Jesus’ Hard Line
Jesus meets up with some of the people from the ‘massive supper’ and gives them a hard line they have to cross to be His. Many turn away.
Jesus is discovered on the other side of the lake by some who heard His message. As He speaks to them, He gives them a spiritual truth that they take as a physical challenge. And they don’t like it. IF it were a physical requirement, I wouldn’t like it either. Here is an example of those that have ears to hear, let them hear.
Jesus is in Gennesaret, healing any who will reach out and touch Him. His absence is discovered by those who ate from His hand the night before. They go in search of Him. Let’s join Jesus as He is discovered by the people.
Holy Spirit, lead this journey again. Help me have ears to hear and eyes to see. I know the story already. But I also know that there is more to Your stories than what is on the surface. Dig deep Holy Spirit and let me drink of the fresh water You have waiting there.
♥ ♦ ♥
Morning has broken on both sides of the Sea of Galilee. Those who had spent the day listening to Jesus, and the evening eating from His table, start looking for Him. They want more! More of whatever He will give to them.
As they search, they come up empty. They begin trying to reason out what might have happened.
“I know there weren’t any other boats than the one He put His disciples in. And we know He didn’t leave with them. So, where can He be?”
As they ponder this question, they notice boats from Tiberias approaching the shore.
“Let’s follow His disciples and see if they can tell us where He is.”
“They might not know. He sent them out on their own before. Maybe He did it again.”
“Well, we aren’t going to find out anything standing around here. And His disciples are as good a place to start as anywhere.”
It is agreed. The men on shore begin to wave to the boats; trying to get their attention. Success! One fishermen waves back, then makes his way to shore.
“Shalom. What can I do for you” the fisherman asks.
“We would like to go over to Capernaum. Jesus was sending His disciples in that direction last night.”
“How many of you want to go?”
Hands shoot up all over.
“I can’t take you all myself. Let me signal my partners. Together we should be able to help you, for a fee.”
A price is quickly agreed upon and the rest of the boats come in to load passengers. The wind is very favorable today so it only takes two hours to reach the shore where the disciples’ boat is moored.
Those looking for Jesus quickly exit the boats. They can clearly see Jesus among the people.
“How did He get here?”
“I have no idea, but I’m going to ask Him.”
The whole group moves towards Jesus. When He turns in their direction, the boldest of the group poses the question on everyone’s mind.
“Rabbi, when did you come here?” (John 6:25).
Jesus looks over the whole group. He knows their hearts, and He responds directly to their motivation. “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal” (John 6:26-27).
The men in the group all look at one another. They are willing to work. “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” (John 6:28).
Jesus locks eyes with each of them before He answers. “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” (John 6:29).
The boldest man puffs out his chest. “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat’” (John 6:30-31).
Jesus disciples have been listening in. Simon is ready to jump on this one. He KNOWS that they KNOW they just saw signs. Jesus puts His hand up to halt Simon.
Jesus answers them. “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:32-33).
The men’s eyes go wide with excitement. This is what they are waiting for. “Sir, give us this bread always” (John 6:34).
As Jesus looks at them, His face shows no trace of guile or deception as He answers. “I am the bread of life;…” Jesus pauses, ensuring they are all paying attention. “… whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst…”
The men’s faces grow greedy. This is exactly what they want. To never be hungry or thirsty again.
Before the men can say anything, Jesus continues. His voice is firm and His eyes piercing. “… But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:35-40).
Mouths both hang open and snap shut. In their hearts, they are thinking, “Just who does He think He is?” The bold man speaks out again. This time he addresses his comment to the others in his group. “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” (John 6:41).
“Just like in Nazareth” Simon thinks to himself. “I wonder if they are going to try and do the same thing now as they did there.” Simon stands ready to step in front of Jesus; to protect Him.
Jesus isn’t even fazed by their behavior. He expected this, because He KNOWS those that the Father has given Him. These are not them.
“Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh” (John 6:43-51).
Faces go red in the crowd. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (John 6:52).
Jesus’ line turn hard and firm. NO line in the sand that can be washed away. He lays down a spiritual truth that only those whom the Father reveals it to can understand. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever” (John 6:53-58).
Those who had followed Jesus to Capernaum turn and leave. They refuse to hear any more.
Many of His lesser disciples begin to question in themselves too what Jesus’ words.
“This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (John 6:60).
Jesus knows what His followers are thinking. He also knows that not all of those who follow Him do so for the right reasons. They are not ‘called by the Father’ to be His own. Jesus questions them.
“Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe” (John 6:61-64). Jesus shakes His head. “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father” (John 6:65).
Jesus moves from the seashore and begins teaching this same message in the synagogues of Capernaum. After several of them refuse to allow Him entrance, the disciples who were questioning, turn away from Him.
Jesus watches His following dwindle day by day. After a week of departures, Jesus turns to those He has specifically called.
“Do you want to go away as well?” (John 6:67).
Simon looks at Jesus with the most trusting face ever. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).
Jesus smiles at His chosen twelve. Then His face turns solemn. “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil” (John 6:70).
All the disciples wonder at Jesus’ words. How could one of them be ‘a devil’? Who could it be?
(to be continued)
Even the disciples who stayed with Jesus didn’t really understand what He was saying. They fully believed that Jesus was the Son of God, but had no idea what was required of Him. He gave His body and blood to redeem us. “Eating” His flesh and “drinking” His blood is symbolized in the communion we take as believers. That is as close as we get to physically imbibing. But when we accept the sacrifice of His body. How His stripes are for our healing. How His blood washes us clean of our sins. How His presence in our lives makes them what they could NEVER be apart from Him.
Father God, thank You for sending Jesus! For making the plan of salvation even before You began the process of creation. You KNEW what would be required and STILL went through with it all.
Jesus, I want to eat of Your body and drink of Your blood ALL the time! I want to be filled with Your Spirit at all times. And to be Your body here on earth. Let me be Your hands and feet. Maybe just Your fingers on the keyboard.
