Following by Faith by Bryan Craig
"After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
- John 6:66-69 ESV
I was asked to lead Communion at the end of a men’s retreat a few weeks ago. All weekend long, the men were pointed toward Jesus and following Him and letting Him create their identity, their priorities, their way of life. It was a mountaintop experience, as are many of these events. God meets us in a special way when we carve out a weekend to be with Him.
But I felt a sacred responsibility as I was the last person to address these men before they left the mountaintop to go back to the valley, where real life is lived. Communion seemed very appropriate because it was Jesus last time with His disciples before He would be departing and leaving them to live out the principles He had taught them.
As I prayed about how to lead this special time, God brought my thoughts to John 6, one of my favorite chapters in the gospels. A lot happens in this chapter. First, Jesus does an amazing miracle as he feeds over 5000 people with a few loaves of bread a few fish. Overnight, as the disciples were moving across the sea, a great storm arose, and Jesus came walking to them on top of the water. The next morning, the crowd got into their boats and came looking for Jesus. As always, Jesus knew what was in their hearts. He tells them basically that they were just looking for breakfast.
He goes on to make a point that they are looking for the wrong bread. HE is the Bread of Life, He is the Bread that comes down from Heaven, and He contrasts His bread with the Manna their forefathers ate and died. He says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” John 6:51
Then he gets even more specific and graphic:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in Me, and I in Him.” John 6:53-56
The disciples were shocked and offended by His words, and He knew they were grumbling. He tells them they are not thinking about this in the right way… He says “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:63
These are deep, spiritual things He’s imparting. They could not understand the sacrifice He was about to make for them and the world, giving His flesh and blood unto death. And so, we read one of the saddest lines in Scripture:
“After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.” John 6:66
It seems many were following Him, looking for what He could give them in the flesh. He wanted to give them eternal life. He wanted to give them Himself.
Jesus turned to the 12, asking if they wanted to go away as well. Peter said:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68-69
What a proclamation!
- Where else would we go?
- You have the words of eternal life.
- We believe in You.
- We have come to know You.
- You are God.
I think the 12 must have been as perplexed as the rest of the crowd listening to Jesus talking about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. BUT because they believed in Him and trusted in Him, they would follow Him, even when they did not understand. That’s personal abandonment and absolute trust.
Then, on that fateful night at His Last Supper with these trustworthy followers, He got to remind them of this message. He gave them bread and wine as a tangible reminder that if they receive Him, they would have all that they needed.
I got to invite this group of men at that retreat to come to Jesus’ table. It’s an open invitation. Just know that walking with Jesus means there will be times of testing and doubts and fears and confusion at times. But will you trust Him and receive Him and abandon yourselves to Him because you know Him and will abide (remain) in Him?
Or will you turn back.
This is a daily question, a daily invitation.