Raising the Bar

If we turn away, where will we go?

Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.” Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” - John 6:56-69

Peter's question sounds odd at first.  If not you, then whom? We came to believe in you.

It must have been hard to accept the teaching of Jesus when he said things like you have to eat my flesh and drink my blood.  If you post that on Twitter, you may get a lot of responses, but not too many will be positive for your cause.

So, why make it hard for people to follow and believe.

John likes to be forthright.  He tells it like it is, whether that is what people want to hear of not.  

There really is no place else to go.  That is what Peter is saying.  You are the one we know we have to follow, and you make it hard.  Many have left because of what you have said.

Why is Jesus raising the bar?

I think we need to remind ourselves of the mission.  Jesus came here to move us to change the world.  To do that, you need to strip off all the crowds who follow for their own benefit, so that only those who follow are for the mission.

Peter's comment at first sounds like a complaint, but look again.  He is stating the truth.  You are the ONLY ONE.

If all who followed truly believed that, where would the mission be today?

The message from Jesus to his disciples is clear.  If you want to follow me, then be the change you want to see in the world.

Don't just go along for the ride.  

The bar is high, and maybe only a dozen or so out of thousands are willing to attempt to clear it, but you can be one of them.

More to come...