given us. Our salvation, family, friends, and much more make God worthy of our praise.

Have you meaninglessly grumbled or complained about something or someone this week? Take time daily from now on to literally count your blessings. Take time each day to thank God for five blessings He has placed in your life.

Brother Chip
 

John 10:22-42

Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims

Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.”And in that place many believed in Jesus.