John 6:60-69 The Message
Too Tough to Swallow
60 Many among his disciples heard this and said, “This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow.”
61-65 Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this rattle you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”
66-67 After this, many of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: “Do you also want to leave?”
68-69 Peter replied, “Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We’ve already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fideles! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen
What If We See A Vision of the Ascended Savior?
John 6:60-65 Amplified Bible
60 When many of His disciples heard this, they said, “This is a difficult and harsh and offensive statement. Who can [be expected to] listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, aware that His disciples were complaining about it, asked them, “Does this cause you to stumble and take offense? 62 What then [will you think] if you see the Son of Man ascending to [the realm] where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh conveys no benefit [it is of no account]. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life [providing eternal life]. 64 But [still] there are some of you who do not believe and have faith.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “This is the reason why I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him [that is, unless he is enabled to do so] by the Father.”
“Jesus Saves! Jesus Saves! Jesus Saves!
It may seem easy, at first, to line up, follow Jesus when we hear His promise of forgiveness, mercy and grace and salvation, and the promise of new life for us.
We naturally latch onto Jesus’ words of encouragement and reassurance.
The words are a source of great comfort, a source of Shalom Shalom we have been searching for, been reaching far into the depths of the vast universe for.
They are strange words at first because no one has taken the time to teach us, no one has taken the time to converse with us, nor even introduce them to us.
They are the “gotcha” words meant to immediately draw our attention away from all of the unholy hullabaloo which surrounds and swirls like a whirlwind.
Yes! Undoubtedly, these words will gain our attention at there spoken sound.
We will look at each other in wonder – “did we actually hear them?” gravitate towards the speaker of such unheard of words – highly curious – not really are we focused on anything of consequence beyond just the hearing and the talker.
What are they supposed to mean to us?
What are they meant to inspire us to do?
Are we just supposed to stand there and listen to someone give a short speech and then when they are done – then what – walk away for whatever reason?
We have heard these “motivational speeches” before – “Take them or Leave?”
Walk away, inspired or uninspired or disappointed, discouraged because we have no idea what was said or its implications means we have to commit to something we are sure we are no where near convinced of its true necessity?
And besides, the speaker is only going to go their own way and make the same speech somewhere else down the road – like any politician we have ever known.
“Get Out the Vote!” “Get Out and Vote for Me” “Because “Promises, Promises!”
Except, in our text, Jesus is not trying to be some sort of short term, mouthy political figure, another self absorbed, egotistical Temple Leader or any divine cheerleader waving those first century pom poms in all, every which direction.
He is the Savior who gave his life for our sake.
In our Bible reading for today, Jesus has pointed out the victory he would win, explaining to them that salvation comes only through his “flesh and blood.”
But that is not a message that sits easily with us.
In any age, it is a message anyone would scratch heads, mightily struggle with.
Because we have this innate, natural desire to try to save ourselves rather than to rely, try to understand, on the daily bread of life that Jesus gives “for the life of the world”—by laying down his own life, his own flesh his own life blood.
Jesus comes right out with these assembled disciples, demands total surrender to his authority and unto the gift of the salvation we cannot earn for ourselves.
The ascension makes clear that Jesus has this authority.
It reveals to the unspiritual and spiritual mindset that he is truly God, and it is from that place of undeniable authority He sends the Spirit to all who believe.
As followers of Jesus, we listen not only to His words that are easy to hear; we listen also to his words that call for our harsh, difficult, challenging obedience.
We are summoned to put our whole trust for salvation not in ourselves but in Jesus’ flesh and blood, given willingly by our heavenly Lord at a severe cost.
Jesus calls us to give of ourselves willingly for his sake. Can we accept that?
Can we take the not too difficult teachings and be inspired, and empowered?
Can we take the all too difficult teachings and be inspired and empowered?
To remain faithful, faith-filled, steadfast, immovable disciples for Jesus Christ?
Or do we shy away?
Quietly, indiscreetly, return to the peaceful non threatening confines of home?
To Whom Then Shall We Go to “hear” Words of Life?
