Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.
At this point in John's Gospel, Jesus is facing a lot of opposition from 'the Jews', as some translations say – it was really the Jewish leaders, who were threatened and worried by his revolutionary message, and modern translations tend to make this clear. There's no agreement on who he is. Some believe he is deceiving the people (verse 12). They are impressed by his miracles (verse 21) and wonder what the authorities are thinking (verse 26). Some are convinced he is the Christ (verse 31). The picture is one of uncertainty. We can imagine people whispering to each other, arguing and trying to make up their minds. No one, in John's account, is indifferent to Jesus: they all realise something important is happening.
In the meantime, Jesus calls on the authority of his Father, who sent him. He cuts through the muddle and hesitation with an appeal to experience: 'Whoever is thirsty should come to me, and whoever believes in me should drink' (verses 37–38).
We can spend a lot of time puzzling over the gospel, trying to work out exactly what we think about everything, weighing the pros and cons of every argument before we commit ourselves – and perhaps always finding another reason to do nothing. In the end, Jesus invites us to come and see whether it really does satisfy our spiritual hunger and thirst.
God, thank you for giving me the ability to think, reason and judge for myself. Help me to know when it's right simply to trust you, and to respond to the call of Jesus to come to him.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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