Life's Greatest Heartbreak

Good morning!

Today's text is John 6:25-71.

The setting is the day after the feeding of the 5000.  Many of those present had seen the disciples leave for Capernaum (about 40 miles from Jesus' hometown of Nazareth), and had followed them, finding Jesus and the disciples at the town of Gennesaret, on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.  Their first question, recorded in verse 25 was to ask how Jesus had gotten there already. (They had seen that the group had only one boat and that Jesus had not left in it.)  As was His custom, Jesus brushed aside the irrelevant and went to their core motivation by stating that the reason they had followed Him across the lake was to get more free food.

He then admonishes them to focus their energies on eternal things, things that will last forever, as opposed to giving their energy and hearts to temporal things, day after day after day.  The listeners interpret this as a directive to "work hard" to earn salvation (vs. 28).   Jesus, in verse 29, emphasizes that for them to "do the deed that God requires" means to believe on the One (Jesus) whom the Father has sent. That is THE DEED which changes everything: heart-changing belief.

Of course, for many of them, this was just too easy.  They resorted to their old pattern of "ancestor worship" and asked for a sign such as the one Moses gave their predecessors in the wilderness - - - the miraculous sign of providing bread for them to eat.  Jesus made it clear that it was God the Father, not Moses, who provided the manna, but then went on to emphasize that He is the true bread from Heaven, sent from the Father - - - the Bread of Life (vs. 35).

In verses 37-50, Jesus points out that not all people will believe in Him.  Although the invitation is extended to all, He knew some would choose to reject Him and His message.  We see this today as well.  God knows who will choose Jesus and who will reject Him.  This is the meaning behind Jesus saying that "everyone the Father has given me will come to me".  (In vs. 71 Jesus affirms that He has known "from the beginning" that Judas would reject Him and ultimately betray Him to the Jewish authorities.)

Some use this (and other passages) to assert that we really have no choice in the matter, that whether we come to Christ or not is a foregone conclusion.  But, for us to believe that negates the goodness of God, His grace.  This is merely one of the many paradoxes of the Bible.  In order for us to attain the proper interpretation we must consider all related Scriptures together.  Here, we must reconcile the goodness of God (and those Scriptures that extend salvation to all people) with the foreknowledge/omniscience (all-knowingness) of God (and those Scriptures that elaborate on how He knows the hearts of all people - - - past, present and future).

Jesus goes on to state that (vs. 39-40) that He will not "lose" those who choose to trust in Him.  When we make a heart decision to accept Jesus as Savior, there is a "forever heart change".  Jesus will not allow any who truly believe in Him to "slip through His fingers".  It is an eternal decision.  He holds us in the palm of His hand.  (See John 10:28).

In vs. 51-66, Jesus begins to teach even more figuratively, so much so that the 12 disciples are confused, and 11 of them have already confessed him as Savior!

Have you ever heard a minister preach and been confused?  Have you ever been offended by a minister's teaching?

Jesus began to refer figuratively to His giving of his earthly body and life for our sins, His sacrificial death, burial and resurrection - - - His finished work of redemption.  It is evident here that Jesus knew all along that the reason He was on earth, "wrapped in flesh", was to redeem us.  Like His Father, He knows all things, past, present, future.  He is using the blood and flesh metaphor to emphasize His earlier point - - - that there is no salvation apart from belief in Him.

And, here is the heartbreak - - - many of those listening that day rejected Jesus' message.  They rejected Him. (vs. 66) They were unable to "hear" spiritually the deeper meaning; and, thinking Jesus was advocating cannibalism, or stuck in the fact that He was "Joseph and Mary's son", they turned and walked away.

This morning I was listening to the national news as I fixed the morning coffee.  A mother whose son had been killed by a drunk driver was relating that story.  That is heartbreak - - - to lose a child.  I pray I never have to suffer through such horrific soul pain.  But, it is not life's greatest heartbreak. The latter is this:  to die and head off into eternity apart from a saving relationship with Jesus.

At the end of every Sunday sermon our pastor asks people to choose Jesus.  Then, he stands down there at the front of the church to welcome anyone who will come tell him that he/she has made that decision.  I think about, as I sing the closing song, how hard it must be to stand down there, know that some need to make the decision, and yet see them refuse.  I know it breaks his heart, every time.

I see this same reaction in everyday life, and it grieves me - - - people choosing to reject Jesus.  As long as they are physically alive, there is hope that they will turn around, repent and choose Him. But, for now, I know that those individuals are headed for an eternity of torment, in a place where God is forever absent.

If you have loved ones in this situation, running from God, rejecting Him, pray that their eyes will be opened, that their spiritual ears will be unplugged.  Plead with them to avoid life's greatest heartbreak by making the "choice of a lifetime"!

Jesus said to the disciples (vs. 67-69), "Will you also go away?"  Then, dear, blessed Simon Peter asked, "Lord, to whom would we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  And we believe and are sure that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Simon Peter, despite his other foibles and failures revealed elsewhere in Scripture, believed.  He had made that oh, so important choice.  Have you?  If not, please choose Jesus today!

Lord Jesus, I am so thankful that never, ever again will I have to live one moment apart from You.  I am Yours, and You are mine.  Still, my heart breaks for those who are rejecting You, even as You extend the invitation for rescue, day after day.  As the days get fewer until You return, things here on earth become more and more desperate.  The enemy has blinded so many.  I pray that Your Holy Spirit will not give up on those we love so dearly.  I plead for them today, Lord God.  Have patience greater than that of any human's, Lord!  Please draw them to Yourself.  Please save them.  In Jesus' name, amen.