John 7:32-36

John 7:32-36 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him. Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.” The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”

John powerfully packs so much gospel into his account of Christ's presence at the Feast of Tabernacles in chapter seven. This would make amazing theater or an intriguing movie. Christ's brothers say, "You should go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do, because no one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret." Their human solution to Christ's ministry: Show yourself to the World. Jesus says, "You go on ahead. The right time for me has not yet come." Then when least expected, Jesus shows up anyway and begins teaching God's truth in the temple court. Some of his listeners are amazed: How did this man get such learning without having studied? Humbly Jesus replies: My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. And suddenly, in the eyes of some of his listeners, He moves from one who speaks truth to one who must be demon-possessed.

The high and lows continue as the Holy Spirit allows Christ to speak life to the people with his life in constant danger. The crowd questions whether this is the man the authorities seek to capture or whether he might be the Christ or the person they know as Jesus. Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from." Like a seesaw, the dance of the Spirit and the flesh continues. At one point when they try to seize Jesus, no one can lay a hand on him because his time had not yet come. Amazingly in the midst of so much chaos and undoubtedly a considerable amount of noise, the Word keeps going forth through the lips of the living Son of God by the power of the Spirit. The Pharisees now hear whispers from the crowd and their hearts are stirred with fear and anger. They again set out to capture this man, this impostor, by sending the temple guards to arrest him. Jesus declares the obvious, what He has known from the beginning: I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come. Again, people lack understanding. Blind eyes cannot see; deaf ears cannot hear. Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? You have to have new eyes to see Jesus, new ears to hear his voice.

Jesus was saying they must seek him while He could be found, touch him while He is present, but the time was close at hand when He would no longer teach them in person. Of course we know the rest of the story: He would offer himself on a cruel cross that all might know him, that all might find him, that the Comforter might come with power from on high. The death and resurrection of Christ brought the year of the Lord's favor: his grace and mercy upon all people. The living Word now dwells within every believer. God writes his Word on our hearts and puts it in our minds. But in that temple court, Jesus wanted the people to listen and to hear. He wanted to finish the work assigned by the Father, to preach glad tidings of great joy that Messiah had come in fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. (Luke 14:18) Today, Christ remains outside the door to many a heart, waiting to be ushered inside, waiting for an invitation, waiting for full access, waiting for his children to surrender fully to his Lordship, waiting for deaf ears to open and for blind eyes to see. He says, "Come unto me and I will give you rest. Come, and I will heal your broken heart and lavish liberty over those bruises you did not deserve. I will cover you, hover over you." (Mom sitting in for Dad today who is out ministering to a very brokenhearted daughter of the king.)

John 7:30-31

John 7:30-31 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?”

Today's brief passage reveals deep spiritual truths concerning Christ's mission on Earth, God's eternal plan for his Son. The people in this story hated Christ and his teaching so much they tried to seize him. They wanted to silence his voice, for they feared his power to influence people, those who actually listened and said if the "real" Christ does appear, how could he possibly do more miraculous signs than this man? Not every person within the sound of Christ's voice that day was deaf to his words or blind to his possible mission. They were hungry and thirsty, and his ideas about the law lacking power and the need for grace were beginning to make an impact. When people stop and listen, God is able to penetrate hard hearts, to touch and to heal broken and wounded lives. Yet human beings so often operate in the flesh. As with Jesus' brothers: we seek a really big show, a world class miracle at the Feast to win friends and to influence people or to meet our needs.

We can see this stubborn resistance toward God throughout the history of mankind. In the Old Testament the prophet Elijah fell into a pit of despair immediately after some amazing miracles in his behalf. Where did he hear God's voice when he thought he was the only person of faith left on the earth? How did God answer him? And he [Elijah] said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:10-12) To hear a still small voice, one must stop talking so much: stop complaining, demanding, arguing, hollering, whining, crying, discussing, analyzing, fighting, rationalizing, and the like. We have to sit at Jesus' feet, meditate on his Word, abide in his presence, trust in the LORD with all our hearts, lean not on our own understanding, and use the same words Eli gave Samuel in answer to God's call: Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening. (1 Samuel 3:9)

