January 20 Stop Grumbling

John 6:41-43 At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” 43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered.
 
A group response to the gospel can be life-changing or life-stopping. We see a life-changing response to Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5-7. Then at the end of this sermon we read in Matthew 8:2 When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. The Lord had spoken life into their souls, and they wanted more. The Word, who is God, drew people to him with His words.
   But here in John 6, the Jewish leaders did not believe Jesus. Their words represent the world’s unbelief today. Jesus was born of a woman. Was he really born of a virgin? He’s Joseph’s son and has lived among the Jews in a very average family. How can he be the son of God? Certainly no sign of heaven’s blessings was exhibited through this common man Jesus.
   Yes, they were incredulous that Jesus claimed he had come from heaven. But did they not see? Had they forgotten the power of his words? Cripples walked. Blind saw. Deaf heard. Winds stilled. Thousands fed. Why did the Jewish authorities negate the miracles and refuse to raise Jesus from “Joseph’s son” to “the Bread of Life”?
   Jesus gave to them a first step to belief, “Stop grumbling among yourselves.” Grumbling is complaining and generally focusing on our own opinions. Certainly, we know it all! We grumble when the teacher assigns a paper, or the preacher speaks to our sins. We grumble against God when the prayer seems unanswered. Grumbling against Jesus’ church is epidemic and often a reason for its demise in a community. What’s wrong? Don’t we believe the power of Jesus’ words?
   The Jews could have remembered how John the Baptist affirm Jesus’ as the anointed Savior. They needed to be quiet and open the Scriptures to see how God prophesied the Savior would come to them. This “son of Joseph” had done remarkable things. How could they explain that?
 
Prayer: Remove any grumbling from my heart, Lord, so I have a clear mind to know you more. Amen.