Wednesday 8 July 2026

Psalm 71:1-16

Background
Do you ever notice that when something unexpected happens, our first reaction is often to ask, "What does this remind me of?" We instinctively try to make sense of new experiences by comparing them with things we already know.

That may be what is happening in today's gospel reading. The crowd have witnessed the feeding of the multitude (John 6:1-14) and are trying to understand what it means. Their minds immediately turn to Moses and when the Israelites received manna in the wilderness. (Exodus 16:1-36)

It is easy to read their question critically. John's Gospel has already told us that many of these people had been following Jesus because of the signs they had seen him perform. Yet here they ask, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you?"

Before we criticise them, it may be worth asking a different question: what has caused them to ask this? What has shaped their thinking?

The feeding miracle has reminded them of Moses. The bread has reminded them of manna. They are trying to understand a new experience through a familiar story.

This may explain why the crowd struggles to grasp the significance of what has happened. The story of Moses helps them understand part of what they have seen, but it may also prevent them from seeing something more. Sometimes the experiences that help us understand God can also shape what we expect God to do.

Most of us can recognise that experience. Sometimes we only understand the significance of an event much later. We look back and realise that there was more going on than we first recognised. What seemed ordinary turns out to have been important. What seemed confusing begins to make sense.

Today's passage invites us to notice not only what we are looking at, but also what shapes the way we see. Like the crowd, we often interpret new experiences through familiar stories, past experiences and long-held assumptions. Sometimes those stories help us understand what God is doing. But sometimes they can prevent us from seeing something more.

To Ponder:

• What do you think caused the crowd to ask for a sign, despite everything they had already seen?
• Can you think of a time when you only understood the significance of an event much later?
• What experiences, assumptions or expectations shape the way you see Jesus today?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, help us to see beyond our assumptions and expectations. When we struggle to understand what you are doing, give us patience and faith. Open our eyes to your presence and help us to recognise your work in our lives and in the world around us. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Stuart Reed
Stuart is Acting Superintendent Minister of the South East Cornwall Methodist Circuit and will become Superintendent Minister in September 2026. He lives in Looe with his wife and their labrador. He is father to two and grandfather to one, and enjoys walking the Cornish coast. He is still conducting extensive research into where to find the best pasties and ice cream in Cornwall.