Smoodock's Blog

In John 6 the Gospel writer for all intents and purposes has Jesus complete his Galilean ministry. This is not literally so, and we can readily see this, if we compare John with the Synoptics, but for the Gospel of John, Jesus’ Galilean ministry ends with this chapter. From this point on, John is interested in telling us about Jesus’ Judean ministry—most of it spent in Jerusalem.

Nevertheless, John seems to leave Jesus’ ministry in Galilee an utter failure, as the world would value it. John 6:66 tells us that many turned away from Jesus and walked no more with him. Just a short while ago, Galilee was buzzing with talk of the Kingdom of God, as a result of the Twelve preaching in the cities there. Herod became alarmed, wondering superstitiously, if John the Baptist had risen from the dead. But, now, with the Baptist dead, many of John’s disciples turned to Jesus for leadership. It seems the baton was past, but John tells us that many walked away—never to follow Jesus again.

Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Will you also leave?” (John 6:67). What happened, and what is Jesus saying to the Twelve? Was he taking back his call? No, the scriptures say the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29). Jesus was not ready to exchange these 12 men for better prospects. God always works with what he has. So what is going on?

Jesus had just multiplied the loaves and fishes, which prompted the crowds to try to crown him Messiah, King of the Jews (John 6:14-15), but Jesus secretly left. He was a PR man’s nightmare! This seemed to be Jesus’ moment, but he rejected it. He would not become a messiah, who provided for all the needs and desires of the nation. The Gospel is more than that. Instead of becoming the King that the Jews wanted, Jesus offered them his flesh and blood—his life—for their lives. He would become their food and drink—spiritually—and not theirs alone but Life—food and drink—to the world! He did not possess his own body and life’s blood for his own sake. No, rather the world would gain the life that should have been his own.

The crowd could no longer hope in him, so they dispersed. How could they trust in a Messiah who planned to die? They rejected him outright and would no longer follow him. So, Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Will you leave, as well?” In other words, they had a choice. Would they go look for a messiah the crowd wanted, or would they continue to trust in him. But—if they trusted in Jesus, they must keep in mind that, just as Jesus would not hold on to his own life for his own sake, neither could they! All who seek their own life will ultimately lose it. Life can be gained only by letting go of one’s life for Jesus’ sake (Matthew 16:25), and he is bent on giving his life for the world.

This may not make sense to us, if we try to understand by using this world’s outlook on success, but Jesus doesn’t ask us to do anything that he hasn’t done himself—or isn’t already still doing today! Nevertheless, the choice is ours. Do we want Jesus, or would we rather seek something better, according to this world’s values? Where will we go without him? What is left for us, if we no longer have Jesus? Who else has the words of eternal life?