The embodiment of life itself is characterized by the following passages, and as Christ unveiled and proclaimed to His disciples the fundamental requirements of living a crucified life: “And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it” (Luke 9:23-24).
Though one would not necessarily think of a relationship in these terms, Jesus was clearly grooming His disciples for what was yet to come. Besides, Jesus is Lord and He exclusively dictates terms. The fact is, these are the terms of discipleship, or the cost of being about the business of the Kingdom. Keep in mind that the name of Jesus is synonymous with redemption and victory, and thus His coming did not occur without a cost of monumental proportions!
Upon closer inspection of our Lord's message in these preceding passages, He is clearly demanding an absolute disconnect and a departure from societal and secular indulgences and allegiances. This is no less than a prompt, faithful and obedient response so as to guarantee the securing of life by experiencing death. Did you get that? If you did, are you comfortable with it? It is essential that we understand what Christ is demanding and respond accordingly: “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).
In other words, Jesus is calling us out of death and comfort to a life of commitment. To be clear and concise about this notion, life is a commitment to Christ but apart from comfort. They are mutually exclusive. That is, you can’t have it both ways. In other words, the Lord Jesus Christ is offering a choice and those are the terms. But the human condition, or fleshly nature, will tend towards negotiation, and to no avail.
Be advised that we’ve only been given part of what the Lord wants all to know and understand, and no matter who you are, what you are or where you stand: “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath” (Mark 4:23-25).
Thus far, this message has evolved taking into account Jesus' "terms of discipleship" , and how the impact of an act of sincere commitment will steer one's path towards the Kingdom. I will express and confess at this juncture, that the operation of the Kingdom and the people thereof is guided and governed by the law of the Spirit: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:2-4).
The summation of the Word of the Gospel of John, chapter 6, affords us the opportunity to tune in to the true meaning of life. And this, if the truth be told, warrants NO debate, NOR dispute, but simply RAISES OF PRAISES to the Living and Life-Giving, Lord Jesus Christ. Having said that, I'll now say this: the reception and inclusion of truth, will cease not to prevail when there is a need to defend against the deception and exclusion of truth. What? I know, this just might qualify as a "Hard saying". It was for me. I decided that a couple of re-reads was indicated, which made the text just a bit more palatable. In the opening scene of the above mentioned Gospel, there was "no small stir" (Acts 19:9). Among an army of inquisitive and interested folk who, for the apparent reason of witnessing His miraculous healings, decided to follow Jesus (?). And all these things were in motion during the season of the Passover. Surely something to ponder.
Then there was, arguably, the most spectacular miracle recorded in the Gospels, the feeding of the "five thousand" (John 6:8-9). Ultimately, and as the fascination and anticipation of the crowds began to take on a life of its own, a pattern was emerging. It was intuitively obvious that the crowds were not followers, but fanatics. They are not motivated by the cost, but a cause. Needless to say, this was no surprise or nothing out of the ordinary in the eyes of Jesus. He sees the content of minds and hearts. The true significance of this narrative rests in the words and wisdom of Jesus Christ.
Jesus puts it like this in one instance, and in a riveting response to the masses: "Jesus 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. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed" (John 6:26-27). This was nowise a spiritual hunger for the Bread that gives life, but a
carnal craving that longed to fill a bottom-less pit. To reiterate, true life is a function of ones commitment to a life in Christ. To explain and simplify the notion of commitment in secular but highly applicable terms, I will contrast it with the notion of involvement. Think of ham and eggs, the chicken was involved; however, the pig was committed: thought-provoking, at the very least. Hence, life is not a matter of living it up, but a matter of giving it up. And It would behoove us to take stock of our motives as we travel along the way, because motives do matter: "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12).
Jesus would later be confronted by hostile religious leaders, and who were fueled by His claiming divinity. Of course, these were not just unsubstantiated and reckless claims, but promptings of the Holy Ghost. There attempts to thwart the truth would not, and could not prevail! What they did not understand was that this exercise in futility was
merely another ploy of Satan designed to undermine, and thus destroy them. A similar fate awaits anyone who is driven by such malicious and evil intentions. There is only one hope, and that hope has only one source: JESUS CHRIST (Colossians 1:27).
Jesus' enormous following would eventually depart. As the Scriptures tell us, their reasoning was all to obvious. They were apparently offended and repulsed by the repeated references Jesus made to His flesh and blood as being edible and drinkable.
There was a total and complete lack of understanding on their part, and a willingness to believe. Consequently, would fail miserably in gaining what mattered most, and that being eternal life. What a price to pay for the denial of the cost of discipleship: "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (John 6: 56-58;63).
In conclusion of this message, let us now shift our lens for the benefit of adding another perspective, and through the experiences of a character in the Old Testament. Perhaps this will stimulate your appetite for further discovery in the realm of eternal and transcendent truth. Listen to the lament of the prophet Jeremiah in his appeal to God about the discomfort associated with his commitment to a life of sacrificial service:
“O Lord, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:15-16).
Comments