Day 6 of the 21 Day Challenge

 John 6

Well, I’m going to have to shorten this up a bit tonight. I’m exhausted from a long day. But I would like to get this one thought out there and call it a night.

John 6:66 ironically says, “From this time, many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”

It’s not easy following Jesus. What he has to say will cause you to have to drastically change your life.

I don’t know about you, but when I read of the disciples who turn away, I quickly dismiss myself from the rift-raft. I like to think of myself as one among the true followers, like Peter and join in with his confession “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.” (6:68).

The would-be disciples left Jesus because of this difficult teaching, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.” (6:56) When they hear that, they give each other strange looks, saying to each other, “Did he say what I think he said?”

If you are looking to gain followers, you don’t tell people to drink your blood (unless your at a Twilight convention). You just don’t do it. But Jesus says this to separate the wheat from the chaff. He wanted to point out who was there because they were looking for more grub and who was there to truly feast on the life of Christ. He desires those who hunger for the truth and live it out in their life.

My instinct is to separate and distance myself from the chaff in this story, the chaff being the disciples who left. But I want to take a closer look at the text and figure out where I stand. Am I all in for Christ? Would I drop everything, follow him, and pick up my cross in the process?

A good way to look at this text and reflect on it is in this way:

When I consider my relationship with Christ, am I wearing a bib or an apron? Am I coming before Christ expecting him to serve me, or am I willing to serve him?

Peter’s confession is truly God-honoring. As people are jumping ship, he grabs a hold of it and doesn’t let go, “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.”

“We’re sticking with you Jesus.” That’s what the true disciples tell him. When the Christian life gets difficult, when people start jumping ship, when following Jesus means abandoning the comforts of this world, my prayer is that I too will tell Christ “I’m sticking with you, you’re the Holy One of God.”

Here is my prayer “Dear Lord, may I be among those who hold tightly to Jesus. Even in the midst of struggle, may I hold firm to my faith in Jesus Christ. I have truly come to know  as the Holy One of God. Let my life reflect that conviction and be a light to others. Just as Peter and the true disciples desired to know Christ,  allow me to walk in that same conviction each day. In the name of the Holy One, Jesus Christ, Amen.