Christ fulfilled his ministry in three brief years, complete with signs and wonders, proving He was indeed the promised Messiah, fulfilling all prophecies such as:

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

(Isaiah 53:3-7)

Christ embraced a cruel cross that we might never face death but rise through the Holy Spirit to life eternal. He obeyed the Father's will without reservation. He also said, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. (John 13:6) These are not views or opinions; they are the words of Jesus. Has He changed his mind? He wants us to live lives worth living, disciplined lives, committed lives. In the courtyard, the Spirit gave Jesus a little more time to fulfill his divine mission, and He pursued it with a passion. That pleased the heart of the Father. We are not shadow boxers: we are in a real fight. This world is not our home. God is rich in mercy and full of grace. He loves us, oh how He loves us, but He seeks a people who will know and follow hard after him--that's joy, real joy, glorious joy! Seek him whom to know is life everlasting!

John 7:25-29

John 7:25-29 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Christ? But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”

God the Father sent Jesus the Son to redeem the lost sheep of Israel and to extend the good news to the Gentile world that every human being might escape death and destruction and know the God of all creation. Through Christ we have access to the maker of heaven and Earth, the moon, the stars, the planets, the entire universe for as far as the eye can see--the galaxies upon galaxies beyond our imagination. He came to bring us into relationship with the maker of reality itself in whom we have our essence and find our very being. This pathway to all knowledge and understanding--the beginning and the end--remains a stumbling block to most of the people the world even to this day. The world hears the name Jesus and says: we do not know where this man is from; how can He be from God? Humans construct religions that make God a mixture of the occult, added to bit of mysticism, along with some Middle Eastern ritualism, a tad of new age channeling, and a big dose of Hollywood werewolf or vampire escapism. The perfect package for an exciting new escape from reality. Unfortunately, it is a door to nowhere, and the new game in town ends quickly with the same hopelessness, alienation, angst, depression, and an ever present lust for more. Where is the next high, the next party, the next get out of jail free card: Isn't there another door, another way, another truth, another light to push back the darkness?

Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6) The religious leaders of his day and the dissatisfied of our day chafe under Christ's audacious and profoundly simple statement. How could a man called Jesus, a carpenter from Nazareth, be the only way to God, the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star? (Revelation 22:16) Surely, if there is a God, his plan is more spectacular than birthing his son in a manger to live a simple life and to end up teaching people for a few years about how God is not pleased by their attempts to make their own gods and to go their own ways. Surely he would not stand around arguing with learned Pharisees about how his Father God sent him to bring in a new covenant where salvation would come through faith in him and his death on a cruel cross rather than through people's good works. He tried to reach the hearts of God's people, even the religious elite, by telling them he was the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:2) He was the stone which the builders rejected, a stone of stumbling. (Luke 20:17, Isaiah 8:14) As was true then, is so often true today: He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:11)

Human beings search for God in all the wrong places, where He cannot be found, and all else is but a poor imitation. We look for him in ourselves, in others, in sinful pleasures, and false religions. We seek him in created things rather than seeking the Creator. We search for God in nature, in our inner-consciousness, in particularly peaceful or "anointed" places, in powerful or charismatic people--people God uses or who He has used to bless us in the past, in wise words or helpful advice, or in anything other than in Christ the Living Word, the written Word, and the indwelling Holy Spirit that will never pass away. However, Jesus states, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) He came to reveal the heart of the Father for his people: Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10) As He said then, He says today, I come to you with the Father's message. I am his servant and I want you to accept his love. I want you to love others as I have loved you, to serve them as I am serving you. Accept my righteousness. The Father will forgive you in my name. Let him wash you and you will be whiter than snow. I am YOUR WAY, YOUR TRUTH, YOUR LIFE. Receive my gifts today and you will have great and precious gifts to give in my name. Bless you today dear ones.

