Study Desk

Then Jesus rode up on a hill and got off to rest. He sat with his cowboys around him.

After everyone had eaten their fill, Jesus told his cowboys, "Gather up the leftovers so that nothing goes to waste."

Then they reached out and gave him a hand as he climbed into the boat. His second foot had no more touched the floor of the boat than they felt the bottom scrape land. In the blink of an eye, they had miraculously arrived at their destination.

When everyone realized that Jesus and his cowboys were not around, they got in the boats to go look for him.

Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. Whoever rides for me will never be hungry again. Whoever gives his life to me will never be thirsty.

They said, "Isn't this the boy they call Jesus. Isn't this Joseph's son? We know both his parents. How can he say that he 'rode down from heaven'?"

When Jesus said this, the place erupted in arguments. "How can this man cut his flesh off and feed us all? This is preposterous!"

When the words had come out of his mouth, many of the day workers who had been trying to get on with Jesus walked out.

Obviously his brothers didn't even believe in who he was at this time.

After his brothers had left for Jerusalem, Jesus headed there at a long trot, too. But he went in secret.

The people listening marveled at his knowledge and wondered where he came by such wisdom without having attended seminary.

The Jewish leaders didn't know what to make of his comments. They thought he must be leaving the country or something.

"Is there a single one of us leaders who have fallen for his lies? Is there even one of us who believes in him?

"Does our Law convict a man before his side of the story is told?"

Jesus knew they were trying to trap him. He said nothing, but stooped down and started writing something in the dust with his finger.

They kept hounding him for an answer, but when he stood up, he said, "Stone her. But only the man who has never sinned, not even once in his entire life, may throw a stone."

Jesus was standing near the offering table when he said all this. No one tried to arrest him because his time had not yet come . . . but it would.

They still didn't understand that he was talking about his Father.

No, the reason you don't understand me is because your real father is the devil. He wants to kill me and so do y'all. He was a murderer in the beginning, and his bastard children act just like him. He has always despised the truth because he couldn't handle it. He lies because it's who he is. He is the father of lies.

Jesus said, "I'm not possessed by a demon. I bring honor to my Father, and you bring dishonor to his Son.