NO WHERE TO GO
TEXT: JOHN 6:60-71
THEME: REALIZING THE NEED FOR JESUS.
Sipping on Tim Horton’s coffee in New Minas, Stacey and I were having a spiritual conversion. I was a recent convert, having arrived back from Texas, freshly minted as a new Christian. Stacey a friend for years was a catholic girl who attended church until she was 14. Stacey was about the only friend that I had that had any type of spiritual thoughts. So there we were, discussing the great faith issues over coffee and a doughnut, but of course she did not eat one, too fattening. I was telling her of my conversion, and some spiritual thoughts, this sounded a lot deeper back then, then it does now to me. As we continued to drink more coffee, and me sugar, Stacey informed me that she was thinking about becoming a Buddhist. This seemed too cool for her, all those gods and a little fat man to rub his belly. At that time, new age ideas were entering society, and Stacey wanted to explore the various concepts of God. I guess the Catholic religion was becoming boring to her, now that she was in college. So she wanted to sample some of the world’s religions. She was tired of dinning on the Catholic faith of the buffet table of life. She wanted to try on some Buddhist faith, and if she did not like it, I guess she would have taken it back like a pair of unflattering jeans. As we sat there, full of sugar and coffee, maybe not the best combination, I thought in my head. “This is fine, Jesus doesn’t need you anyway.”
It seems today in Christianity that some people believe that they are doing Jesus a flavor by having faith. It almost seems that people expect Jesus to come begging them to commit to him. That Jesus is so desperate for disciples, that he is happy with you no matter what. Now Jesus incredibly loves, and desires all men to be saved. He has a deep love that is beyond understanding towards man. But some people picture Jesus as a street beggaring asking for some change, and if you give it them him he is thankful. The invitation to follow Christ is there, but he is not forcing you to be faithful to him. It is your choice. Some people think that they come to church and Jesus should be happy with that. There is a sense of pride in people, like Jesus is so elated that they came to church on Sunday. That Jesus is rejoicing that you have come to church every now and then, and you feel that Jesus should be thankful. You at least came to church. A little devotion must be better than no devotion to Jesus. Some think they are doing Jesus a flavor when they come to Him. People feel that it’s like helping Uncle Bill move; I am such a great guy to help him out.
But this is not the picture that is presented in the Bible. It seems that Jesus is completely serious about total devotion to him. Not a half-hearted effort, but a complete conversion. He wants man to be completely dedicated to him and his cause. In fact, Jesus is disgusted by mediocre Christians. Revelation 3:16 “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” All through the Gospel Jesus is demanded total dedication. Jesus is serious about people getting serious about their Christianity.
In John 6:41-58 Jesus talks about total dedication. “So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." Jesus refers to himself as the true manna from above. This is a reference to the Jews in the wilderness. The Jews ate the manna and lived physically, but Jesus is stating that the Jews must eat of him to life spiritually. This way Jesus starts to tell the Jews about eating and drinking his flesh and blood. This is abhorrent to a Jew. The Jews were commanded to refrain from drinking blood or eating human flesh. The teaching of Christ is shocking and disgusting to the Jews. The teaching also pictures a violent death. The Jews are familiar with blood. Blood represents death and pain to the Jews. The Jews understand that Jesus is talking about total surrender of the self. The Jews will have to die to self to life for Christ.
Hitler imprisoned a German pastor, Martin Niemoeller, for eight years. He spent some time in prisons and concentration camps. Hitler realized that if Niemoeller, a First World War hero, could be persuaded to join his cause then much opposition would collapse, so he sent a former friend of Niemoeller to visit him, a friend who now supported the Nazis. Seeing Niemoeller in his cell, the one time friend is reported as saying, "Martin, Martin! Why are you here?" To which he received from Niemoeller the response, "My friend! Why are you not here? The Jews understand the point of Jesus—complete violent death of self.