John 7:19-24

John 7:19-24 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?” “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?” Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all astonished. Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a child on the Sabbath. Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath? Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”

Jesus understood the hearts of the people whenever He dealt with them. When He pointed out that Moses gave them the law, He felt safe in his conclusion that not one of you keeps the law. He knew the governing body even wanted to murder him, a violation of the sixth commandment. He also rightly discerned the circumcision of a baby boy on the Sabbath to make him right with God would, under the law, be judged as work. Jesus was implying if circumcision is acceptable on the Sabbath, for it makes a person holy and righteous in God's eyes, why would you not want to restore a man to perfect health on the Sabbath and do away with the effects of sin on his life. Jesus was asking them to make correct judgments about what is good and what is evil. Making a man whole and complete and reclaiming what sin has robbed from him on the Sabbath was a righteous and holy act, not a sinful or evil act according to Christ's judgment.

Once again we see Jesus exposing the law as judgmental rather than efficacious, as a mirror of the sins of mankind and not as an answer or a cure. The law is good, but it does not make a way or provide an answer for doing good. If a person's action violates the letter of the law or even appears to be in violation according to the observers or interpreters of the law, the only answer is judgment, punishment, and rejection of the individual who stands in judgment. Jesus did a good action by healing a man on the Sabbath, yet he was judged harshly by the Pharisees for doing work on the Sabbath. Faced by his accusers, Jesus brought in a new revelation, a new testament: men would no longer live by the letter of the law, which could not make any allowance for doing good or for good intentions or for the attitude of the heart. Following Christ's death and resurrection, believers would live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4) As the writer of Hebrews says, Christ became the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)

As Jesus taught God's grace, the Spirit brings this message today: the doctrines of men, the cares of life, selfish desires, and just plain foolishness distract us and lead us astray when God seeks people of the Word, children of the Spirit, not people bound by unbelief, anger, doubt, fear, or a set of rules. Jesus said, By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:35) As Paul so succiently states: But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:6) We are not accountable to the law, but to the Spirit of God who dwells within us. As new creatures through Christ's work on the cross and the power of the resurrection, we are holy containers of his Spirit who live in newness of life. The law no longer binds us to the realm of right or wrong, acceptable or not acceptable. We are bound to Christ, acceptable IN HIM--our hope, our resurrection life. Because of him, we dwell in heavenly places right now and forever. God wants us to grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord. He desires the Holy Spirit to have greater freedom in our lives and to touch the lives of others. As Paul reminded the church in Galatia: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25) If you have to get out of bed, jog, run, ride a bike, or catch a bus, keep in step. God loves you. He has good fruit for you today.

John 7:10-18

John 7:10-18 However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, “Where is that man?” Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews. Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?” Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

When God's Children do his will, we follow Jesus, attend the Feast in secret, not publicly. We do not stand out in the crowd or take the glory. We may face criticism or hear unkind remarks from behind our backs for what we do or say. If we do church work, some people won't control their bitter tongues as they criticize us or our families or offer unfair judgments against us as we lay down our lives in ministry to the best of our abilities while raising families in the midst of various setbacks and trials while working at demanding jobs in the world. It is so easy to develop a Pharisaical attitude and get our eyes off Jesus. Without realizing it, we get off track and go to the Feast for the wrong reason to impress other Pharisees, to put on a show, wanting everyone to know just how great we are. Or we can have a pity party and try to impress our Christian friends with how terrible life is for us by including all the gory details because no one else has suffered more than we are suffering. The Pharisees probably circled the town square beating their breasts harder than anyone else in a crisis so that God would surely hear their fervent prayers instead of the sinners praying with heads bowed low, saying, "Have mercy on me oh Lord, unworthy as I am to speak your name." We forget Christ is the answer in all things; and when HE IS LIFTED UP, HE DRAWS ALL MEN AND WOMEN TO HIM. No matter the reason, when we go back to the flesh, and promote ourselves, our ambitions, our needs, and perspectives, we hurt the body of Christ. When we criticize the pastors, the worship leaders, and fellow Chistians, we incorrectly discern the body of Christ; for we are all one in the Lord.

