The Hard Lesson

Our Wednesday evening bible class is in the middle of Jesus' lesson on the bread of life in John chapter six. In it he says, "For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.” Of course Jesus is speaking in figurative words which are about spiritual matters of belief in him. This statement horrified many who were listening to Jesus in the synagogue in Capernaum. Not every heart that hears the word is willing to accept it, for various reasons. But having faith is all about the heart that is willing to listen and accept the word of God, for they recognize that only God can fill that empty hole in their life. So they are the ones who open the door to their heart when they hear Jesus knock, and they invite him in. And they are taught of God, and the word is in their mouth and in their heart as Isaiah prophesied about. As for many of the Lord’s disciples that day, they turned their backs on Jesus and stopped believing. It was a difficult teaching that many of the disciples couldn’t accept. But those who were truly seeking God, those who were truly seeking the Messiah, those who sought after the Savior were patient in their judgment of the matter. They stayed with Jesus because they could tell that he was filling that empty place in their hearts that belongs exclusively to God.

Inside of us there is what is called the "Eternity Gene", and Solomon tells us about it, "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.” We have a natural desire to seek out God. Jesus tells us in Matthew that it should be ourfirst priority in life, “But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.” Also a chapter later, “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.” For Peter, he searched for the Messiah along with his brother and friends, and when they found him, they stuck with him, even after this difficult teaching. When asked by the Lord if they wanted to leave too, Peter gives the greatest confession of the Lord in the bible. “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter understood the spiritual aspect of what Jesus was trying to teach. That makes him a true believer and worshipper.

Jim