Are You Leaving?

 

“Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’

But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

Also we are sure and believe that you are the Christ,

the Son of the living God.’”

John 65:67-69

Thought for the Week:

“Et tu Brute?” – Not words we usually associate with Jesus… Yet in today’s verse, that’s basically what he’s saying.

This exchange comes just after the feeding of the five thousand. There were those who were basically following Jesus just for the food and entertainment.

But when he said things like, “I am the bread of life… He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me and I in him,” the crowd dissipated. People left in droves.

They should have understood the covenant analogy he was making. But that would also require them accepting the fact that He was who He claimed to be…the Son of God.

He was undoubtedly pricking Judas’ conscience as well. He already knew who the traitor was going to be among them.

There are people today who are also following Jesus just for the food and entertainment.

But Jesus demands more.

We have another saying that most of us know. It’s “You are what you eat.” When the Israelites made covenant, after the blood was shed, the sacrificed animal was laid on the alter, and later eaten. That’s why God always demanded a pure lamb, without spot or blemish.

The analogy is incredible. Jesus, the final sacrifice, is telling us he wants us to take into ourselves everything he is. He wants us to contain Him, and He us. He wants us to allow Him to be food for us, to restore us, to grow us, to sustain our lives and revitalize and nourish us in every aspect.

Thank you, Lord. We do want all of you… We will not walk away.