The Holy Spirit is in the room, always in the room. Paul cautioned the Church in Galatia: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:7-10 Christ stood in the temple courts and began to teach. The people declared, How did this man get such learning without having studied? Pointing to God, Jesus said, He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. When people honor themselves rather than God: they seek significance, stature, and honor through religious activity, and their ministry is suspect. Jesus said, When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. (Matthew 5:30) He said, take the seats in the back of the room: maybe others will honor you by moving you to the front. When you fast or pray, do so in secret. Be a servant of all: a servant has no prestige or authority. Do we speak ill of others or speak honor? Probably some of each, but what is the desire of our hearts; what is our goal? God looks at the intents and purposes of the heart. At times we seem consciously boastful in our arrogance, openly rude with an in your face attitude that others cheer. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

In our lives, do we seek recognition for Christ or ourselves? Christ alone has made us free and righteous; therefore, we should be extremely careful about judging or criticizing other people. The Bible says, we have no right to judge another man's servant (God's servant). If we constantly look at other people's lives and not our own, we are like a gardener who pays too much attention to his neighbor's garden. He becomes oblivious to the weeds that are taking over his flowers. His concentration on other people's weaknesses snuffs out the beauty of his own garden. Instead of evaluating the handiwork of others, we should tend to our own husbandry. We should pray constantly, sing praises daily, and honor Christ in everything we do. Let us allow God to have the dais in our lives. Then we will know there is nothing false in our words or deeds. Paul told the Romans: Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8) Amen!

John 7:1-9

John 7:1-9 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him. Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.” Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.

Matthew 13:54-58 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” AND HE DID NOT DO MANY MIRACLES THERE BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF FAITH.

The doubt and unbelief of Christ's brothers must have caused considerable hurt and pain for Jesus who felt human emotions and was

tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin

. (Hebrews 4:15) In their desire for worldly acclaim, his brothers were willing to place Jesus in danger. Sometimes when we feel mistreated by family and close friends, we might reflect on how Christ's family and most trusted companions treated him. In his humanness, Jesus could have struck back at his brothers for their lack of concern for his welfare: He did not. He simply said it was safe for them to go to the Feast because the world hated him not his brothers.

Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.

His brothers lacked compassion for his needs and understanding of his identity and purpose: He was just Jesus with his grandiose ideas, a

carpenter’s son. They probably wondered where he got his ideas, like the people from their hometown.

We do not know but the word says as they pushed him to show off his powers,

even his own brothers did not believe in him.

Jesus was just a man to them who could do very little except

make show of himself at the Feast of Tabernacles and maybe gain a little status for the family or

perhaps wrest a some power from the temple authorities. If He accomplished that, they might even earn a bit of a living for them from his magic tricks. But Jesus could do no eternal work in their hearts or the hearts of anyone unless they believed in him as the Son of God, the Light of the world.

Christians today often struggle the most in sharing their faith in their own neighborhoods or with their relatives. Lifelong friends say, "Don't give me that religion stuff. Don't get all holy holy with me. I've known you since you were a little kid. You are just like I am. You can't kid me. Is this some kind of joke? Now you suddenly got Jesus? Right, give me a break." And you calmly say, "Yes, I've done some pretty bad and crazy things. I was blind and now I see. I was lost, and now I am found. I was heading west, and now I am going east. I was so sick; then He touched me and made me well. I was without hope and had no peace: now He is my hope and my peace. Please let me tell you about Jesus: the Way, the Truth, and the Light, in a very dark and sinful world, the world where you and I have lived for so long." Sometimes that friend or relative will stop and listen for a while. Oftentimes they laugh or swear or ridicule you. Often they draw others into the fun of mocking you. Yet in Christ you forgive them and with persevering faith you pray for them, love them, and believe for their salvation, trusting that the same God who pursued you will pursue them with the love of a Shepherd who seeks lost sheep with an everlasting passionate love.

We walk with God by faith. Jesus' earthly brothers had no faith in him. The writer of Hebrews gives the quintessential faith treatise in chapter 11, beginning with:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, and moving on to a key verse for today's study:

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Verses 1 & 6 KJV) We

must believe Jesus is Lord of all, the only begotten Son of God, before we can find him and accept him as Savior. If we seek him for any other reason or do not accept him as Lord of our entire lives, we should not expect him to lead and to guide us or to work miracles in our behalf. If we have not placed our faith and trust in him as Jesus Messiah Lord of all, if we are not in living in right relationship with him, and we are not abiding in his sheepfold, then we are not listening to his voice. Many people say they are Christians, yet they live mostly out in the world, doing their own thing; and once in a while they holler over to Jesus, "Hey, brother Jesus, I have been thinking about going to the Feast, and I would like you to go along and do a couple of miracles for me. I need some cash. I need some help here. I am in trouble; can you perform one of those magic tricks of yours? I know we've been pretty much out of touch lately, but remember that grace stuff and how you are supposed to love me? Come on, give me a break. I'm a pretty good person compared to some."

