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On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
[John 7:37-39 NKJV]
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
[John 7:37-39 NKJV]
On the last day ...
The last day refers here to the last day of the feast of Tabernacles, which ultimately refers to ‘the last day’, because the Feast of Tabernacles — the Feast of Dwelling In Booths — represents ‘the last day’; the end of the matter; the conclusion of the plan of God.
... that great day of the feast ...
means the feast day itself, and it is significant that Jesus returns to His metaphor “out of His heart will flow rivers of living waters”. Now we can see that He is referring to The Holy Spirit, so that not only does it respond to the verses preceding this (see ‘Where I Am You Cannot Come’), but also links the events in Chapter 7 firmly with the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as (among other names) the Feast of Ingathering.
... Jesus stood
Jesus was deliberately placing Himself as central to the meaning of the Feast; thus proclaiming that He was ‘the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’. By doing so, He is publically declaring Himself as ‘the anointed one’, The Christ. From this point onwards is the outworking of that declaration.
The last day refers here to the last day of the feast of Tabernacles, which ultimately refers to ‘the last day’, because the Feast of Tabernacles — the Feast of Dwelling In Booths — represents ‘the last day’; the end of the matter; the conclusion of the plan of God.
... that great day of the feast ...
means the feast day itself, and it is significant that Jesus returns to His metaphor “out of His heart will flow rivers of living waters”. Now we can see that He is referring to The Holy Spirit, so that not only does it respond to the verses preceding this (see ‘Where I Am You Cannot Come’), but also links the events in Chapter 7 firmly with the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as (among other names) the Feast of Ingathering.
... Jesus stood
Jesus was deliberately placing Himself as central to the meaning of the Feast; thus proclaiming that He was ‘the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’. By doing so, He is publically declaring Himself as ‘the anointed one’, The Christ. From this point onwards is the outworking of that declaration.
Whenever the insistence is on the point that God answers prayer, we are off the track. The meaning of prayer is that we get hold of God, not of the answer.
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The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him.
Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me.
You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.”
Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?
What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”
[John 7:32-36 NKJV]
Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me.
You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.”
Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?
What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”
[John 7:32-36 NKJV]
You Cannot Come
Jesus says “Where I am you cannot come.” Why does He say this? It seems a strange thing to say, from someone who desires that all should enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The reality is that all of us can only go with Jesus if we meet the criteria.
If This Mind Be In You
These verses show us what we always know — we attribute criticism to others besides ourselves. What Jesus speaks to here is the legalistic, religious mind — epitomised by the Pharisees — something which we all have to a greater or lesser degree. This is what separates us from Jesus; that we are not of the same mind.
The Mind of Christ
In Romans 8:38-39 we read for I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, and these verses can only be read in the context of Romans 8:28 and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Called According to His Purpose
The Pharisaical mind does not hear the call, for it is mired in religious form and legalistic doctrine. The call of God is straightforward “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in following that call.
Jesus says “Where I am you cannot come.” Why does He say this? It seems a strange thing to say, from someone who desires that all should enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The reality is that all of us can only go with Jesus if we meet the criteria.
If This Mind Be In You
These verses show us what we always know — we attribute criticism to others besides ourselves. What Jesus speaks to here is the legalistic, religious mind — epitomised by the Pharisees — something which we all have to a greater or lesser degree. This is what separates us from Jesus; that we are not of the same mind.
The Mind of Christ
In Romans 8:38-39 we read for I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, and these verses can only be read in the context of Romans 8:28 and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Called According to His Purpose
The Pharisaical mind does not hear the call, for it is mired in religious form and legalistic doctrine. The call of God is straightforward “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in following that call.
All I do ought to be founded on a perfect oneness with Him, not a self-willed determination to be godly. The God of Israel is He that giveth strength and power to His people.
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Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill?
But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?
However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”
Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.
[John 7:25-28 NKJV]
But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?
However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”
Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.
