John 6:60-69

Sunday, August 26, 2018

            Though today’s passage is John 6, we begin in Mark 10.  Jesus and the disciples are walking to Jerusalem, Jesus knows this will end in his death.  The disciples do not know that, but they have intuited, from Jesus’ demeanor, that something has changed.  Many around him believed, or at least hoped, that he was going to Jerusalem to assume Israel’s throne.  He would be crowned, throw the Romans out, and then serve as a very human king.  He would re-establish the line of King David and usher in a new golden age. 

            His followers’ minds were on Jerusalem, not their immediate surroundings.  Jesus was always in the present. So, in Mark 10, when the crowds try to hush a blind man who loudly calls out to Jesus, Jesus hushes the crowd. He gives his full attention to the man, named Bartimaeus.  He asks, “What do you want me to do for you” (Mark 10:51)?  We know that Jesus restores his sight, and Bartimaeus in turn follows Jesus. 

            What if, reading imaginatively, we transport the conversation from the pages of the Bible to our lives? Jesus says, “What do you want me to do for you?”  But he doesn’t say it to Bartimaeus in 33AD.  He says it to you, right here, right now.  What do you want me to do for you?

            ‘Help me make straight A’s this semester?’

‘Give me enough money to enjoy a comfortable retirement?’ 

‘Get my boss to stop riding me so hard?’

‘Get that boy to get off the fence and get me an engagement ring?’

            What do you want me to do for you?

            Does Jesus ask us this question?  Each one of us has our own definitions of success, our own thoughts about what makes life good. As people who go to church, do we suppose Jesus can help in any real way?  Will Jesus help with the GPA, with material comforts, with our relationships on the job, or in our social lives?  Does the faith we claim at church have anything to say with what goes on in the rest of our lives?

            I am not going to promise that Jesus will get the girl or guy for you, will help guarantee that you love your job, and that you and I will retire wealthy.  We don’t find those types of promises in John chapter 6 or anywhere else in the Bible.  Jesus does promise his followers an abundant life.  Do we believe him?  Is that enough?

            What’s the best place to eat out in Chapel Hill? (Allow answers).  My family frequents the Loop, Breadman’s, Elmo’s, and the Mediterranean Deli on Franklin Street.  Why did you pick your favorite spot?  The taste of the food?  The atmosphere?  The people you know you’ll see there?  The familiarity of the place? 

            At the beginning of John 6, a large crowd is thronging to Jesus.  They have watched as Jesus healed diseases that in that day were sure death sentences.  These people knew what they wanted Jesus to do for them.  They wanted to see miracles and to benefit from miracles.  They were attracted by the spectacle.  Others believed, or at least hoped, he might be the Messiah.  Many had been followers of the John the Baptist, and at the Baptist’s prompting left their old teacher to become disciples of Jesus.  And of course there were the 12 he hand-picked to be disciples. 

            They all followed Jesus up on a mountain side to hear him preach.  Jesus looked asked his disciple Philip, “Where are we going to buy food for all these people?”  Philip said 6 months wages would not be enough to feed such a crowd.  Then another disciple, Andrew, introduced Jesus to a boy who was willing to share the lunch his mom had packed, two fish fillets and five pieces of pita bread. 

            Jesus fed the entire crowd from that boy’s lunch, and had 12 baskets of leftovers; such is the extravagant generosity of God.  In a frenzy, the masses decided to crown Jesus as king of Israel, right there on the spot.  Jesus rejected the offer.  He was the king, but not the way they understood. 

At this point the narrative shifts from focus on the crowd, to that group of antagonists in John often referred to as “the Jews.”  They opposed Jesus, but this doesn’t mean all Jews were his adversaries.  Jesus was Jewish.  So were his followers.  So were the people in the crowd.  When John writes “the Jews,” context makes it clear that he means opponents of Jesus, religious leaders who felt their own position threatened by Jesus’ theology.  The leading clergy couldn’t tolerate Jesus’ superior knowledge and dangerous claims about God.  So they schemed to confront him, trick him, and ultimately manipulate the Romans to kill him. 

