The cross of Jesus is the ultimate light through which we understand the world, find hope in sorrow, and experience freedom from sin.

Though most agree this famous story doesn?t belong in John?s Gospel, it stands as a vivid and beautiful illustration of the Bible?s consistent and clear message: sin is a universal problem (and not just someone else?s problem), but it is no match for the liberating power of Jesus?s grace.

In this chapter John develops the mounting tension over who Jesus is and how to respond to him. Along the way, he illustrates three ways to reject Jesus and the one way for anyone to embrace him. Ultimately, it?s all about the heart.

God is not like us, but he wants to make us like Him.

Jesus came to save people from their biggest problem: death.

Jesus uses vivid imagery as a metaphor for belief. He is the bread of life and the living water, and whoever feeds on his flesh and drinks his blood has eternal life.

The difference between life and death hinges on the difference between the work God wants from us and the work God does for us. According to Jesus, the work God requires of us is to believe on him. But it is God?s work to make us satisfied and to make us secure.

Like Matthew, Mark and Luke, John gives us the story of the feeding of the 5,000, where Jesus turns a glorified snack into a full meal for a massive crowd of hungry people. It?s a story meant to demonstrate that Jesus has power that isn?t limited by rigid laws of nature, that in him we catch a glimpse of a new world breaking into the somber limitations of this old one. But John also means this story to provide a sign of Jesus? purpose. He will use his power not necessarily to give us what we want but to give us what we need above all else.

In this dialogue with those who opposed him, having just claimed to be equal with God, Jesus points to the evidence that supports his claim. But his main focus is explaining why those who?ve seen the evidence still don?t believe in him. If we believe based on what we want, and if we want the respect and praise of other people, we?ll never believe in Jesus. But if we want the approval of God more than the approval of other people, Jesus becomes beautiful to us.

The words of Jesus in this passage are the words that got him killed. When we hear his words as they sounded to his first audience, it?s not difficult to understand why. He is making claims that are ridiculous at best and dangerous at worst?if they?re not true, that is. If they?re true?if he does have the power of God over life and death and judgment?then we must honor the Son.