[John 7:25-28 NKJV]
John seems to be running through a list of the objections which had been made to Jesus being The Christ — the Anointed One — and showing how Jesus dealt with each objection. Now, those who tried to condemn Jesus said that they knew where He came from, and so, they reasoned, He cannot be The Christ.
Jesus’ reply, that ‘you know where I am from’, but you do not know the One who sent me, comes from a deeper view of reality that only He possesses, and others have yet to discover. He speaks to tear down false assumptions, to confound muddled thinking and deal with careless prejudice that leaves people powerless to carry through their threats to kill Him — ‘No one laid a hand on Him’ it says in verse 30.
‘...because His time had not yet come.’ This gives us a close-up of how Jesus was focussed on ‘His time’. He would go out of His way to avoid trouble, but if it was unavoidable, He had confidence in God to carry Him through the difficulty, because He knew the end from the beginning, and that this was not ‘His time’.
This is a powerful message to all who believe — because Jesus is ‘the pattern son’. Therefore we can have this same confidence trusting in Him, because He has shown us the way. We will also be aware — by the Holy Spirit — if ‘His time’ is now or to come for us. Another way of saying ‘trust in Him’.
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
[1Timothy 1:15-16 NKJV]
Jesus’ reply, that ‘you know where I am from’, but you do not know the One who sent me, comes from a deeper view of reality that only He possesses, and others have yet to discover. He speaks to tear down false assumptions, to confound muddled thinking and deal with careless prejudice that leaves people powerless to carry through their threats to kill Him — ‘No one laid a hand on Him’ it says in verse 30.
‘...because His time had not yet come.’ This gives us a close-up of how Jesus was focussed on ‘His time’. He would go out of His way to avoid trouble, but if it was unavoidable, He had confidence in God to carry Him through the difficulty, because He knew the end from the beginning, and that this was not ‘His time’.
This is a powerful message to all who believe — because Jesus is ‘the pattern son’. Therefore we can have this same confidence trusting in Him, because He has shown us the way. We will also be aware — by the Holy Spirit — if ‘His time’ is now or to come for us. Another way of saying ‘trust in Him’.
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
[1Timothy 1:15-16 NKJV]
Notion your mind with the idea that God is there. Nothing happens in any particular unless God’s will is behind it, therefore you can rest in perfect confidence in Him.
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But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.
[John 7:10-14 NKJV]
Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.
[John 7:10-14 NKJV]
While there was much complaining among the people, Jesus left the feast and went to the temple to teach. Wherever Jesus is in the midst He brings peace — He is the ‘Prince of Peace’ — but you will not find Him where the prevailing spirit is confusion and enmity coming from unbelief.
Again and again, we find that people say, why didn’t Jesus move into that situation and bring peace, why did He not end that conflict or heal that disease? And the answer is simple. We have the freedom to choose yay or nay. He will not intervene where His presence is not welcome. Have we not seen that? Jesus shows us that He will not perform ‘signs and wonders’ to change a situation, because our amazement at such things does not change the heart — amazement is all it achieves.
Where is He to be found while we squabble amongst ourselves about this or that thing of little consequence? He is teaching in the House of God, which is where you will always find Him if you are seeking. And in that place, Jesus will present His case, reveal Himself; that is to say, you will only be given truth, and He will say “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” [John 7:24 NKJV]
Again and again, we find that people say, why didn’t Jesus move into that situation and bring peace, why did He not end that conflict or heal that disease? And the answer is simple. We have the freedom to choose yay or nay. He will not intervene where His presence is not welcome. Have we not seen that? Jesus shows us that He will not perform ‘signs and wonders’ to change a situation, because our amazement at such things does not change the heart — amazement is all it achieves.
Where is He to be found while we squabble amongst ourselves about this or that thing of little consequence? He is teaching in the House of God, which is where you will always find Him if you are seeking. And in that place, Jesus will present His case, reveal Himself; that is to say, you will only be given truth, and He will say “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” [John 7:24 NKJV]
Belief must be the will to believe. There must be a surrender of the will, not a surrender to a persuasive power, but a deliberate launching forth on God, and on what He says, until I am no longer confident in what I have done, I am confident only in God. The hindrance is that I will not trust God, but only my mental understanding.