And the amazing thing is: He does hear us, He comes to our side, and He tries to bring us back to the sheepfold. He does not answer our prayers exactly like we thought He would: He says,

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

He tenderly whispers, "Come on home, little one. Come on home to your Father. Come on home to the Son. Come on home to the Spirit. I have won." Faith opens the door to eternal life. Without a dependency on Jesus and his righteous works, we wallow in the mud of our own inconsistencies, our own willful ways, our own sins and the sins of others. Freedom in Christ brings abundant life, a change from the inside out, the ability to think and to act differently as new creatures because this world no longer holds us down. Christ becomes our best friend, a trusted advisor, a wise teacher, and yes, even a miracle worker: our EVERYTHING! As the Spirit revealed to Paul:

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) AMEN!

John 6:60-66

John 6:60-66 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” 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.”

Today, as the truth of John's gospel penetrates our consciousness, the Spirit might well ask us: Does this offend you? Aware from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him and who would take offense at the idea of eating and drinking of him to find eternal life, Jesus persevered in speaking truth, the truth that would set people free. Some of the disenchanted followers who left him probably envisioned him as a radical political activist who would fight for their country, a miracle worker to deliver them from the oppressive yoke of the hated Romans. Other disillusioned followers sought for miracles of food, protection, health, basic needs for wellbeing and a good life on this earth not high-minded talk of eternal life and the ascension of the Son of Man. His cannibalistic talk of eating and drinking of himself for eternal life undoubtedly sounded offensive even senseless to their ears. Spiritually deaf ears and carnal minds would not listen to the Spirit's call, refused to accept spiritual realities.

At the most literal level, they knew cannibalism was against the law. And Christ's talk of eternal life and resurrection was probably beyond their grasp. They were Jews after all, people of the Law, the enlightened or superior ones, his chosen people. Of course God would raise them up at the resurrection. All they wanted was a better life now. Jesus definitely offended them by implying that they should partake of him for eternal life, that they might soon see him ascend into heaven and leave them behind, no longer willing or able to meet their earthly needs. His words separated the sheep from the goats then and there. Jesus said He knew they were not interested in hearing what He had to say about eternity. Such talk was way too ambiguous, too ethereal for them to apply to their daily existence to their selfish needs and desires. Consequently, Jesus scolds them by saying the Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. As is true today, when the pastor gets serious and begins to preach commitment and asks the people to surrender all to Jesus, From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

How often in this world do we envision Jesus as our provider, healer, solver of all problems. If only we had enough faith, He would meet our every need, want, and desire. He would supply sufficient sustenance, shelter, comfort, and amenities to enjoy life the way Christians (God's kids) should enjoy life. Some of our modern songs, particularly from the media churches and our super hype sermons reiterate the theme that Jesus answers every need, every difficulty, problem, and desire if we just pray hard enough and have enough faith, particularly if we support a certain evangelist or send money to that ministry or buy their prayer cloths. We even preach Jesus provides abundant life for all those who have abundant faith and suggest that those who suffer just haven't gone to the right meeting or watched the right broadcast, making them to blame for their cancer or their problems. Just turn on the spigot of faith, press the right keys on the giant computer in the sky and out comes health, wealth and happiness: you will find prosperity at your door.