Both the crowds who wanted to crown Jesus king and the authorities who wanted to silence him were confused by his message. 

In 6:35 he says, “I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Again, in verse 51, he says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.  Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

Nothing in Israel’s history involved cannibalism.  Jesus talked about drinking his blood, but drinking an animal’s blood was strictly forbidden in the book of Leviticus.  And there is no thought of ever drinking a man’s blood.  What was Jesus saying?

Recall the book of Exodus.  God led Israel out of slavery in Egypt and on a march to the Promised Land.  Along the way, God sent bread that just appeared on the ground.  It was called Manna, which is translated, “What is it?”  What is this that we are eating?  It is life; that’s what it is.  Bread sent from Heaven to keep us alive so we can become who God is calling us to become.

At first, they were filled with awe at God’s provision.  But their wonder gave way to grumbling as they wanted God to up the ante on works of miraculous power.  Manna wasn’t enough, and they complained (Numbers 11:4ff).  God provided, the people were saved, but then wanted more.  God wanted a relationship of love with his people. Instead of rejoicing in a relationship with God, his people desired earthly thrills. 

The same dynamic is evident in the way John constructs his Gospel, especially here in chapter 6.   When Jesus multiplied the boy’s lunch out in the wilderness, the gathered crowd would have immediately recalled the way God provided manna for their ancestors.  Jesus’ miracle feeding was a godly act that all present would recognize.  They wanted to crown him as an earthly king.  He said, no.  No, I won’t be the king, at least not as you understand a king.  What I will be is your link to a relationship with God. 

Beginning in 6:54: “those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.  Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.  Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.”

He doesn’t mean a literal eating of his flesh.  He means living life under His lordship, with our eyes fixed on him in all that we do, and with His Spirit in us.  He speaks of resurrection and of abiding in Him.  This connects today with the future.  Jesus is our assurance that today, God will provide both bodily nutrition and sustenance, and relationship.  Furthermore, when the Spirit of Christ is in us, God assures our eternity will be spent in the Kingdom of God in resurrected bodies. 

The crowds around Jesus did not understand all of this. We have the benefit of four completed gospels.  They didn’t have that.  But they knew he wasn’t talking about literally cutting his limbs up for people to eat.  They knew he meant consuming His teaching.  They also most likely perceived that when they argued with him, he in turn compared them to the Israelites in the wilderness who complained against God. 

It leaves us with a question: do we want to complain about the food, or enjoy it?  When we pray, and God provides, do we accept the gift God gives us, or do we send it back?  Remember the opening question.  Jesus says to you or to me, “what do you want me to do for you?”  He will give us what’s best for us. Do we accept what Jesus gives, or do we try to send it back?  Do we look to God and say, ‘yes, Lord, I will live the life you’re leading me to live?’  Or do we say, “No God, I don’t like what you have for me.  I’ll do this my way?”

They complained.  The crowds, the religious leaders, and even many of the disciples: Jesus did not fit into the mold any of them had predetermined for him.  They ran to the wilderness to see Jesus work miracles and crown him king, or to crucify him.  Now at the end of John 6, we see 1000’s become hundreds as they leave in droves.  Jesus tells them, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”  But, they find it hard.  Some can’t understand it.  Others cannot accept it.  They keep leaving until Jesus looks around where there had been 1000’s.  All he sees are the 12 he selected.

“Do you also wish to go away?”  Jesus won’t the change message just because it’s unpopular.  His words are from God and he’ll speak them even if he’s alone in the desert. 

Peter responds, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life” (6:68).

Where do we find the best eats?  It’s not Breadman’s or the Carolina Café or Top of the Hill. Those are wonderful places.  But food that brings life is at God’s table.  It’s the beginning of the semester.  People are new to our town, and maybe that includes many of you.  We face new challenges.  As life gets stressful in coming days and weeks, where do we go to be refreshed, strengthened, comforted, and encouraged?  As the world around us ceaselessly tells us we aren’t smart enough or professional enough or capable or acceptable, where do we go to be reminded that we are beloved, that we belong, and that we are God’s precious possessions?