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Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.
His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.
For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly.
If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.
The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.
You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.”
When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.
[John 7:2-9 NKJV]
His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.
For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly.
If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.
The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.
You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.”
When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.
[John 7:2-9 NKJV]
It must have hurt Jesus to know that His own brothers did not believe Him, but He knew, as we who follow Jesus will find out at some point along the journey, that hurt and disbelief from many close to us is to be expected.
If you are chosen ‘from before the beginning of the world’, the very fact that there are chosen, means that there are some who are not. Jesus is described as ‘the first of the first fruits’ — ‘But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.’ [1 Corinthians 15:23 NKJV] — and it is clear the this ‘first fruits company’ is part of the plan of God, and we who are in His will ‘want to be in that number, when the Saints go marching in’, as the song has it.
Jesus again chooses to separate Himself, and to follow the will of Father God. Notice that He remains in Galilee — which as we have already seen indicates a place of trust (trust in the Father) — holding to the line He has received; that His ‘time has not yet fully come.’ This might not appear to be clear to us who have read the Gospel story through to the end. We might feel that with several amazing miracles, Jesus has already come into His own; but we must always remember that Jesus ‘knew what was in man.’ [John 2:25 NKJV]. And to think that all men would follow Him would mean His succumbing to temptation.
Another consideration we must remember is that Jesus knew that He had a timetable — God’s plan — to follow. This was the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, and with all the significance of that, then it was too soon to show Himself to the world.
If you are chosen ‘from before the beginning of the world’, the very fact that there are chosen, means that there are some who are not. Jesus is described as ‘the first of the first fruits’ — ‘But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.’ [1 Corinthians 15:23 NKJV] — and it is clear the this ‘first fruits company’ is part of the plan of God, and we who are in His will ‘want to be in that number, when the Saints go marching in’, as the song has it.
Jesus again chooses to separate Himself, and to follow the will of Father God. Notice that He remains in Galilee — which as we have already seen indicates a place of trust (trust in the Father) — holding to the line He has received; that His ‘time has not yet fully come.’ This might not appear to be clear to us who have read the Gospel story through to the end. We might feel that with several amazing miracles, Jesus has already come into His own; but we must always remember that Jesus ‘knew what was in man.’ [John 2:25 NKJV]. And to think that all men would follow Him would mean His succumbing to temptation.
Another consideration we must remember is that Jesus knew that He had a timetable — God’s plan — to follow. This was the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, and with all the significance of that, then it was too soon to show Himself to the world.
Intercession leaves you neither time nor inclination to pray for your own “sad sweet self.” The thought of yourself is not kept out because it is not there to keep out, you are completely and entirely identified with God’s interest in other lives.
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Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
[Ephesians 1:15-18 NKJV]
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
[Ephesians 1:15-18 NKJV]
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened was what I intended to muse upon, but as it developed in the Lord’s guiding I became aware of the deeper part — His inheritance in the saints.
Yesterday was Easter Sunday — a special day in any year, but this year especially so, as we could tangibly experience His presence bringing people together, gathering the threads of experience and weaving them into a tapestry of ... what exactly? I’m not sure really, but I shall pin my flag to “a tapestry of hope”.
Today we reconnected via the wonder of the internet with our spiritual family at Springbank Church in Campbeltown. It was a precious time; not just for the content of the meeting, but for ‘the gathering of the saints’.
We can see clearly that The Lord is constantly at work, weaving the threads of His life into an amazing patchwork quilt of experience of Him. We can see that our time at Springbank connected us to others in Kintyre which linked us to a greater global Christian community, in turn taking us to Ireland for a time, then returning us to Scotland and the daily turbulent waters of Earra Gael.
