The last 24 hours had been quite eventful for Jesus and his followers. He multiplied bread and fish for thousands of people, the crowd tried to make him king by force, and he walked on water when his disciples struggled in the storm on the Sea of Galilee.

Now, on the following day, the preaching text begins with a conversation between the crowd and Jesus who is repeatedly claiming to be the true “Bread from Heaven.” Referring to the “manna” that miraculously fed the Israelites during their time in the desert, Jesus says that he is the true “manna” from God. Whoever looks to him and believes in him partakes of this living bread (John 6:40).

For the Jews this was an outrageous claim, especially considering that they called the Torah (the five books of Moses) God’s “Bread from Heaven.” So, just like their ancestors in the desert, the Jews started to grumble (verse 41). Suddenly, Jesus was nothing more than the carpenter’s son from Nazareth. How could he be the divine Word of God in human form? Forgotten were all the mighty miracles Jesus had just performed!

Grumbling and complaining makes us blind to who Jesus is and to his presence in our midst. It affects our ability to discern the truth.

Home Discussion/Reflective Questions:

• What are you grumbling about? And how does it affect your relationship with Jesus as well as with others?

• When surrounded by enemies, are you focusing on them or on the table the Lord is preparing for you in the midst of them (see Psalm 23)?

Jesus said that we need the help of the Father to be able to see him. He is the one drawing us to Jesus. Let’s ask him to free us from the blindness caused by grumbling and to make us hungry for Jesus, the true Bread from Heaven.