8/16/09. "This is a Hard Saying."
Dr. Luther once commented on John 6 with words like these. "The eating
& drinking is nothing but believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave His
flesh and blood for me, in order to deliver me from sin, death, devil, hell,
and all misfortune... Such faith cannot exist without life; therefore he
that believes must live & (act) be just, as Habakkuk 2:4 says: 'the just
shall live by faith.' So the eating is done with the heart and not the
mouth... for the heart is nourished and fed by faith in Christ." #1
Luther goes on to explain how these words are not to be understood in
terms of the Sacrament of the Altar. Jesus is teaching about Himself and
the salvation He brings in His life and death for us.
The word John uses for folks following Christ is "disciple". A
disciple is a person who receives teachings, accepts them as true, and tries
to live them and spread them.
The disciples of Jesus were right. The ideas He taught were tough and
offensive.
Jesus said they could not believe in Him apart from the Father's work
(6:44). They wanted to believe they could come and go as they pleased.
They wanted to live as they pleased, and then repent when they felt like it.
Jesus said no.
They wanted to believe they could pick-and-choose what to believe. For
examples: they could keep a grudge or a hateful heart, but God would forgive
them entirely. Or they could live in adultery, yet still expect God's
blessings. Or they could carelessly use God's holy Name some times, and
then require God to listen to their prayers. To these and the many more
"part-time disciple" ideas, Jesus said no.
What Jesus is saying to His disciples (then and now) is not so hard to
understand. But it IS hard to agree to. It goes against the society around
us, and our very own nature.
"The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing." Our spiritual
and physical lives are gifts from God. Only He can give salvation. Just as
we can never bring ourselves into existence physically and so choose to be
born, we can do and will do nothing to bring ourselves to eternal life ('to
be born again' as Jesus says). That is a hard saying in our
"do-it-yourself" society.
"The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and Life." Apart from 'Thy
Strong Word' there is no salvation. "There is no other name in the universe
by which we may be saved" as Peter says in Acts 4:12. The names of Allah,
Buddha, Marx, Joseph Smith, and all the others are dead ends. Only Jesus is
the Road to heaven. (John 14:6). That is a hard saying in our
"all-religions-are-equal" society.
"No one can come to Me unless it is granted him by the Father." Unless
God wills, you can't believe and be saved.
The disciples had come face to face with the Genuine Jesus, not a god
fashioned in their own image and desires. Christ did not ask for 7 out of
10 Commandments as a passing score. He did not say it is okay to be a
part-time Christian, or follow when it is handy. He had a hard saying.
Authentic faith in Christ is not an occasional spiritual snack. Faith
means richly and daily feasting on forgiveness. Faith means trusting in His
grace at all times: good, bad, or everyday boring. Faith is applying
Christ's total pardon to all other people and building others up. Faith is
a gift God gave to you in Holy Baptism, and He continues to strengthen in
you whenever you receive His holy Word in your ears at church, in your eyes
in your devotions, and in your mouth as you receive His body and blood,
given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.
Christian faith is entirely a work of God, beginning to end. That's a hard
saying!
The results or outcome of God's work of faith show up in our daily
vocations, how we treat others in love and respect, and as we reach out to
others with His message of mercy locally and around the planet in missions.
Real Christian faith creates a New Person that struggles daily against the
Old Adam, and fights against sin and unbelief continually.
"This is a hard saying!" That 'God has taken salvation out of my hands
into His, making it depend on His choice and not mine. And He has promised
to save me, not by my own work or exertion but by His grace and mercy. (So)
I am assured and certain both that He is faithful and will not lie to me,
AND also that He is too great or powerful for any demons or difficulties to
be able to break Him, or snatch me from Him." #2
This is a hard saying! So, many turned away from Jesus. They could
not believe.
Christ turned to the Twelve. The way He asks the question shows He
expected the answer He got. "Lord, to whom else shall we go? You have the
words of eternal life. We have believed, and we have come to know that You
are the Holy One of God."
THAT is the Christian faith. THAT is the creed of Apostles. THAT is
the bold confession we make by the strength of God! Peter says a hard
saying!
Even so, John 6 has 2 more verses. 'Jesus answers them, "Did I not
choose you the Twelve, yet one of you is a devil?" Now Jesus spoke of Judas
the son of Simon Iscariot, for it was Judas who would betray him, even as
one of the Twelve.'
This is Gospel. This IS a hard saying. It was one year before Judas
pulled the trigger to cause Christ's death. Jesus knew this; and loved him.
Still Jesus freely offers salvation, life, peace, and friendship to all,
even to those who hate Him. #3
It is not by our reason or strength we believe in Jesus. Only God can
give us the depth of power for us to love our enemies rather than hate them
& plan evil toward them. Only God can give us the desire to obey all Ten of
the Commandments, to pray the Lord's Prayer, and to believe His holy Word.
Only God can change our heart from seeing the Gospel as an 'offense'
(v.61) to seeing and believing and living in Christ with joy. He is working
in us to fear, love, and trust in Him. He is changing us to be what we are:
His people.
Hundreds walked away from Christ that day. Hundreds of millions have
walked away since then. It IS a hard saying. It is an "offense" that we
cannot save ourselves (only God can). It is a hard saying that fulltime
faith in Christ is needed and can only be given by Him in Word and
Sacrament, and that gift can be rejected? Yes, we agree with the crowds.
It is a hard saying!
But by God's grace we have been brought to fear, love, and trust in
Him. And by His grace, we may have confidence of eternal life! May you and
I be bold and ready to confess with Peter: "Lord, You have the words of
eternal life, and we have believed and we have come to know that You are the
Holy One of God!" To God alone be all praise, applause, and thanksgiving!
Amen.
Quotation references:
#1 Luther's Works 11:2253
#2 Luther's Works 33:289
#3 Luther's Small Catechism, CPH 1991, Question 178, 169-179
Pastor Michael Harman,
St. Peter LCMS - Newell, IA
vacancies at ...
Immanuel, Pomeroy
First Evangelical, Fonda
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