Proper 15: Gospel, John 6:51-69                                             

John 6:51-69

We’ve been following Jesus as He discusses with his disciples the fact that He is bread from above, bread from God. Moses brought the manna given by Heaven, but the Son reveals that He is the heavenly banquet. And during the final portion of this discourse we have a real point of crisis. Jesus had spoken earlier that it was as a result of the Father drawing people, that they would come to the Son, eating His flesh (true food), and drinking His blood (true drink).

Crisis comes when one has to allow full truth in. Not only were many who heard Jesus that day scandalized that this was the carpenter’s son who grew up just down the street. But He was making such outlandish statements about Himself. And they were within earshot.

The final straw, if you will, is Jesus asking, “Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before” (6:62)? Here He seals their stony hearts by claiming that He came from heaven and was most assuredly returning there soon.

And the kinds of things He had said which elevated Him over Moses, placed Him in control over their salvation rather than themselves. It was all too much. So at the point of crisis … “many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (v.66). So very sad. But not all that surprising. You see, God’s salvation is free and available to all. But it IS GOD’S SALVATION. Its processes and methods aren’t up for cultural adaptation, political correctness or self-actualization.

Some will always come because God’s Word never goes out and returns empty. But some there will be, sadly, who will always turn away. Jesus let them go away then. And He still does today.  He does the saving. He does the inviting. It’s His salvation. I’m glad.