July 23, 2021

Just As I Am

Elizabeth Mae Magill | Read John 6:14-15

(Image: Pixabay)

All of us—perpetrators or survivors of crimes, sharers or eaters of bread and fish—all of us need time away.

There are many bits of scripture like this one, where Jesus withdraws to be by himself. In two lines here, half a sentence there, scripture shows us that Jesus needs time alone. His work requires deep compassion—caring for individuals and crowds, teaching and preaching, and arguing with religious leaders, with the disciples, with large expanses of people. In between those encounters, Jesus pulls away.

Why?

These are Jesus’ sabbath moments. Time away allows space to connect to God and to remember the purpose of the work he is doing. God wants Jesus to be who he is called to be—and that is hard! So Jesus takes space to be with God just as he is.

God calls us to ministry as well, ministry to the world we live in. As the world storms around us, we must take some time away. Think of it as shelter from the waves that threaten to overwhelm us. This break from the work enables us to avoid the trap of being blown every which way by the crowd; it helps us to see through the fog, to find the direction God is sending us.

Time apart cuts down on thinking we are in charge, making the ministry about us instead of about Jesus. The crowd in this story wanted to make Jesus king. Pulling away returns him to God’s image of kingdom instead of the earthly view of a king.

God loves us just the way we are. To be fed by that love we need time with God, alone—in the mountains, in the wilderness, by the sea, wherever we are able to get away and spend time with our Creator. This time allows us to feel God’s affirmation, redirection, encouragement, and peace.

Holy God, push me into a silent, private space so that I may hear what you are sharing with me. Amen.

Pray the Scriptures Using Audio Lectio
Read John 6:1-21

John 6:1-21

¹ After this Jesus went across the Galilee Sea (that is, the Tiberias Sea). ² A large crowd followed him, because they had seen the miraculous signs he had done among the sick. ³ Jesus went up a mountain and sat there with his disciples. ⁴ It was nearly time for Passover, the Jewish festival. ⁵ Jesus looked up and saw the large crowd coming toward him. He asked Philip, “Where will we buy food to feed these people?” ⁶ Jesus said this to test him, for he already knew what he was going to do. ⁷ Philip replied, “More than a half year’s salary worth of food wouldn’t be enough for each person to have even a little bit.” ⁸ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, ⁹ “A youth here has five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that for a crowd like this?” ¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass there. They sat down, about five thousand of them. ¹¹ Then Jesus took the bread. When he had given thanks, he distributed it to those who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish, each getting as much as they wanted. ¹² When they had plenty to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces, so that nothing will be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves that had been left over by those who had eaten. ¹⁴ When the people saw that he had done a miraculous sign, they said, “This is truly the prophet who is coming into the world.” ¹⁵ Jesus understood that they were about to come and force him to be their king, so he took refuge again, alone on a mountain. ¹⁶ When evening came, Jesus’ disciples went down to the lake. ¹⁷ They got into a boat and were crossing the lake to Capernaum. It was already getting dark and Jesus hadn’t come to them yet. ¹⁸ The water was getting rough because a strong wind was blowing. ¹⁹ When the wind had driven them out for about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the water. He was approaching the boat and they were afraid. ²⁰ He said to them, “I Am. Don’t be afraid.” ²¹ Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and just then the boat reached the land where they had been heading.

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Lectionary Week

July 19–25, 2021

Scripture Overview

The Bible is filled with the stories of imperfect people. David is a classic case. In Second Samuel he uses his power to have sex with another man's wife, tries to cover it up, and then plots the murder of her husband. How can this be the same man who penned this week’s psalm, which decries the foolishness of people who act in a godless way? Like us, David was a fallen person who needed God’s extravagant mercy. In Ephesians we read of this same extravagance given through Christ, whose power can do what we cannot—namely redeem all of us who are also foolish and fallen. The Gospel author demonstrates the power of Jesus through what he describes as “signs,” which Jesus performed not primarily to amaze the onlookers but rather to point them to his identity as the Son of God.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

Read 2 Samuel 11:1-15. Where in today’s world do you see the selfishness of powerful people bringing tragedy for people with less power?
Read Psalm 14. Do you number yourself among the wise who “seek after God”? Why or why not?
Read Ephesians 3:14-21. How does “being rooted and grounded in love” manifest itself in your life?
Read John 6:1-21. Where do you see yourself in this story?

Respond by posting a prayer.

Just As I Am

The Wisdom of the Body

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Just As I Am

John 6:14-15

John 6:1-21

The Wisdom of the Body

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