February 7, 2010 - A Hard Saying

In the course of our life, we have encountered so many words that encourage and motivate us. But there are also words that tear us apart. The worst part is not only the words we hear but who spoke them. It is better to hear it from an enemy rather than a friend.

Jesus’ ministry on earth is to deliver the message of the Father to man. His words are easy to understand. Yet to some, His words are hard sayings. An example would be found in the book of John chapter 6.

In this chapter, Jesus made a miracle by feeding 5000 men with only five barley loaves and two small fishes. Not only did He feed them but they were able to gather 12 basketfuls of leftovers! It was mind-boggling! The people could hardly believe it. How could this man do such things? Who was He? These were the thoughts that were running in the minds of these men who experienced the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

They began to follow Jesus, not because of His miracle of healing but of the loaves. Jesus testified about it in John 6:26 when He answered them and said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.” It was a blunt and frank speech by our Lord. He further explained about God’s plan of giving them the Bread of Life and that whoso eateth His flesh, and drinketh His blood, hath eternal life (John 6:54). The very words of Jesus began to dishearten many of His disciples and walked with Him no longer. Many of us will begin to question why. Why would many of the disciples of Jesus felt bad? Were they insulted by Jesus’ words? What was in our Lord’s tone that created such change of heart?

The Challenge

Take note that all hard sayings are challenges. When Jesus mentioned that He is the Bread of Life and that through His flesh and blood is the salvation they need, many of the Jews felt threatened and disoriented. Jesus challenged the Jews regarding two things: tradition and truth. He was opening Himself up as the truth that must be regarded and accepted. The Jewish tradition must go out of their system in order for them to recognize the truth that is Jesus Christ. Jesus was not actually telling them to abandon their faith but to disregard tradition if it goes in the way of their faith. There were many challenges that Jesus had openly declared; the most controversial issue that Jesus had made was about healing on a Sabbath day.

When we read the ministry of Jesus, it was a life filled with challenges. These challenges lead to change. And these changes were not the things that the hard-hearted traditional Jews would like to implement. They love the miracles and the blessings but not the challenge that it brings them. They were already having a position of greatness and such change might (through their own thinking) would bring them down.

Manna vs. Bread of Life

According to Noah Webster’s Dictionary, manna is a substance miraculously furnished as food for the Israelites in their journey through the wilderness of Arabia. It was provided by God for them to live through the length of their wilderness wandering. The book of John described manna as bread from heaven (John 6:31). Jesus compared the manna provided for the Israelites in the Old Testament times with the Bread of Life that God will provide for all those who will seek it. What made the sayings of Jesus hard to accept was when He explained the difference of manna and the Bread of Life; manna was given yet they (their fathers) are dead while the Bread coming from Heaven gives eternal life. What was more surprising for them was when Jesus declared that the Bread that they must eat is Jesus Himself! It was repulsive for them when Jesus said that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life. They (Jews) therefore strove among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (John 6:52) Did you get their point? It was gross-thinking! They were deafened by the hardness of their heart and blinded by their own hypocrisy that they couldn’t hear or understand what Jesus was trying to say.

Man Shall not Live by Bread Alone

When Jesus was tempted to turn the stones into bread by Satan in the mount of temptation, Jesus answered, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God - Matt 4:4.” Jesus was talking about eternal life when He said these words! He is telling us that earthly bread is not sufficient for man to gain eternal life. We need to have our heavenly bread. As I have explained before, Jesus declared that He is the Bread of Life (John 6:48). Revelations 13:16, 19 declare that Jesus is the Word of God. And since Jesus is the Bread of Life therefore, the Bread of Life is the Word of God. And since the Word of God is our Bible therefore, our Bible is the Bread of Life!

Thus, when Jesus stated that we must have every word from God and further supported it in John 6:54 by eating His flesh and drinking His blood, He is pertaining about our daily reading/devotion of our Bible. Many of you may say ‘Amen!’, but I tell you the truth; many of you are guilty of not reading His word on a regular (daily) basis. It is easy to hear words but it is hard to listen. It is easy to accept blessings yet hard to accept the responsibility that accompanies it. It is easy to say, ‘I’m a Christian’ yet hard to live and to act like one. It is easy to say, “I love you, Jesus” yet we continue to live a debauched life.

We are no different with the Jews. Some of us cling to Jesus because of the ‘miracle of the bread’ and not the miracle of healing that He is performing in our lives. Remember when Jesus said in John 14:12, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father”? Note that all the apostles did greater things especially in the area of healing. But the miracle of the bread and fishes were never repeated. Why? Isn’t it better to have such miracle especially today where there are many who are malnourished and in need of food?

Man’s Part

I believe that the Lord is trying to teach us about life. When the miracle of the bread ceased after His earthly ministry, there started the miracle of eternal life through the Bread from Heaven that is Jesus Christ. Note that the reason why the miracle of the bread was no longer repeated was for man not to seek on material food for strength but on spiritual food. Jesus was well-aware of man’s situation and needs. That is the reason why He came to give life and more abundantly (John 10:10). God gives us what we need but we have to seek His kingdom and His righteousness first (Matt. 6:33).

It is man’s part to lay aside traditional issues and stick with the truth; that without Jesus in our lives we are nothing. This was the problem of the early disciples of Jesus. They can’t let go of their traditions and embrace the truth. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)”. This was the very hard fact that they have to face. They were seeking for salvation. And when salvation came, they refused to embrace it because it didn’t go along fine with their traditions.

Will Ye Also Go Away?

When most of Jesus’ disciples started to walk-out from Him, He asked the twelve (apostles), “Will ye also go away?” Many Christians today are unaware that they are going away from Jesus. They become very busy on their work and focused everything on their careers that they forgot to have some quiet time with the Lord. I hear many people say, “I’m a Christian” yet they don’t seek the truth within their Bibles (John 8:32). Some Christians are so caught studying the latest technology, latest internet games, and latest fad but they forgot to study His truth within their Bibles (2 Tim. 2:15). We begin to become B.U.S.Y. (Being Under Satan’s Yoke) with the world that we forgot to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2).

I love the way Peter answered Jesus. John 6:68-69 state, “Then Simon Peter answered Him (Jesus), Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” In truth, where will we go? To whom shall we go? There is only one way, one truth and one life. That way is the way of Christianity; living a holy life (1 Peter 1:16) and becoming perfect (Matt. 5:48). That truth is God’s word; our lamp unto our feet and light unto our path (Ps. 119:105). That one life is everlasting life with our Lord (John 3:16).

Hope of Eternal Life

Brethren, as Paul had written, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us (Heb 6:18):” “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:2)” This was the very thing that Jesus was presenting to the Jews during His earthly ministry. Now, He continues His ministry through His words. He is presenting unto us the hope of eternal life. Through Him, we gather strength. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13)! AMEN!!!