A Hard Saying

 

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “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 6:66-69 ESV).

 

The context of our reading today reminds me of the old saying that describes a very difficult decision. Jesus’ teaching put the people “between a rock and a hard place.” The crowds want Jesus to be their King so He can provide for their daily lives. Jesus has so much more He wanted to give them. He shows this by talking about the manna God gave the Israelites in the wilderness. Sure, the manna sustained them day by day. However, it eventually failed them, and every one of them finally died. Jesus wanted to give something far greater than manna. He wants to give us Himself, the true Bread from heaven that allows a person to eat and live forever.

That was more than the crowds were willing to accept. They were offended when He said His flesh was that bread. Jesus knew they were upset. Yet rather than backing off, He turned up the heat and pushed even harder, "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." Many in the crowds rejected His terms, turned away and stopped following Him.

The question Jesus then asks of the Twelve is in our reading: “Do you want to go away also?” (v. 67). Peter’s answer is so clear. It is the summation of our plight. There is no one else who can give us eternal life. Jesus is the only One who can provide us with what we need to live forever. It is almost strange that the decision to trust Him is so difficult. It really shouldn’t be a “rock and a hard place” experience. There is no downside to following Jesus. Of course, life will still present its many challenges and difficulties; however, being powerless is not one of those difficulties. When we accept His grace, we will never stand alone against the enemy of life again. We need never fear or tremble before the specter of death again. He has conquered forever all our enemies.

 

Every human who encounters the King of kings through the Gospel reaches this fork in the road. Repent and believe in Jesus and you will live with Him in heaven forever. Turn away in unbelief and you will die forever. Choose life again today!