John 4-6: Jesus Gets In Your Face

Sometimes Jesus says things like, "My yoke is easy, My burden is light. Come to Me, all you heavy laden, and I will give you rest." He said in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." So a picture is formed of the Savior. He is gentle. He has long, flowing hair. He has a beautiful white robe that never gets dirty. He has a glowing halo around His head. Children flock to Him in droves to sit on His knees and listen to His stories. He smiles a lot and hugs a lot.

Have you been sold that version of the Savior?

John 6 (and other passages) gives a slightly different picture. Sure, it starts out with Jesus, in compassion, feeding the crowd of 5000 with five barley loaves and two fish. But what transpires next may destroy the image of the weak, politician-style, often effeminate version of our Lord.

The people find Jesus in another place by the Sea of Galilee and try to get Him to produce food for everyone again. I had to laugh as they tried to be sly with the Lord. "What work do You perform?" they asked. "Our fathers ate the manna..." as if to say, "Oh, wait, here's an idea that just popped into my head - God gave the Israelites manna in the wilderness...maybe YOU could produce miraculous food, too, and that would PROVE you are God's Son and we'll believe in You." Jesus didn't buy it. He refused to feed this crowd which was now out looking for a handout. He fed them when they weren't expecting it, but He wasn't in the food business. He was in the soul business.

He proceeded to preach one of the hardest sermons of His earthly career. He said they must eat His flesh and drink His blood, intentionally speaking in difficult and cryptic language in order to sift those who wanted to REALLY understand His words and those who were merely out to hear interesting stories and possibly see an amazing miracle. "As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him any more" (John 6:66).

What would YOU have done? In order to prove that you had an honest, seeking heart, what should you have done? You should have done what the apostles did. Jesus asked if they would leave too. Peter said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God." (John 6:68-69).

Jesus gets in our face. He confronts us, tests us, challenges us. Following Him is no picnic. Of course, neither is trying to make our own way in this sinful world! It may be difficult sometimes, but it is so rewarding. But you have to WANT to!

God bless,
Nathan

Tomorrow's Reading: John 7-9