The communion table and the gathering of the church – the body of Christ – is where we are filled; filled with grace and love; filled with the Spirit.  The Lord’s Supper is the food that fills us with Christ.  Bring your mistakes.  Put on Christ and be made perfect.  Bring your regrets.  Drink in Christ and be made new.  Brings your fears.    Consume Christ and be filled with Holy Spirit who gives courage and power.  In Him, there is life. 

All are invited to the table.  Come with the church family and receive the body and blood of Christ.  A hard teaching?  Yes.  Embrace it.  Don’t run from it.  Step toward Jesus as He receives you in love.

AMEN

Maundy Thursday Message - 2014

Jesus the Giver (John 6:35-51; 13:1-11)

Thursday, April 17, 2014 – Maundy Thursday

            Nelson Mandela spent years and years in prison in South Africa, yet he survived that ordeal, made it out, became president, and forgave those who unjustly imprisoned him.  He gained a reputation for courage, grace, focus, and great inner strength.  Martin Luther King Jr. is known for non-violence.  He dreamed of an integrated America before it happened.  He spoke with charisma and people wanted to follow him; or kill him.  They did both.

            Here in our own town, there are stories of men and women of great character and integrity.  One example of many is former basketball coach Dean Smith.  He is known as much for his faith and social conscience as his brilliance as a coach.  He is respected for his character.

            I could go on with examples.  The one thing others cannot take away is integrity, yet people compromise their own values far too often.  Though it cannot be taken, we give our integrity, we forfeit our reputation, and as a result we struggle to trust one another.  Jesus’ character was never in question.

            This may sound like an example of stating what is ridiculously obvious – Jesus was a good man.  Well, no kidding!  Was that even in question?  And yet, to look closely at why we accept this without question helps us know how to stand before Jesus.  We take up a vulnerable posture in which all we can do is present ourselves fully exposed, our souls completely bare, and then receive whatever he dishes out.

            Why?  It begins with what Jesus did in gathering his disciples for a meal the night he would be arrested.  The gospels indicate strongly he knew what was coming.  Whether he knew it would be that evening or sometime very soon, he knew.  His actions were intentional, done so that after the crucifixion/resurrection dust had settled; his disciples could look back, remember, and learn from what he did.  

            They would have reclined around a table kind of at the height of a coffee table.  And Jesus washed their feet.  I thought why is it such a big deal that he washed their feet?  Along with that question, I wonder, why do I feel compelled to wash feet just because Jesus did it?

            In his culture it was an act of service done by a servant or in many cases by a slave.  It was a lowly chore.  That was a world where people traveled by foot; they walked dirt roads; and they wore sandals.  I would guess those feet were a kind of dirty we rarely see, we of shoes, sock, carpets, pavement, and bathtubs.  It was lowly and here the master lowered himself in a shocking way.

            In our culture the issue is intimacy and self-reliance.  I’ll wash my own feet, thank you.  I’ll do it at my house and then I’ll hide them.  If you must look down there, notice my shoes.  I love you, but I don’t know if I want us to move to that level of intimacy in our friendship.  I’m not sure I want my foot in your hands.

            In Jesus’ day, they did not want to wash the feet of others.  In our day, we don’t want others to wash our feet.  In both cases, the act is a significant step out of normal.  And there’s the genius of it.  Jesus said to his contemporaries in this act, you are no better than the servant who washed feet.  In our day he says to us, you need to open your hearts and let me in and let your brothers and sisters in Christ in. 

            Sure, we are capable of washing our own feet.  But are we vulnerable enough to let people into our hearts to the point that we truly are a family in Christ.  Will we allow him to smash down the barriers we erect to keep everyone, sometimes even our spouses, at a safe distance?  Can we invite Jesus so deeply that we have the intimate love here in our family of believers that Jesus insisted be what defines us?

            In the account of the foot washing in John 13 and in our acting it out, we see Jesus character.  He, the Lord, is a servant.  He models servant-love and demands that we give servant love to one another, to those society would call the ‘least of these,’ and to our enemies.  The foot washing is one way Jesus breaks us down so he break into our lives, our hearts.

