Day 16
“You had me until I saw the bottom line.” Dale and I had met with a contractor about updating the modest screen porch on the back of our home. As we walked around the existing porch and decking, the ideas were flowing - we could replace the flooring and railing of the entire deck, not just the porch. And while we were at it, we could extend the staircase that led down to the terrace level. I was so excited! It was going to be fantastic! I had already picked out the color of the new Trex composite deck board and the cool metal and wire materials for the railing. And then the estimate came in. It was triple what we had expected and planned for. There was no way we were going to spend that kind of money on a project of that size and scope.
“You had me until…” is a phrase signaling that initial interest, agreement, or trust was lost at a specific turning point—often due to a deal-breaker, sudden change, or disappointment. In today’s reading, we see the Jews obsessed with Jesus - His miracles, His stories and teachings - until He starts talking about His followers needing to eat His flesh and drink His blood in order to have eternal life. He had them until they heard the bottom line. They were all in for the miracles of healing and bread. Eternal life sounded fantastic, until Jesus’ words took a turn towards Crazy Town!
Read John 6:47-70
Following the third sign of His Messiahship - feeding the 5,000 - Jesus begins to explain the deep symbolism of this food and adds a seemingly impossible conclusion, “Truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (vv 53-54) This sends shockwaves through the crowd. Did they hear Jesus correctly? Has He lost His mind? If I put myself in their shoes, even knowing the law and the prophets, Jesus’ instructions sound preposterous.
As Jesus has done frequently up to this point in His ministry, He speaks in terms of the physical in order to teach about spiritual realities. Here, to “eat” Jesus’ flesh has the spiritual meaning of trusting or believing in him, especially in his death for the sins of mankind. Similarly, to “drink his blood” means to trust in his atoning death, which is represented by the shedding of his blood. Although Jesus is not speaking specifically about the upcoming Lord’s Supper here, there is a parallel theme, because the receiving of eternal life through being united with “the Son of Man” is represented in the Lord’s Supper, in which Jesus’ followers symbolically eat his flesh and drink his blood. We see this most clearly through the Apostle Paul’s instructions to the Corinthian believers:
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread,and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Cor. 11:23–32)
It would make perfect sense after His death and resurrection, at least for those who would have eyes to see and ears to hear the things of the Spirit. But for now, this line of thinking was hard, almost impossible to understand and trust. Because they were wrongly interpreting Jesus’ statements literally, many concluded that His teachings were too hard and asked, “Who can accept it?” (v 60) And so Jesus continues to explain that human nature, including emotions, will and intellect, is completely incapable of producing genuine spiritual life. This can only be accomplished by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit was working powerfully in and through the words Jesus spoke - words of spirit and life - awakening genuine spiritual life in some present, but not all.
“From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him.” (v 66) Many of these early disciples were not genuine disciples of Christ, for they turned back. Their initial “faith” was not genuine and they were perhaps following Jesus only because of the physical benefits he gave, such as healing and multiplying food. “You had me until you started talking about eating flesh and blood. I was just wanting more of that yummy bread you served last time.”
Jesus turns to the Twelve and asks if they also want to leave. Is His truth too hard for them as well? Simon Peter answers, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (vv 68-69) There is no other teacher who can lead people to eternal life and to true fellowship with God himself. While they would still have much to learn regarding Jesus’ impending death and resurrection, Peter’s declaration conveys genuine, saving faith and reflects Asaph’s similar question and answer in Psalm 73:
“Who do I have in heaven but you?
And I desire nothing on earth but you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart,
my portion forever.”
(Psalm 73:25-26)
Big Picture Questions for Today:
* How do the crowds respond to Jesus and what he says?
* What’s the most important thing you will remember for your life and relationship with Jesus from today’s reading?
* Why did so many of Jesus’ followers ultimately leave Him? Do you see this type of fair-weather loyalty today?
Pray, “DearGod of the universe who provides daily bread for the nourishment of our bodies, we thank you for providing Jesus as the Bread of Life to nourish, energize, and sustain our bodies, minds, and spirits. Remind us of the importance of “feeding” on Jesus each day so that our faith may grow stronger, our hope brighter, and our love deeper for Jesus and for all your children. In His Name, Amen.”
Every time I read Peter’s response to Jesus’ question, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”
“Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (vv 67-69) I instantly am reminded of Don Moen and Integrity Hosanna’s song, “God is the Strength of My Heart,” taken directly from Psalm 73.
God Is the Strength of My Heart