Jesus knows that this is difficult teaching. Some in the text of John 6, he turns his attention to his disciples. At this point in history, Jesus is highly popular. There are countless people following him. He knows that this teaching is hard to handle. So he addresses the conversation to them. John 6:60-65 “When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, "Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father." Jesus realizing the heart of the disciples, deals with the teaching. When the disciples complain that the teaching is difficult, this does not mean in the original language that the teaching is hard to understanding. The point is clear, and the disciples know what Jesus is saying. It means that the teaching is harsh and difficult in following. Jesus. Jesus knows that his disciple might be offended by this teaching. But Jesus is not worried about offending people, but he is concerned with truth and commitment. There is no salvation for man apart from Jesus. You have to follow him completely or else. There is no alternative plan for man. Jesus expects complete and total dedication from his disciples.
Look at the reactions of some of the disciples of Christ. John 6:66 “Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.” Some of the disciple left Jesus because the requirements were too great. The people wanted to have a relationship with Christ but on their terms. They wanted to give a little, but Jesus expected a lot. Recently, I know of a family that attended church every week, typically on Wednesday and all services on Sunday. At the congregation where they attended they were known to be Wednesday and Sunday night goers. But recently, they left one congregation to go to another congregation. But at this congregation they only attend on Sunday morning. Now the new congregation is not aware that they use to be every time the doors were open members, but only expect them or plan on seeing them on Sunday morning. People will jump congregations to jump their commitment to Christ. People like this are telling Jesus, no thank you on full commitment, I will take Christianity-lite.
Jesus does beg people to stay with him. Every man or woman has freewill. Jesus does not override this. You are free to come or go. No one is forcing you to commit to Christ. Look what Jesus does within his inner circle of twelve Apostles. John 6:67-69 “So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." Jesus asks the question to the disciple. This is not a rhetorical question. This is not a moody question, in the sense that Jesus is hoping that they will stay. This is a question for the benefit of the disciples. They have to make up their own minds. What will they do? The conditions of discipleship are heavy. The rest of the disciples have left. Will they stay or go?
Peter as always is the first to speak up and seems to speak for the rest of the apostles. The disciples come find another rabbi to learn from. They could depart. But Peter realizes the true need for Christ. There is no place to go. There is no other option. He cannot leave because there is no one to go too. Jesus is the only one who has the words of life. He is the true teacher. The disciples have no choice but to stay. Peter realizes to a certain extent that Jesus is the Messiah. He is the holy one from God. It does not matter the conditions of discipleship. Peter is going to stand with Jesus. He is going to commit to him. Jesus is the only source of salvation. Peter knows of the truth. Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
The story is about the Navy Seals. His friend was performing an covert operation, freeing hostages from a building in some dark part of the world. His friend’s team flew in by helicopter, made their way to the compound and stormed into the room where the hostages had been imprisoned for months. The room was filthy and dark. The hostages were curled up in a corner, terrified. When the seals entered the room, they heard the gasps of the hostages. The stood at the door and called to the prisoners, telling them they were Americans. The seals asked the hostages to follow them, but the hostages wouldn’t. The sat there on the floor and hid their eyes in fear. They were not of healthy mind and didn’t believe their rescuers were really Americans. The seals stood there, not knowing what to do. They couldn’t possibly carry everybody out. One of the seals got an idea. He put down his weapon, took off his helmet, and curled up tightly next to the other hostages, getting so close his body was touching some of theirs. He softened the look on his face and put his arms around them. He was trying to show them he was one of them. None of the prison guards would have done this. He stayed there for a little while until some of the hostages started to look at him, finally meeting his eyes. The Navy Seal whispered that they were Americans and were there to rescue them. Will you follow us? He said.
Jesus came to earth, sat beside man. The invitation is the some one of the Navy Seals. “Will you follow me?” Jesus cannot carry you to heaven, but he will lead the way out of spiritual captivity. But you have to follow him.