But along the way we have connected with so many wonderful Christian saints from every continent — from Christian Communities in Alaska and Africa, to small house groups in Salta, Argentina and missionaries working with the Dalits in India. Incredible, but gloriously true, and it continues.
The eyes of our understanding have been amazingly opened to a truth we would never otherwise have seen — and ‘thanks be to God’ — He has given us a revelation of His inheritance in the saints. Friends, this is a truly humbling work; something never sought or considered; but transforming and uplifting.
We have gone from a couple of individuals in a backwater of Scotland to be connected to a rich inheritance of The Lord’s saints on a global stage. We all have. We are part of the Family of God, yes — but more than that — we can see the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Open the eyes of our understanding to that incredible truth, O Lord!
Yesterday was Easter Sunday — a special day in any year, but this year especially so, as we could tangibly experience His presence bringing people together, gathering the threads of experience and weaving them into a tapestry of ... what exactly? I’m not sure really, but I shall pin my flag to “a tapestry of hope”.
Today we reconnected via the wonder of the internet with our spiritual family at Springbank Church in Campbeltown. It was a precious time; not just for the content of the meeting, but for ‘the gathering of the saints’.
We can see clearly that The Lord is constantly at work, weaving the threads of His life into an amazing patchwork quilt of experience of Him. We can see that our time at Springbank connected us to others in Kintyre which linked us to a greater global Christian community, in turn taking us to Ireland for a time, then returning us to Scotland and the daily turbulent waters of Earra Gael.
But along the way we have connected with so many wonderful Christian saints from every continent — from Christian Communities in Alaska and Africa, to small house groups in Salta, Argentina and missionaries working with the Dalits in India. Incredible, but gloriously true, and it continues.
The eyes of our understanding have been amazingly opened to a truth we would never otherwise have seen — and ‘thanks be to God’ — He has given us a revelation of His inheritance in the saints. Friends, this is a truly humbling work; something never sought or considered; but transforming and uplifting.
We have gone from a couple of individuals in a backwater of Scotland to be connected to a rich inheritance of The Lord’s saints on a global stage. We all have. We are part of the Family of God, yes — but more than that — we can see the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Open the eyes of our understanding to that incredible truth, O Lord!
Identification with the death of Jesus Christ means identification with Him to the death of everything that never was in Him.
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“Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent.“
[Acts 13:26 NKJV]
[Acts 13:26 NKJV]
The photograph (above) is a random composite of family snapshots. We have families of different sorts and the family Luke refers to in Acts 13 is the family of Abraham, which, in turn, means the Family of God. It is important this Eastertide to remind ourselves whose we are.
To us — each one — the word of this salvation has been sent, and we are surely grateful for that choosing. We could so easily have missed it, except for the fact that we have each been chosen ... and have chosen, the Family of God.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
[Ephesians 1:3-4 NKJV]
Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,
saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’
” And they remembered His words.”
[Luke 24:3-8 NKJV]
May you be comforted and reassured this Easter, finding joy and gladness in the Lord, our Saviour ... and with our families, both natural and spiritual wherever the are, near or far.
To us — each one — the word of this salvation has been sent, and we are surely grateful for that choosing. We could so easily have missed it, except for the fact that we have each been chosen ... and have chosen, the Family of God.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
[Ephesians 1:3-4 NKJV]
Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,
saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’
” And they remembered His words.”
[Luke 24:3-8 NKJV]
May you be comforted and reassured this Easter, finding joy and gladness in the Lord, our Saviour ... and with our families, both natural and spiritual wherever the are, near or far.
Whenever God’s will is in the ascendant all compulsion is gone. When we choose deliberately to obey Him, then with all His almighty power He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us.
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It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
[John 6:63-68 NKJV]
But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
[John 6:63-68 NKJV]
We see here that although we think of his disciples as ‘the twelve’, the reality was that there were many more, and that the many more were beginning to have doubts. Verse 66 ‘From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.’
Why was this? It would seem that Jesus words — as shown in verses 55 and 56 (‘For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.’) — were found to be offensive, or misunderstood by many.
