the    sides

This is part of our weekly e-journey through the gospel of John. Today is from John 6.

Can you remember a time you got duped? Blindsided? Surprised? Remember a time where you thought you had it all figured out only to realize you were hopelessly wrong? I am re-watching the original Star Wars trilogy with Cooper. I remember his reaction the first time he watched Empire. “WHAT THE HECK, DAD????? HOW CAN DARTH VADER BE LUKE’S FATHER????!!!!!!!! THIS CAN’T BE!! WE’VE GOT TO WATCH THE NEXT ONE NOW!!!!”

“HOW DO YOU THINK I FELT AS A 9 YEAR OLD BOY HAVING TO WAIT ANOTHER 3 YEARS TO FIND OUT?????????? YOU THINK YOU HAVE ISSUES????? SUCK IT UP AND BE THANKFUL FOR THE DVD’S, YOU LITTLE WHINING BRAT!”

Watching Empire now, I can pick up on the nuances in the dialogue. The myopic focus of Vader trying to find Skywalker, not just the rebel base. The Emperor fear of “the Son of Skywalker” becoming a Jedi. Vader suggestion to turn Skywalker to the Dark Side instead of killing him. Vader offering Skywalker the opportunity to rule the galaxy with him, removing the Emperor from the picture. Were these glimpses of paternal love? Glimpses of the good still left in Vader? Pictures of redemption coming through the son?

The first time through I was so distracted by the special effects and light sabers that I missed all of that. I wanted my first car to be the Millenium Falcon. I thought Leia was the most wonderful woman in the galaxy (and she proved that with the opening scenes of Return of the Jedi). Every woman in my life afterwards would unfairly be compared to her. I was so caught up in the other stuff, I missed the hints of the major story line - the redemption of Darth Vader.

What in the world does this have to do with the 6th chapter of John? Actually, quite a lot.

The disciples are in the middle of seeing Jesus heal the sick, cure the blind, raise the dead, feed over 5,000 in the middle of nowhere, and walk on water. The special effects are stunning. The disciples think they get it, they think they have the inside scoop - this is God showing off. This is the coming of the ONE who will free us all.

It’s human nature to reduce the work of Jesus for one purpose. It’s human nature to simplify things to the lowest denominator so that it’s easy to swallow and understand. It’s not God’s nature though.

He tells his disciples - you feed the hungry. He puts his disciples in harms way. He tells them you can’t follow me unless you “eat my flesh.” In other words - you have to consume me and I then will consume you. Then Jesus really jacks them up by affirming both sides of the Calvinist/Openness Debate.

“It’s God’s will that all will be saved.”

“Only those that the Father draws will be saved.”

And that was it. No further explanation. And many “disciples” left Jesus. Maybe the didn’t understand him, maybe they did and it was just too hard. At any rate, the inconvenient truth was this - to follow Jesus meant being consumed by him. Nothing else mattered. If you follow Jesus, eventually he will put you in a no-win situation. You can’t feed the multitudes. You can’t stop storms, heal the sick, or even begin to understand the theological truths of God. Jesus knows this….yet the answer he’s looking for in these situations is not our knowledge or resourcefulness but rather our faithfulness.

Is Jesus our “bread” of life? Is he our staple? Is he the center or just the convenient cause of the time? The more we know Jesus, the harder it gets…not easier. Yet…the more rewarding. Something Jesus will flesh out over the next few chapters.