John 6:66-69 Amplified Bible
Peter’s Confession of Faith
66 As a result of this [a]many of His disciples abandoned Him, and no longer walked with Him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve [disciples], “You do not want to leave too, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life [you are our only hope]. 69 We have believed and confidently trusted, and [even more] we have come to know [by personal observation and experience] that You are the Holy One of God [the Christ, the Son of the living God].”
Here is the mark of the true believer: Peter Cannot and Will Not Quit on Jesus!
When Jesus looked at them, when Jesus said to them, Will you go away also?
It is clear that Jesus would have let them go their own way if they had wanted to.
He does not hold anybody against their will.
Responding to his Rabbi’s words, Peter says three wonderful things:
First,
Peter says, in effect, Rabbi, Teacher, Messiah, we have been thinking about it.
Rabbi, Teacher, Messiah, we have investigated the alternatives.
You are not easy to live with.
You embarrass us.
You frighten us.
We don’t understand you at times.
We see and hear you do things that simply blow our minds.
You offend people who we think are important.
You burn bridges best left intact for those of us who remain with you.
We have looked at some alternatives, but I want to tell you this,
Rabbi, Teacher, Messiah: We never found anyone who can do what you can do, who can dare to say what you can say with the same or with an equal authority.
“Rabbi, Teacher, Messiah, to where shall we go, to whom shall we go?”
“You have two things that hold us together, two things no one can dare deny, and the first is your words.”
“What you say to us has met our deepest need, has delivered us from our sins and freed us from our fears.”
“Your words, Lord, are the most remarkable words we have ever heard. You teach what no one else does, they explain us, they explain life to us. They satisfy us. Nobody speaks like you do, nobody understands life like you do. That holds us!”
Secondly, Lord, we have seen your character.
Notice how Peter puts it: We have believed, and have come to know.
That statement implies a process which has perhaps gone on over the course of months and years.
Peter is saying,
We have carefully watched you, and we have come to see that there is nothing wrong in you. You are the Holy One of God, you are the Sinless One. You fit the prophecies; you fulfill the predictions. You speak with authority. You have drawn us, compelled us. You are the incomparable Christ, thus there is no place else to go.
I have found this to be, authentic, genuine, faithful and true of real Christians.
Those who steadfastly continue on always feel this way about Jesus.
They know their own failures, their own weaknesses.
They know that despite the many times they cannot nor do not understand what is happening to them, yet they cannot leave, they are compelled to stay.
This is the testimony of those who walk faithfully with him and follow him.
I have often said the best definition of a Christian is someone who cannot quit.
Do we find being a Christian just too hard sometimes?
Are we ready to throw in the towel and walk away from your faith?
I had a phone call once from a young man, a relatively new Christian who said,
“I cannot make it. I cannot understand it. I cannot apply it to my life. I cannot continue to be a Christian. It’s too hard. It’s too complicated. Everyone hates me now. No one wants to be a friend. I blow it all the time. I’m going to hang it up.”
I had heard that kind of thing before, so I said to him,
“That’s a good idea. Why don’t you do that? I think you’re right. Hang it up.”
“There was a pause on the line, then he said to me, You know I can’t do that.”
I said, “I know it. Of course you can’t. You can’t quit. You wont quit. Who can you go to? Where can you find answers, resources such as you have drawn on?
”
This is what Peter is saying to Jesus.
This is what Peter is saying to us as believers today
This is what Peter is saying to the Body of Christ, the Church, today!
Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
through eternal ages let his praises ring;
glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
standing on the promises of God.
Refrain:
Standing, standing,
standing on the promises of Christ my Savior;
standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 139:1-12 The Message
139 1-6 God, investigate my life;
get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you;
even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say
before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there,
then up ahead and you’re there, too—
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
I can’t take it all in!
7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
If I go underground, you’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—
you’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;
night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.
Father, hallowed be thy name! Help us to believe! Holy Spirit, strengthen us for obedient living! Lord Jesus, speak your words of authority to us, that we may accept and follow you. Lord, there is nowhere else to go because only you have the words of eternal life. Help me to cling to your words, to search them out and understand them and obey them and believe that they alone are the words that give life. Amen.
Adeste Fideles! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 