Jesus knew that this was likely; He must have done, so why did He not change His words to explain more clearly to the literal mind of those He was trying to reach? The answer is a simple one. Jesus was not trying to woo people to His cause; He was not trying to build a following or create a presence. He was. He is. There is a free will choice, and many choose their own way, no matter how compelling the truth is.
Jesus spoke then and speaks now to those who will hear, and we know, do we not, that many will not hear — often through the literal and intransigent mind. Stubbornness. Our Lord does not argue or debate; He merely speaks truth. He does not complain if we reject His word, nor does He try to explain. So there will be some of you who do not believe.
Why was this? It would seem that Jesus words — as shown in verses 55 and 56 (‘For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.’) — were found to be offensive, or misunderstood by many.
Jesus knew that this was likely; He must have done, so why did He not change His words to explain more clearly to the literal mind of those He was trying to reach? The answer is a simple one. Jesus was not trying to woo people to His cause; He was not trying to build a following or create a presence. He was. He is. There is a free will choice, and many choose their own way, no matter how compelling the truth is.
Jesus spoke then and speaks now to those who will hear, and we know, do we not, that many will not hear — often through the literal and intransigent mind. Stubbornness. Our Lord does not argue or debate; He merely speaks truth. He does not complain if we reject His word, nor does He try to explain. So there will be some of you who do not believe.
Shut out every other consideration and keep yourself before God for this one thing only—“My Utmost for His Highest.” I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and for Him alone.
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The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”
Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
[John 6:52-57 NKJV]
Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
[John 6:52-57 NKJV]
This section in John 6 seems like a rehearsal for one of the greatest chapters in all scripture — John 17 — the reference to ‘abides in me, and I in him’ in particular points to it. John, of all the gospel writers, is mostly concerned with the spiritual. He is unconcerned with presenting Jesus to the Jews, or persuading the Gentiles — John tells us of the Jesus he knew, just as he, John, was ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’.
What we see most readily in this segment — and I urge you to read John 6:41-59 (which is entitled ‘Jesus rejected by His own’ in my Bible) — is that so many of those who Jesus encountered did not understand Him. Of course they did not, for they did not have the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew this; but also knew that it would only be after His death and resurrection that any light of hope would shine.
Verse 45 seems to reinforce that Jesus is talking of The Holy Spirit as we would now understand — ‘It is written in the prophets, “And they shall all be taught by God.” Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.’ — and this was before The Holy Spirit was given in Acts 2. How is this?
It seems certain that The Holy Spirit has always been with us — He is eternal just as God is eternal — and Jesus would know this. What happens in Acts, chapter 2 was the gifting of The Holy Spirit to mortal man; to those who believe, as well as to prophets and the like.
What we can be sure of, is that ‘only believe’ brings the gift of an amazing and everlasting connection with Father God through His Son, and that we have life because of Him.
What we see most readily in this segment — and I urge you to read John 6:41-59 (which is entitled ‘Jesus rejected by His own’ in my Bible) — is that so many of those who Jesus encountered did not understand Him. Of course they did not, for they did not have the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew this; but also knew that it would only be after His death and resurrection that any light of hope would shine.
Verse 45 seems to reinforce that Jesus is talking of The Holy Spirit as we would now understand — ‘It is written in the prophets, “And they shall all be taught by God.” Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.’ — and this was before The Holy Spirit was given in Acts 2. How is this?
It seems certain that The Holy Spirit has always been with us — He is eternal just as God is eternal — and Jesus would know this. What happens in Acts, chapter 2 was the gifting of The Holy Spirit to mortal man; to those who believe, as well as to prophets and the like.
What we can be sure of, is that ‘only believe’ brings the gift of an amazing and everlasting connection with Father God through His Son, and that we have life because of Him.
To be shallow is not a sign of being wicked, nor is shallowness a sign that there are no depths; the ocean has a shore. The shallow amenities of life, eating, drinking, walking, talking are all ordained by God. These are the things in which our Lord lived. He lived in them as the Son of God, and He said that “the disciple is not above his Master.”