JESUS IS THE ANSWER: the Alpha and Omega, and everything in between. The answers He gives are not always what we sought. That is why He set the example: not my will, but thine be done, on Earth as it is in heaven. Since the flesh counts for nothing, we pray in faith yet trust God. Otherwise, we eat healthy, drink 8 glasses of water, take our vitamins, seek what comforts we can; but we accept that our lives will last but a brief time, like a vapor. Lazarus was healed, but he died later on. We don't preach the "later" part; it's not so comforting on our earthly journey; yet death comes to all. The comforting part is that Christ won the victory when He conquered death and the grave. We arose with him in newness of live forevermore. Jesus brought life abundant, overflowing life with glorious joy and peace like a river to our souls whether we are sick or well, hungry or full, living in a shack or a mansion, riding in a Lexus or on a bicycle. He saved us for all eternity. Death cannot hold us down. Jesus said I will raise [them] up at the last day. (John 6:44) This gives us hope. Paul wrote God has made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesian 1:20) With troubled minds or sick bodies, we hear his soft utterances: I am here, I am with you, I am by your side, Hear my voice, Remember my words, Come to me, I will never leave you, You are mine. At best, this earthly journey lasts 60 to 80 years with its share of problems. The Bible says, Rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (1 Peter 1:6) As Peter said so succinctly, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6:68) Today, dear Lord, we trust in you, eat and drink of you. Where else could we go? Bless you all precious friends!

John 6:52-59

John 6:52-59 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Today's scriptures clearly reveal a basic tenet of Christ's message as He walked this Earth. In numerous utterances, Jesus declared his Father sent him to reveal a great salvation plan for all people. He said in verses we studied earlier, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35) He further explained, Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. (John 6:46) He continues this dialogue in today's passage: I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. As Jesus was proclaiming for all to hear then, He presents the same message to his church today. He came to Earth and went to the cross through the power of the Holy Spirit within him according to the perfect will of his Father God. So must we live. Our desire must be like his: to do the will of the Father and not our own. As He took up the cross and obeyed the Father, we take up the cross and follow him as He makes us fishers of men.

We accept Christ as Lord, our portion: God's best and only plan for eternal life. We have hope, now and forever. We make an eternal covenant with God to turn from ourselves and to forsake our old sinful nature. We accept his grace gift and come alive through the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. We do not merely shake hands with the pastor after church and try to do better by being nicer or by avoiding our former bad habits. We say I will follow you Lord as you lead me, for you paid a tremendous price for my freedom. I have perfect peace, glorious joy, and true freedom for the first time in my life. You paid a price I could not pay for a debt you did not owe. I love you and will praise you forever: I will dance and sing praises to your lovely name! Persecuted throughout his entire ministry, Paul could write amazingly positive statements such as these: And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians1:27) I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

This same apostle understood grace, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. He knew he was the chief of sinners and deserved nothing, yet Christ had sought him out and redeemed him with the powerful love of a tender shepherd who never abandons his sheep. He was audacious enough in his commitment to call out to a heathen world lost in dark depravity, to the people who sat in darkness, "Wake up, follow me, as I follow Christ." We offer the exact call to you breakfast friends. We all have difficult life experiences at times. Yes, through everything, in mountaintop experiences and in valleys of doubt or fear, Jesus walks along side each of us, and He says, "Son and Daughter of my Heart, I love you. I paid the price for you. Eat of me, drink of me. I am enough, all you will ever need. Trust me today. I will see you through, even to the end of the age."

As we wholeheartedly commit to Jesus as Redeemer, believing we are NEW CREATURES, the blessed Holy Spirit abides within us. From that time on, Scriptures say we are brothers and sisters in Christ, Children of God. God has made a way for us through his Son, the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life. All other avenues are blind alleys with the blind leading the blind. These pathways end in chaos and destruction. Jesus leads us home to the Father, home forever to life eternal, from darkness to light. The best man can offer is a temporary cleansing or a temporary good feeling, but Jesus gives us eternal peace and a joy that no one can steal away. IN HIM we become more righteous than the Pharisees. In him we stand because his death and resurrection make us whiter than snow, completely acceptable to God. Our own righteousness, our own good works and penance, will never satisfy a righteous God. Jesus did not come to condemn us but to save us. Lean heavily on him--on his words, his finished work. Lean not to your own understanding. He is your righteousness, your everything, your star in the morning. The ticket has been marked PAID IN FULL. Get on board, little children. This train is bound for glory! Amen!