Life Spark: Stick with Jesus, even if He doesn’t do things your way. (John 6:60-71)
Jesus told the manna-seekers that their forefathers who ate miraculous manna for many years died anyway. Most of them got the nutrition in the manna, but missed the lesson in the manna. The bread from heaven was given to whet their appetites for the Savior, the ultimate bread from heaven. The Bread that lasts forever came to earth so you and I could last forever. But they choked on what He said. Choking can be deadly.
When I was ten I was laying down on the couch, watching TV and eating a sandwich too fast. Something went down the wrong pipe and I choked. I ran over to my dad, pointed at my throat, and motioned to the back door (thinking ‘hospital’). I guess he didn’t know how to do a Heimlich maneuver, but he got the idea, and ran with me to the back door. Finally, on the back porch, I was able to take a huge gulp of air.
Jesus noted that his audience was offended and then asked how they would respond if God’s action plan didn’t line up with their expectations. “What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!” (John 6:62, NIV) The idea of God doing things any other way than the way they had things lined out was very hard for them to swallow. (Judas was choking too.) Jesus pointed out that His purpose was to give them life that is abundant and satisfying, rather than just providing temporary fixes for their earthly problems.
A God who does things His way and not our way must not be a very magnetic God. Most of the people who had eaten the prior day’s miracle meal suddenly lost their appetite for Christ’s teaching. There was a giant rush for the exit.
The Lord’s ministry road was a rocky, rugged road. He was a hero one day, a zero the next. This chapter starts with something like 15,000 people following His signs of life, and by the end of the next day, only 11 people are still headed where the signs pointed. That’s up and down popularity. But Jesus stayed steady.
Peter, still chewing on what Jesus said, talked with food in His mouth: “We’re staying Lord. We believe you are the Bread. “You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68, NIV) If we left, we’d starve to death.” Meanwhile, Judas was choking to death.
Life-concept: It’s not crucial that you have all the answers, but it is crucial that, unlike Judas, you believe Jesus Christ does.