The turning point in Jesus’ ministry was the incident in John 6 following the day He fed the 5,000. He said something which many didn’t understand; and therefore, stopped following Him. How would you respond?
“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven — not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:56-58).
Jesus wondered who would remain with Him. He asked the twelve disciples, “Do you also want to go away?” (John 6:67).
RELEVANCE
I’ve often wondered, if I was there, would I stay or follow the crowd? Would His words be too difficult, too mysterious to truly rest my life upon?
The twelve decided to stay with Him. Peter expressed their position: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:68-69). Perhaps they remembered the words of Moses: “choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:15).
This is the crucial question for all. The multitude couldn’t understand that the LORD was saying that He was the source of life and strength. His Word is life and it has the capacity to bear His life in us if we ingest and digest it. He would later reveal that the Holy Spirit energizes that life in us; enabling us to truly grow in the measure of His capacity in us.
REFLECT AND RELATE
As hard as life can be, how do you choose daily to choose life—His life?
What values do you see in His life becoming your life?
REFERENCES
Deuteronomy 30:19-20