“Why Would You Leave Jesus?”
John 6:51-69
Rev. Denise R. Mason
Community of Reconciliation Church
August 20, 2006
John is different than the other gospel writers who report to us the events and circumstances of Jesus’ life. John assumes that the hearers of his telling already know something about Jesus. He assumes that they already know:
But, what John wants those who come after him to understand is what all of this means. John calls us to go beyond the miracles and the awe to discover how Jesus’ coming not only changed the world but also, how he wants to change yours and mine as well.
John’s gospel is different from the other writers. First, he only records the events that happened over 20 days of Jesus’ life[1]. The gospel writer is singularly-minded and focused. In John’s Gospel there is…
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No Christmas!
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No stables!
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No shepherds!
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No wise men!
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No angels!
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No stars!
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No baby!
John is on a mission to help us understand 3 things…
1. Where Jesus comes from: “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and He was
with God in the beginning (John 1:1-2).” John wants us to be clear. From the beginning there was a
God and Jesus was with God from the beginning.
2. The signs that point to Jesus… It is not about the miracles. For John, everything miraculous was
done so that we would believe that He is the Son of God. It starts at the baptism of Jesus when
John the Baptist reports… “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on
him (John 1:32).”These things that Jesus has done, John tells us, are the ‘true signs.’ For it is in
Jesus that God has summed up all that God has to say… “Speaking to us in the only way we could
truly understand – by becoming one of us.”[2]
3. And finally, it is the gospel writers mission… to help us understand exactly what we must do to
receive him. He lays out the signs and shows us the way over and over again that we too would find
our way in.
That being said… Let’s remember how this chapter began… First, for the disciples, Jesus instructs them to feed the 5,000 – but they don’t know how, nor do they know how Jesus will… Then came the people. They begin as seekers of Jesus – They follow him, watch him feed them all, ignore the miracle and go searching after things that will perish. When Jesus rejects their overture they ask Him, what kind of work they can do so that they will always eat the food Jesus provides.
And finally, there’s Jesus. He begins by offering the people what they need for the moment so that they will see what’s possible with God. When the crowd doesn’t understand, he goes deeper, sharing with all that He is the bread of life who provides the living water… Those who believe in Him will never hunger nor thirst.
The crowd still does not understand. Instead of drawing them in closer, they become more confused and begin to reject him. Most teachers would try to simplify the lesson being taught, make it easier to understand and comprehend but, Jesus does not. He pushes on…
This is difficult to digest. The crowd responds. “How is it that Joseph’s son has come down from heaven (6:35, 41)?” No one has ever made this claim… This is Jesus is of Nazareth, we’ve know him as a child!
The people recoil but, is still does not stop Jesus. He says to them, in essence, ‘you think that is hard to digest… keep listening!’ Not only have I come down from heaven as living bread but you must eat of my flesh and drink of my blood if you are to have life (6:51-53)!
The people recoil, but Jesus just goes deeper. He doesn’t make concessions. He doesn’t change analogies or come up with something that is easier, nicer, or softer. He pushes harder.
Here’s the best that I have been able to understand…
1. There is no room for logic. Jesus doesn’t always make sense.
2. We must surrender control. Jesus calls us to do things which require us to walk without being
able to see the next step.
3. Jesus really doesn’t care how we feel about this. Jesus does not care about popularity – Jesus cares
about salvation – a way to live in this world without becoming of this world – a way to live our lives
and in the process, never lose God nor God’s call to righteous.
4. And because what Jesus calls us to is hard too believe, understand or comprehend, Jesus tells us
right from the beginning, according to John, if you want to follow me – know God as I know God –
and live eternally – you must, chew on me until I am fully digested and consumed by you.
For Jesus, faith is like consumption. What Jesus has to offer us must be personally apportioned by each of us – individually – like each of us must consume food to thrive and live. This is his crucially of faith.[3]
John wants us to know, that what Jesus has come to say is too important for Jesus to back down… water down… or hold back. There is too much at stake… this is what faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, looks like… Remember their questions… “How do we do the works of God?” this is his response… You must consume me… such that in me, you live and breathe and have your being!
So then, there is only one question left… What would make you leave Jesus? Most normal people hear these words and they take off. Some others stick around to see if he is serious or if he’s going to change his mind, clean it up, explain it further. But he does not and eventually, they too leave. Even the disciples, by the end of this discourse, talk amongst themselves… “This teaching is hard to accept (6:60).”
Jesus is offensive to most. His teachings are hard and the way of life is even harder. What would make you leave Jesus? Jesus calls us to turn more and more of our life over to Him. Jesus never ever chooses the easy route or the one most people will understand. What would make you leave Jesus? His way is the sacrificial way. Loving people, yes, but with God as our first love… Giving everything we are and will be over to a God who can see what we cannot. A God who is willing to suffer that goodness and majesty will reign. What would make you leave Jesus?
If glory in this world is what you seek… If comfort and ease is what you desire… If know where you will end up is a requirement… Then you have to consider the question so you might as well know it now… What would make you leave Jesus?
Before you make up your mind I want to give you one last piece of information. I want you to be informed. If you stick with Jesus – no matter what – Jesus will stick with you! Your parents might not. Your brother or your sister might not. The one you gave your heart too might not. The preacher or the pastor might not. Your boss might not. BUT JESUS WILL!
In the final verses, Jesus asks the disciples if they want to leave him too (v.67). Peter speaks up… “Lord, to whom can we go? You [and you alone] have the words [and the path] to eternal life. We have come to believe (v.68-69).”
Once you have known Jesus – His goodness and His love… Once you have known Jesus as your comfort and guide as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death… Once you have known Jesus and experienced for yourself the power of His salvation… You will join with the disciples… the ones who have passed on their faith… And answer as they did… Lord, there is no other to whom we can go!
You’ve been reminded of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s make it matter. Amen.
[1]John, Introduction, NIV Student Bible, p. 927.
[3]John, New Testament Commentary. (Presby Office)
