The Uncomfortable Kingdom of God- (Free Version)
Tenth Sunday After Pentecost- 2 Samuel 11:26-13a; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:24-35
This week’s texts are all about discomfort. I’m not sure how to say it any other way. Our texts are messy. David is confronted by Nathan about his sin. Paul writes about the discontinuity that we often experience when we become a Christian. Jesus starts the long journey (that will continue for the rest of chapter 6 and the next few weeks in the lectionary) where he will tell the crowds that they need to eat his flesh and drink his blood.
Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams has been quoted as saying “everything you want is on the other side of hard.” There is a bit of this in these passages. This week, we hear a chorus of hard words, but they nevertheless ring true.
Yes, the Kingdom of God is certainly comforting to those who are downtrodden, poor, and oppressed. But the way of Jesus constantly challenges our other “hungers,” the things that we seek for fulfillment.
In our Old Testament text (2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a ) David came face-to-face with his own brokenness in the words of God through Nathan the prophet. Nathan tells a parable that revealed to David the depth of sin. David reached the point of discomfort, fully aware that he had sinned against God. This was the point of his forgiveness, salvation, and healing.
In our Epistle text (Ephesians 4:1-16) Paul tells the church that the Christian is to live “worthy of the calling to which you have been called,” (vs. 1). As we re-train our hungers, our palettes, we are to take on habits which lead to humility, gentleness, patience, love, unity, and peace (vs. 2-3). Yes, this is in a sense, “unnatural,” and uncomfortable. We are to move towards maturity, not being “tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine.” (vs. 14) Christian Unity is not easy or comfortable. But it is the way of the beautiful kingdom of God.
In our gospel text (John 6:24-25), Jesus begins what is perhaps his most controversial sermon. The way of the crowds, the way of worldly power chases after signs, hungering and thirsting for earthly dominating power. But the way of Jesus is so much different. Jesus challenges the crowds not to look for the signs, but to look for the better food, that which lasts. We are to partake in Jesus, the only one who ultimately sustains us.
The passage ends with the first of Jesus’ famous “I am” sayings. Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Jesus is our provision, our everyday sustenance. The miracle was the sign. Jesus is the food.
We are all longing to be nourished by Christ. We think that we want signs, want achievement, want someone to overthrow our enemies. Our palettes have been trained to hunger for these things. Christian formation is often about re-training our palettes.
We know that none of the things that we “eat” in order to satisfy our hungers will really do the job. Our stomachs continue to grumble. The response of the crowds in Verse 34 should be our prayer every day. “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘always give us this bread.’”
We are so glad that you are reading our weekly newsletter! Are you looking for more? Check out our different subscription tiers for more context, commentary and illustrations.
Our “Wade in the Water” subscription is 4+ pages long and features footnotes, more historical context, and exegetical content.
Our “Deep Dive” this week features more illustrations on ways that we obfuscate from our sin and responsibilities; thoughts from Saint Augustine on sin; and the messiness of the OT story. We also include more on the nature of the church; an illustration on “singing harmony;” and more! “Deep Dive” subscribers also have access to our weekly Zoom call with pastors!