The day after feeding the 5000, John recounts for us in John 6, Jesus once again encounters the multitudes on the opposite side of the lake. Jesus says to them,

“Truly, truly I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of bread. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Indeed, a few minutes later he becomes more explicit saying, “I am the bread of life.”

Of course, we can imagine the quizzical looks this comment must have generated. So, as if to make things clearer for them, Jesus continues,

“Truly, truly, 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 feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” Of course, even as it continues to do to this very day, Jesus’ further explanation only deepened the confusion – and offense – the crowds. In fact, John tells us that “When many of his disciples heard this, they said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’” And then, a few sentences later, “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.”

It is in this context then that Jesus says to the disciples remaining: “Do you want to go away as well?”

You can imagine the thoughts that the remaining disciples must have had as they considered their options: those who had left had heard Jesus’ strange words and determined that salvation could be found elsewhere – so they left. Those that remained likely quickly reviewed their own histories, their own journeys from here to there to another place, and reviewed the fact that no matter where they went they still encountered the same disappointment, same hopelessness, same sin. Only in the place of Jesus’ presence had they found rescue and relief from the relentless cycles of their own sin. So they respond – as we typically do – by saying far more than they themselves understood at the time: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

We have gone here, there, and most everywhere looking for relief and rescue; indeed, by force of habit, we continue to look here, and travel there in order to find help in our time of need, but by God’s abounding grace in Jesus, we are constantly brought back to the same conclusion as the disciples: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

So now, come into the presence of the Holy One of God, Jesus, where alone is found relief and rescue from the disappointments and hopelessness of our sin and let us worship together the risen and reigning King!
Order of Worship for 03.22.09