Choose

“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” (John 6:67)

Jesus asks His twelve closest disciples that question. He had just taught one of the most important foundational messages of the Gospel, “I Am the Bread of Life” metaphorically calling Himself the Bread of Life. “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) But they never understood the meaning. “The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that He saith, I came down from heaven?” (John 6:41-42)

The Jews were in a bad state. They were taught the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible and the Law to which the Jewish religious leaders had added more requirements. They only knew what they were taught. There was no Bible in their homes that they could read on their own and study. They had to go to the synagogue and learn from their religious leaders when they were to reach the Jewish Age of Majority. This is the age children are obligated to obey the commandments, allowed to participate in and perform various rituals and become a participating member of the community. The age is thirteen for boys and twelve for girls. They only knew the Pentateuch, so they had no idea of the signs of the coming Messiah. This was their mindset. They couldn’t accept Jesus’ words that He was the life that came from heaven since He was born of flesh and blood. Then Jesus says further, “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44) He makes Himself equal to God. This and not understanding the metaphor, thinking that Jesus was talking about literally eating His flesh. “The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him.” (John 6:52-56) And many left Him after that. “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.” (John 6:66)

It was then that Jesus asks His closest twelve disciples if they would also leave Him. (John 6:6,7) There are things in God’s Word that are hard for our earthly understanding. Yet the Lord requires His children to walk in holiness, just like He is holy. “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1Peter 1:15-16) But we are not able to accept and live in some ways that He requires. And we are not able to live in holiness except for the Holy Spirit Who lives in us. In our natural understanding and ability, we are not able to obey God. But it’s the Holy Spirit Who gives us the desire to obey and the strength, supernatural to obey. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) Some have been like the Jews and have left Jesus. They are living their lives in the natural, in the carnal and without eternal life. They are not living a supernatural life with Jesus. But like Peter we keep on with the Lord and say, “...Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

We make a choice, to believe God’s Word. And we make a choice to walk in God’s Word, to believe it and to obey it. We refuse to allow our natural eyes and our flesh to rule. Is it easy? In no way, but we have hope in the hardest times, in the harshest struggles and in the most impossible situations. We made a choice to allow the Lord to rule and reign in our lives and we still get amazed when we see Him glorify Himself and work miracles. For us there is nowhere else to go. Jesus has the Word of eternal life.