Conflict is a natural part of human interaction and can lead to positive change and transformation. However, it can also be difficult and debilitating and will often require a willingness to listen well and some generosity of spirit for broken relationships to be restored. Even so, external help may sometimes be needed and there is a growing body of support and training is available (see, for example, Positive Working Together). Today we return to the feeding of the multitude and the discussion about it, which forms the remainder of the chapter and the remainder of our week’s studies. Key concepts today are the origin and the qualities of the bread of heaven. When God speaks to us he may ask for a sacrifice. Have you ever found God asking more of you than you feel able to offer? Think of a time in your life when someone took an interest and showed they cared by encouraging you to be better or to go further. How did that motivate you?

When Jesus refers to the 'yeast' of the Pharisees and Herod in verse 15, this is because in many places in the Old Testament yeast was used as a symbol of influence, often negatively. (Interestingly, Jesus unusually uses yeast in a positive way, as a sign of the kingdom, in Luke 13:21 – the difficulty of metaphor!). Jesus is warning his disciples that they are in danger of seeing the world through corrupted eyes, even while in the company of himself. There may be another of Jesus’ sighs of exasperation that they are concerned about having enough to eat, when he is with them and is the ‘bread of life'. Besides, haven’t they seen him produce a miraculous bounty of food for thousands of people? One can almost hear Jesus’ thoughts about what more is needed to convince people that he is the Messiah. This is a passage of scripture that upsets our assumptions about what God is like. It has a radical effect on our understanding of what God expects from us. Those who confess Jesus as Lord should not be looking for status or power. They should not be acting from selfish ambition or conceit. Rather, they should be considering others before themselves, having the same mind that was in Christ. Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.' (vs 21-22) Why do you think the author of the second letter of Peter is so vehement in his criticism of the false teachers?Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, 'God is great!' (Psalm 70:4)

Good hospitality would have been essential at the wedding, especially as it would have possibly lasted over several days. To run out of wine would have been a huge problem for the hosts. Perhaps Mary is close to the hosts, she is certainly concerned enough to involve her son, and it is implied in the text that she already has a knowledge of his power. She is confident enough to say to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” ( v. 5). We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. (v. 18) Then he said to them all, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’ (v. 23) In the words of the hymn "Jesus bids us shine" we are each called to do our bit in our own location: "You in your small corner and I in mine." Are there things you and your friends might do to make the world a fairer place? What can we learn about the Lord’s purpose for the world from reading about the relationship between the brothers? How might it speak to us today?What do you make of the interaction between Jesus and his mother? Who has shown confidence in you in your faith life? Today is Remembrance Sunday, when many of us will gather with our local community at war memorials. The nation will fall still and silent at 11am. It shall be the profound silence of a people gathered to remember. And some of us will be truly remembering what it is like – for we have served and know the sights and sounds and smells of battle. And some of will be remembering what it is like – for we have loved and lost family and friends in conflict. And some of us will be remembering what we have been told, what we have been shown, what we have been taught about wars and conflicts that have affected the wider community of which we are a part. We shall indeed be a part of the profound silence of a people gathered to remember. Being the obedient servant that God had recognised, Noah got on with the job in hand. No doubt his neighbours thought he was crazy. He built the ark according to the instructions he had been given and prepared for the deluge to come. He is totally obedient to God’s instructions the text tells us ( v. 22) and so the preparations are made. We are not told how Noah’s neighbours reacted to the preparations he is making. Did they question him? Did they ridicule him for looking to something he believes is coming through his faith in God? When we left the story of Joseph last week, he had just been sold into slavery by his brothers. Much has happened in the meantime. Joseph’s skill and integrity have brought him to a position of high responsibility in the house of Potiphar, a government official in Egypt. That same integrity has led him to reject the sexual advances of Potiphar’s wife and resulted in his imprisonment on false charges. While in prison his skill in interpreting dreams has become recognised, so much so that when King Pharaoh has a troublesome dream Joseph not only interprets it to tell of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine but advises how to respond to the situation. As a result Joseph is put in charge of the whole of the land of Egypt. In telling this story the author of the book of Genesis states more than once that “the Lord was with Joseph” so he prospered. In what ways have you noticed yourself or others trying to fit Jesus into your or their own agenda or projects?