"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 25 November 2016 with Scripture John 6:25-35

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 25 November 2016 with Scripture John 6:25-35 
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John 6:25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Yeshua answered, “Yes, indeed! I tell you, you’re not looking for me because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate the bread and had all you wanted! 27 Don’t work for the food which passes away but for the food that stays on into eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For this is the one on whom God the Father has put his seal.”
28 So they said to him, “What should we do in order to perform the works of God?” 29 Yeshua answered, “Here’s what the work of God is: to trust in the one he sent!”
30 They said to him, “Nu, what miracle will you do for us, so that we may see it and trust you? What work can you perform? 31 Our fathers ate man in the desert — as it says in the Tanakh, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[John 6:31 Psalm 78:24; Nehemiah 9:15] 32 Yeshua said to them, “Yes, indeed! I tell you it wasn’t Moshe who gave you the bread from heaven. But my Father is giving you the genuine bread from heaven; 33 for God’s bread is the one who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread from now on.” 35 Yeshua answered, “I am the bread which is life! Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever trusts in me will never be thirsty.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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The readings for the first Sunday of Advent all speak in some way about "that day"--about some time in the future for which we wait. Perhaps it's a bit presumptuous to say that no one likes waiting; I know I don't like to wait! But clearly to speak of "that day" is in some way inviting us to wait. And also inviting us to reflect on God's timing. Two things we can know about that timing: one, we can be confident that the future is in God's hands, and two, "no one knows about that day and hour." The Son of Man is surely coming, but that coming may be at "any time." So the call is to the watchfulness and readiness of waiting, to Advent's invitation to live with imaginations and visions tuned to what God has in store. Waiting takes energy. It takes diligence not to be lulled by the same-old, same-old of each day as we wait for the timing and mystery of God's salvation to unfold. 
O God of our waiting, fill us with energy and hope as we live in confidence that our future is in your hands, and in the sure and certain promise that is ours in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
James L. Boyce, '71
Emeritus Professor of New Testament and Greek, Luther Seminary
John 6:25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"
26 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal."
28 Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?"
29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
30 So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing?
31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "
32 Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
34 They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."
35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. [New Revised Standard Version]

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