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And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
[John 6:25-29 NKJV]
Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
[John 6:25-29 NKJV]
If Jesus walking on the water was a miracle for the disciples; Jesus appearing ‘on the other side of the sea’ with no apparent means of His getting there, was a miracle of a difference sort, but nonetheless astounding to those people who had been fed by Jesus and wanted to know more of Him.
Those people of course represent us; folks who have seen Jesus, maybe only briefly but have been intrigued or touched by His presence or His word, perhaps even experienced healing or comfort from Him — and we want to know more. In a sense, He becomes addictive; and I mean that because Jesus is very difficult to let go, once you have met Him.
And we all want to know what we should do next. What is the next step, Jesus? What shall we do?
This ‘need to do’ is very much ingrained into most of us, and Jesus answer is the very antithesis of all that our work ethic tells us. Jesus says ‘that you believe’. Believe that Jesus is exactly who and what He says He is ‘the son of man’ and ‘the son of God’.
At this point, I am reminded of a trip to the theatre in Glasgow as a boy to see a production of J M Barrie’s ‘Peter Pan’, starring Julia Lockwood as the eponymous hero. Those of you who know the play will know that there comes a point where the children are asked to believe in fairies to save poor Tinkerbelle. I think we all had to shout “I believe in fairies”, and of course the tiny spotlight that represented the fairy grew brighter and brighter and we all cheered at saving a tiny life — albeit an imaginary one.
Why do I mention this? Possibly to try to deal with the naysayers who equate Jesus with a fairytale and not real. A figment of our minds; a primitive need to explain what we do not understand. I can only say that 25 years ago I might have thought in such a way ...
But now, I find myself convinced beyond a doubt that He is more real than I could ever have envisioned. Since I accepted Jesus as Saviour and Lord, so much has been transformed. A lot of it has been painful and difficult, to be sure — He has to turn us inside out and upside down to make us just like Him — but it has been a small price for me to pay for Him, when He paid such an enormous price for me.
“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”
[John 6:37-38 NKJV]
Those people of course represent us; folks who have seen Jesus, maybe only briefly but have been intrigued or touched by His presence or His word, perhaps even experienced healing or comfort from Him — and we want to know more. In a sense, He becomes addictive; and I mean that because Jesus is very difficult to let go, once you have met Him.
And we all want to know what we should do next. What is the next step, Jesus? What shall we do?
This ‘need to do’ is very much ingrained into most of us, and Jesus answer is the very antithesis of all that our work ethic tells us. Jesus says ‘that you believe’. Believe that Jesus is exactly who and what He says He is ‘the son of man’ and ‘the son of God’.
At this point, I am reminded of a trip to the theatre in Glasgow as a boy to see a production of J M Barrie’s ‘Peter Pan’, starring Julia Lockwood as the eponymous hero. Those of you who know the play will know that there comes a point where the children are asked to believe in fairies to save poor Tinkerbelle. I think we all had to shout “I believe in fairies”, and of course the tiny spotlight that represented the fairy grew brighter and brighter and we all cheered at saving a tiny life — albeit an imaginary one.
Why do I mention this? Possibly to try to deal with the naysayers who equate Jesus with a fairytale and not real. A figment of our minds; a primitive need to explain what we do not understand. I can only say that 25 years ago I might have thought in such a way ...
But now, I find myself convinced beyond a doubt that He is more real than I could ever have envisioned. Since I accepted Jesus as Saviour and Lord, so much has been transformed. A lot of it has been painful and difficult, to be sure — He has to turn us inside out and upside down to make us just like Him — but it has been a small price for me to pay for Him, when He paid such an enormous price for me.
“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”
[John 6:37-38 NKJV]
My personal life may be crowded with small, petty incidents altogether unnoticeable and mean, but if I obey Jesus Christ in the haphazard circumstances, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God and when I stand face to face with God I shall discover that through my obedience thousands were blessed.