            Because of his willingness to show servant-love as he calls us to servant love is one reason we admire Jesus’ character.  Another is his sacrifice.  When we gather around the communion table, we take the bread.  We hold it up and say, ‘this represents the body of Christ.’  We eat it because he said, ‘do this in remembrance of me.’  The broken bread is his body, broken by our sins.  The wine or grape juice represents his blood – the blood of the New Covenant.  Because he died for us and because we confess our sins and receive forgiveness, we have life in the New Covenant. 

            The Gospel of John is abundantly clear that Jesus the man knew exactly what he was doing.  Yes, he was fully God.  At the same time, he was fully human.  When nails drove through his hands, it hurt as much as it would hurt you or me.  Yet, he knew it was coming and went to it for the world, for you and me.  In chapter 10, he says, “I lay down my life.  … No one takes it from me but I lay it down of my own accord” (10:18). 

            In John 19, having been arrested, the beaten, poor Galilean rabbi stands before the splendor and might of Rome, an inquiry from Governor Pontius Pilate.  Yet, Jesus seems to control the entire dialogue.  Frustrated, Pilate asks, “Do you refuse to speak to me?  Do you not know that I have the power to release you and the power to crucify you?”  Already bloodied from the thorns and the whip, Jesus says back, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above” (19:10-11). 

            Jesus chose the cross.  It was God’s plan from the start.  I don’t think God forced Judas to betray him or forced the chief priests to hand him over to Pilate.  I think each player in the drama made his own choices.  But God knows the human heart and the human weakness when it comes to sin and temptation.  Jesus took the sin on himself. 

            When we talk about his great character, we can say many things.  I have chosen to focus on how he expressed servant love, and how Jesus gave of himself as an act of sacrificial love.  Service and sacrifice:  these attributes are what Jesus is all about and they indicate how we are to stand before him. 

            When Jesus knelt, Peter protested.  “You will never wash my feet,” he told his master (13:8).  “Unless I wash you,” Jesus responded, “you have no share with me.”  There is nothing we do.  We present ourselves as we are in all our dirtiness, shame, and failure before God.  There’s no initiative from us; no skill or exceptional achievement.  There is no gain or hard work that gets us there.  Broken, we come and Jesus is the actor, the doer.  He washes.  If we do not come in this way, receiving what the giver gives, we never can be one with him.

            Similarly he says, “Unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”  Nothing in any of the four gospels means literal cannibalism.  Joined with the bread and cup accounts in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we know that here in John 6, Jesus meant we eat the bread and cup as a symbol of us taking him into ourselves.  But when I say, “taking in,” I mean receive.  We accept that we are sinners, but that his body scarred and blood spilled make a way for us.  If we do not, then we do have the eternal Jesus gives. 

            At the foot washers’ basin and at the communion table, we are receivers and Jesus the giver.  Our hands are open as are our hearts.  Nothing is held back or hidden.  We come acknowledging that we belong to him.  We are his and the best that is in us is what he gives. 

            This is not necessarily easy.  People who work hard and achieve a lot want take pride in standing on their own accomplishments.  Taking on the posture of receiving may be one of the biggest obstacles blocking the path to life-changing faith.  We are forced to trust.  Many will not.  Pride is a root cause of sin, yet many of the proudest people in the country sit in churches every week.  We are proud of our children, proud of our families, proud of churches, and proud of ourselves.  Nothing any pastor says will dent that pride in the least.  That entrenched pride produces unmovable wills which is sad because it means people bearing the identity of a Christian are in fact keeping themselves from God.

            I pray tonight, Maundy Thursday, you and I would not be among the proud.  I know we have been.  I wrestle with pride and tonight, I am asking God to help me let it go.  Would you do that?  Would you ask God to free you from having to stand on your own?  Would you look to Heaven and in your spirit confess your sins and your helplessness?  Having confessed would you then open yourself to Jesus and receive what he gives?  In washing feet and being washed, we honor our servant God and we are cleansed by him.  In eating bread and drinking juice, we take him into us as we admit that we are nothing without him.

            He is the great giver, giving life to all who will die to self and receive from him.  Can we do that tonight?

            We will have silent prayer and then be invited forward for the Lord’s Supper.