No Place to Go
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35
"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." John 6:56-58
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:68-69
Insight
The Bible contains hard truths and commands that go against our natural tendencies: forgive our enemies, don't worry about tomorrow, and control our tongue. We desire security and stability, yet, in Scripture, God urges us to walk by faith.
Scriptures can be very black and white, but we would rather live in the gray. We're urged to pick up our cross and follow Him daily. Yet, we often want to compartmentalize our faith when convenient for us. God doesn't want part of your heart; He wants the whole thing. Unfortunately, we tend to hesitate when it comes to this level of commitment. This command is too much for some, and instead, they walk away. This reaction is nothing new.
In John 6, a crowd gathered around Jesus, demanding a sign showing His power. They desired to see a miracle similar to their ancestors who ate manna in the wilderness (John 6:31). They hoped that Jesus met their daily physical needs. But as always, Jesus' response catches them off-guard. He saw the more profound need at hand. So He utters the words, "Unless you eat of my flesh and drink of my blood, you have no life in you."
A statement like that can halt you in your tracks. Imagine being in the crowd at that moment. This saying seems to come out of nowhere. Excuse me, Jesus, what did You say? Jesus wanted them to realize the depths of what it looks like to accept Him. It is about taking Him "All In." The charge to embrace the reality of who Christ is remains the same for us here and now.
The manna in the desert or the fishes needed to feed the 5,000 (John 6:1-15) was enough to meet a person's physical hunger. But it is only a matter of time before physical hunger returns. The deeper need God is concerned about is our spiritual hunger. He is the one and only provider that can meet our longings. Knowing Him and taking Him "All In" is the only place where we can find life. We must taste and see that the Lord is good.
So, just like the crowd, we are left with a decision, and both choices are a challenge. It's hard either way: walking away from Him or walking with Him. There were those in the crowd that day who counted the cost and reasoned that the level of commitment was just too much to bear. So they decided to go back to their old life and no longer follow Him.
But, then there were those like Peter who realized there was nowhere else to turn to find the life they desired. Yes, it came with a cost, like laying down their pride, going the extra mile, and carrying that cross. Yet, it paled in comparison to what they were gaining. So, our prayer should be to take Him "All In" like Peter.
Reflection
What would it look like to go "All In" in your relationship with God?
Prayer
God, yes, the cost of following You is great. But, is worth it. I can only find my desire for life in You. You, and You only, are my provision. Help me to believe and trust in this truth. May I go "All In" when it comes to following You. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.