The Lessons Get Tougher, The Crowd Gets Thinner
The text for this week is John 6:56-69. This passage, like the past several weeks, overlaps with the previous week’s text. The repeating verses talks about Jesus as the bread of life. I am not going to go over that aspect again. This text also contains a large lesson that we would do well to take to heart.
After hearing about the bread of life and what this says about Jesus, many of those who heard it said that “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it” (Verse 60). Indeed it is a difficult teaching, especially for those living in Jesus’s time. For those observant Jews the claims Jesus is making are stunning and profoundly important. He is claiming to be the one, the Messiah. All of Jewish prophecy has pointed toward this moment and now Jesus is claiming that this moment is here. Before we judge too harshly, we should ask ourselves how we would respond to someone claiming to be Jesus arriving for the Second Coming.
Jesus understands that His followers are complaining about this teaching. Jesus stands His ground and explains that what He has told them are “spirit and life” (Verse 63). He understands that some do not believe, but that no one can come to Him that does not believe. Verse 66 explains the outcome of this stand; “many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him”. This is not a phenomenon that ceased back in ancient times.
Many are turned away at the difficult teachings of Jesus. Maybe it is this loving your neighbor business, or more likely, the love your enemy command. These are difficult. The call of Christ to complete peace right here and right now is not difficult to understand but it is as hard as a heart attack to live out. There are many who fall away because the response to God’s gifts is too great a thing to contemplate. This may be a different set of specific complaints than the early followers had, but it is in the same class of complaint.
Sadly, there are many who drift away from Jesus not because of what Jesus has taught, but because of the misunderstanding of those who garble up His message. Specifically this means those who in some way or other teach that there are things you must do in order to be saved, as opposed to the truth (which Jesus brings up in this passage), that you simply believe, and are so saved. Whatever the reason the sad phenomenon continues to this day.
The Twelve Double Down, Will We?
As all this is unfolding Jesus asks the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” (Verse 67). Peter, of course, the Rock that he is, steps forward to answer for the group. “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Verse 68). Obviously not all of them kept their faith as we see with Judas, but the rest did-all the way to their martyrdom for most. They understand that there is nowhere else to turn. Jesus is offering them, and all of us, everything. He has placed this faith in all of us. The only truly acceptable response to this gift is to give concrete witness and follow Jesus as best we can.
There is a clear, if somewhat dispiriting message here. Many, perhaps most will in some fashion fall away. I have long been convinced that the followers of Jesus will likely not be a majority. Scripture is fairly clear that God does not expect a majority, but rather He seeks the remnant. We should strive to be among that remnant and pray that God’s mercy is wide enough to encompass everyone.
This is also another instructive element for us. We simply believe that Jesus has the words of eternal life and respond accordingly. Yes, this will be difficult. Yes, we will fall short, and faceplant, repeatedly. Yet, we have no other choice, as there is no alternative or substitute for what Jesus has given us, both the words and His sacrifice on the Cross and the hope of the empty tomb. Our response must be to follow, no matter how troublesome the teachings. I cannot put it any better than Peter did in Verse 69 “We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God”. Believe this, then obey accordingly.
Praise Be to God
