John 6:66-69

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Sometimes I wonder if being a Christian leader is worth the hassle. Ministry is difficult— the needs never seem to end. Additionally, Jesus’ ministry makes serious demands on me. His uncompromising approach to truth, discipleship and stewardship can feel unrealistic or, at times, just plain pushy. Maybe I could open up a candy store in Hawaii.

Jesus’ followers asked the same questions after hearing him teach for awhile. After all, eating flesh and drinking blood sounded pretty ghastly. It didn’t dawn on them that Jesus was talking of sharing the way of the cross.

Their response? “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” This is the ultimate human dilemma:  Following Jesus is hard, and sometimes it seems it would be easier to just go with the flow. Maybe we could go back to the old way of life—no responsibilities, no boundaries, just do whatever we want for a change. Yet something gnaws at us when we consider the possibility of walking away from Jesus. It certainly was on the mind of Simon Peter when Jesus asked if he wanted to leave as well. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

When all is said and done, once we have drunk from the cup of Salvation and begun the journey of life transformation, it’s hard to imagine life without Jesus. He gives us purpose, joy, and hope. He has words for us that will change the course of our eternity. How could we not believe in this Holy One of God?

Maybe Jesus’ teachings are hard for you right now. Maybe you are considering taking an “easier road.” Let me just encourage you to reconsider. It’s true—following Jesus is hard, but it’s God Himself who gives us the strength and equips us with the tools to believe and know.

Lord, help me not to give up when the way of Jesus’ teachings get hard. Help me to believe in, and know, your lordship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Dialog discuss: When you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow: The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you today and every day. St.Francis De Sales.

John 6:52-60 (NLT)

Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked. 53 So Jesus said again, “I assure you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them at the last day. 55 For my flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink. 56 All who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I in them. 57 I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will live because of me. 58 I am the true bread from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever and not die as your ancestors did, even though they ate the manna.” 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.” 60 Even his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”

Have you ever come into the middle of the series “Lost” and wonder what is going on?  You have no idea of the intense relational and plot drama that has gone on before.  The passage we are reading today is a lot like the series “Lost” — you will be “lost” unless you know the plot.

Jesus is part of a covenant-making culture.  When Jesus uses words like “eat my flesh and drink my blood,” there is an assumption about those words that everyone understood (v. 60).

What is a covenant- making culture and how were covenants made?  A covenant was made when a stronger tribe came into agreement with a weaker tribe, and they would both cut a deal to be on equal ground.  They would unite and become one.  The covenant would mean I take on everything that is yours.  When I married Lynn, I didn’t look good on paper.  I had school debt, and Lynn agreed to take on my debt.  We cut a deal, and she took on everything that is mine.  Multiply this among tribes and realize the relational complexity of everything being equal.

The covenant was made through a ritual meal.  A lamb was sacrificed and eaten together (v. 4).  Bread is eaten (v. 35) and wine is drunk.  Jesus is saying, “I am the new covenant promise from My Father.”  The eating of Jesus’ flesh and blood is His way of saying, “Like food, you and I are absorbed together.  We are in covenant.  I have come from heaven as the stronger to completely take on your life.”  Jesus takes on our life of sin, and we take on his heavenly life as the weaker.  We now receive all the promises and resources from heaven, and Jesus absorbs all our bad debt. That’s a deal I would cut.

Lord, help us to see this story and our lives through your covenant eyes of love.  Amen.

Dialog discuss: If you are feeling slammed, crushed, broken, undone, unraveled, ripped beyond the point of human endurance…remember that God’s mark on you is bold and sure. You may be damaged goods, but you are deliverable. Straight into His open arms…There is no unclaimed freight in God’s kingdom. Barbara Johnson

John 6:41-51(NLT)

Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread from heaven.” 42 They said, “This is Jesus, the son of Joseph. We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” 43 But Jesus replied, “Don’t complain about what I said. 44 For people can’t come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them from the dead. 45 As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me. 46 (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.) 47 I assure you, anyone who believes in me already has eternal life. 48 Yes, I am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 50 However, the bread from heaven gives eternal life to everyone who eats it. 51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live.”

Tom Brady will be remembered as one of the all-time great quarterbacks of the NFL.  He holds many NFL passing records with many seasons yet to play.  With all of that success, he still reflected on the sense of void in his life in an interview with 60 Minutes.

Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what is.’ I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, ‘God, it’s got to be more than this.’ I mean this isn’t, this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be.

When asked by the interviewer: What’s the answer?

I wish I knew. I wish I knew.

Human beings are extremely complex creatures.  We need food and water to sustain physical life, but we need so much more to flourish.  We need to work hard, achieve, accomplish, and create.  We need relationships with family and friends.  These are all basic needs true of every human being.  When we miss the opportunities to engage in these things or have the opportunities snatched away from us, we experience a sense of loss and disappointment.  But why does someone like Tom Brady, who arguably is one of the greatest quarterbacks to play in the NFL, and has all the comforts and pleasures that life can offer, still express a sense of void?

Jesus is calling people to an understanding of need on a whole new level.  Physical sustenance, emotional well being, friendship, support from family, accomplishment and achievement are important and necessary, but we each are made to experience relationship and sustenance on a wholly different level.  We need spiritual connection as well.

Jesus, feed us the bread of life. Amen.

Dialog discuss: If we’re not calling people into deeper levels of personal relationship with God, we’re not taking the Gospel seriously. If we’re not engaging the world, bringing empowerment to the marginalized and addressing the specific injustices of our time, we’re also not taking the Gospel seriously. It’s that simple. Jim Wallis, Sojourners