This week we wrap up our tour of John 6 with the conclusion to the story: many of Jesus’ disciples turn back, but Peter affirms on behalf of the Twelve that Jesus has the “words of eternal life.” We see that in fact the whole chapter presents a Christology in which Jesus is the one who gives life. We also discuss more of the Reformers’ views about this, some of which are rather “literal.” We conclude with a discussion of taking the Bible “literally.”

This week we discuss the second part of Jesus’ “Bread of Life” discourse. His speaking about eating his flesh and drinking his blood in connection with faith seems to constitute a Johannine version of the words of institution for the Lord’s Supper. We also discuss the “Eucharistic Controversy” in the Reformation era, and finally ask, “What difference does it make” how we view the Lord’s Supper.

This week we discuss the first part of Jesus’ “Bread of Life” discourse. While Jesus calls the crowds to faith in himself as the “bread of life,” they continue to misunderstand. The Reformers disagree about whether Jesus’ words have eucharistic significance. And we discuss what it means to be “drawn” to Jesus.

This week we discuss Jesus' interaction with the crowds that searched for him after he fed the 5000. This passage prepares us for the "Bread of Life" discourse next week.

This week we discuss John’s version of Jesus’ feeding the 5000 and walking on the water as a basis for the “Bread of Life” discourse that will follow in John 6. We also look at Calvin’s more pastoral insights on the implications for the Christian life. Finally, we discuss the uniqueness of John’s account in light of the particular perspectives of John’s Gospel as a whole.

This week we discuss Mark’s version of Jesus’ feeding the 5000 and walking on the water in light of the very negative assessment he gives regarding the faith of the Twelve. We discuss Calvin’s take on this, especially his emphasis on the role of Jesus’ teaching, and the connection between the Lord’s Supper and all our meals. Finally we discuss the implications of Jesus’ compassion for our ministry today.

This week we discuss the death of John the Baptist in light of the corruption in the Herodian family, and in light of the hope of the resurrection as the final resolution of all injustice.

This week we discuss the episode at Nazareth in Mark’s Gospel in comparison with Matthew and Luke. We discuss how Jesus’ exercise of the “authority” of the kingdom of God is impacted by the unbelief of the people. We also discuss how even the disciples, who in Mark’s Gospel still don’t understand, are nevertheless enabled by Jesus to do the work of the kingdom, because it was God’s grace that was doing the work.

This week we talk about Jesus’ healing of a woman who’s faith he commends by saying “your faith has saved you.” Her faith then becomes the example for a Jewish Synagogue leader, whose twelve-year-old daughter dies, but Jesus raises to life. We talk about the miracles in general as they relate to our faith today.

This week we discuss Jesus’ stilling the storm as Mark frames it in comparison with Matthew and Luke. In Mark’s Gospel, the focus is on yet another demonstration of Jesus as the one who has the authority to enact the kingdom of God. We discuss the Reformers’ interpretations regarding the faith of the Apostles, and then we conclude with an examination of the theology behind the notion that “Jesus stills the storms of life”