John 6
Not everything in the Bible is easy to
understand. Jesus says things that made His first listeners uncomfortable – and
what He says can make us squirm a little too. When we follow Jesus, he takes us
to places, puts us in situations, and asks us to believe things that are
difficult.
He said to Philip, seeing the large
crowd, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” (Imagine
Philip for a moment, shocked at the question, trying to figure it out.) He confronted
the crowd, “The only reason you’re interested in me is because I gave you food
to eat.” He taught, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not
hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (Never is a long time!)
One of the most important things Jesus
says in John 6 is in verse 65, when He tells the crowd, “no one can come to me
unless it is granted him by the Father.”
The faith that we have that sees Jesus and recognizes him as, “the Holy
One of God,” and the Savior of all sinners, is a gift to us from God Himself. From
first to last our relationship with God is based on His grace-filled gifts and
mercy!
Peter really nailed it on the head when
so many of Jesus’ followers were turning their backs on Him and he said, “Lord,
to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life …” These words which have been written down for
us in the Scriptures are truly words of eternal life; that is, they give
eternal life by creating faith in us to receive Jesus’ salvation.
Hearing the Word (or even reading it
silently) puts us in contact with eternal life. Those who do not believe hear
the same words but to them they were only stumbling blocks, riddles, and cryptic
nonsense. Faith is needed to receive eternal life, for it is in the Word that
we look upon the Son and believe in Him, and He will raise us up on the last
day.
Dwell upon the words of eternal life.
Hide them in your heart and mind. Think and pray about them. God is always at
work in them to confront your sin and to fill you with Jesus forgiveness (won
at the cross) and everlasting life (seen at the empty tomb).
Lord Jesus, Yours are the words of eternal
life. Help me hear them, rejoice in them, keep them, and share them because
they not only give me eternal life, but they draw people to You to be saved.
Amen.
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