Our passage of Scripture for today finishes off the account of Jesus and His teaching of Himself being the Bread of Heaven found in the Gospel of John. This sermon that Jesus gave brought a mixed reaction from His listeners. He knew what it was like to have friends and followers turn against Him and walk away. As we look into this passage let’s see what those reasons could be, and what Jesus’s reaction was, and that of other disciples.
After Jesus’s recent discourse on being the Bread of Life, many in the crowd who had been following Him up until then decided to turn away. Jesus was not what they expected or wanted in a leader. Some of them left when they realized Jesus was not going to be the conquering Messiah and King they expected. At this time a large percentage of the Jewish people expected the Messiah to be more of a political king and hero, and who would kick the occupying Romans out of their country. When these people saw that Jesus wasn’t going to do that, they turned away. Others might have left when Jesus didn’t give in to their self-centered requests. There were those who left following Him, particularly among the Pharisees, when they saw how Jesus emphasized faith and not works and deeds. Then there were those who left following Jesus because they could not understand His words (vs 60). It was not what they were used to hearing. They were too comfortable in their ways, and didn’t want to consider Jesus’s message.
Jesus didn’t try to talk unwilling disciples into staying. He did not alter His message to make it more palatable or politically correct to keep them. That is something many preachers do today in order to get, and then keep, the crowds. They groom their message in order to please the crowds, giving them something they want to hear. Jesus would not do that. He preached the straight Word of God, and would not twist it around to please or keep crowds happy. Jesus wants followers who eagerly and willingly follow Him, and who understand the cost.
Jesus knows the hearts of men (vs 64). These false disciples were only attracted to physical phenomena, such as the miracles and food. They failed to understand the true significance of Jesus’s teachings. The Holy Spirit speaks to hearts which are open to hearing Him. It is the Holy Spirit that brings new life (vs 63). He also reveals truth to us, lives within us, and enables us to respond to truth. Those who turned away from following Jesus were rejecting the truth.
Following the defection of many of His earlier disciples, Jesus asked the Twelve whether they would also leave (vs 66-67). Peter, responding on behalf of the group, told Him that there was no one else to go to, as they knew He had the words of eternal life (vs 68-69). There is no other way. There are many philosophies and self-styled spiritual gurus, but only Jesus has the words of eternal life.
We either accept or reject Jesus. There is no middle ground. Jesus doesn’t seek to repel people. He simply tells the truth. Many people today reject Jesus because they do not like what they hear. They get their own perception of what they want Jesus to be. When they see that when compared to the real Biblical Jesus, their ideas of Him are not the same, they reject the Biblical Jesus. They also, like those 1st century folks, reject Him today when they don’t get what they want out of Him, or especially when they find His words offensive.
Jesus asks us today the same question? What will you do with Jesus? Will you walk away, or will you say, like Peter did, that Jesus alone has the Words of life? Come to Jesus today, and accept Him as your Savior.
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