Scripture: John6:35, Matthew 19:16-30
Remember John14:6?
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.” We have already considered the significance
of Jesus being the Way and the Truth for our world. Today we look to the Life that He brings to
all who believe in Him.
We all know that at first glance, Jesus’ words weren’t always easy to understand. Nicodemus struggled when the LORD told him that he had to be born again. (John 3:3-4) The Samaritan woman who met the LORD at Jacob’s well didn’t understand what the living water of Jesus could do that the water from the well couldn’t do (John 4:7-14). And in Matthew 10:39, we read “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” These words of faith have been a problem for many people throughout the ages.
But the fact remains that Jesus will always be who He always has been, and His words will always be the hope that the people of earth seek. And the life that He offers to humanity is the same life that He has lived since the beginning, and now lives in great anticipation of our joining Him.
Read John 6:35
[Entire story - John 6:25-40]
Some folks who had come to Jesus
following His Sermon on the Mount were having a discussion with the LORD regarding food, and it was turning out to be very similar to the
conversation that Jesus had with the Samaritan woman regarding the “living
water” that He was offering to her.
Jesus had been questioning their motives in seeking Him out. Was it for the worldly food that would sustain them for a day, or the eternal nourishment that would bring the perfect life? And of course, they didn’t quite understand. Or was it that they chose not to understand? They were being told that the food that they had always depended upon was perishable, and would be their downfall, but that the “food” that Jesus offered for their lives would be for eternity, that it would be the source of everlasting life.
Then He reveals the truth behind His teaching, that He is that eternal source, that He is this unique nourishment, that He is the “bread of life” and makes the connection that He is also the “living water” that eliminates all thirst. For many, this analogy is a real problem, as we considered this past September through one of our troubling passages (“Feast on Me”). The life that Jesus offers has little in common with our humanity, and, everything to do with the life that comes after human death.
Read Matthew16:16-19
A rich young man comes to Jesus, apparently wondering if he has been doing all that salvation requires. The LORD reminds him of what the commandments have called us to do, but interestingly, he only lists the final 6, with a minor variation to the 10th command. But in doing this, He strangely omits the first 4. The 6 that the young man has been adhering to reflect the command to love your neighbor (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:36-40), but the 4 which were not mentioned are those regarding our relationship with Almighty God – put no other gods before the LORD; make no idols; do not misuse the name of God; and keep the sabbath holy.
But even though the commands regarding God weren’t specifically mentioned, Jesus cares for them with two options –
the first, sell everything you have and give the proceeds
to the poor – letting go of worldly influence and dependency, Jesus says, will
make your life perfect, which would satisfy our striving for salvation, but it would be a way which no one can ever do! And
the second?
Read Matthew16:20-22
The second, “follow me”, implies the same thing – denounce the things of earth, and put your hope for eternal life in God, except in this, it is faith in Jesus that meets the requirement for perfection. The point is that while we can’t, Jesus can!
But the world had too great a hold on the young man. His wealth was still intact even though he had been serving humanity, and in his way of thinking, that should be enough. But Jesus tells the man that a life in Him is the only sufficiency that can ever be trusted.
And it was just too much. And as he walked away from Jesus, he realizes
what he had just given up.
But this is the same problem that the Church is experiencing today. Many feel that a dedicated service to humanity, as evidenced by their acceptance of worldliness, is all that they need to give. But surrendering their dependence on the ways and wealth of earth, so that they might pick up their cross and follow the fullness of Jesus (Luke9:23-26), has never been part of their agenda. They believe that a half-hearted faith is enough to give, but Jesus tells us that half is no better than none. Without including Him and His ways, there is no life.
Read Matthew16:23-27
Now Jesus turns to His faithful, and explains the lesson to them. In John 20:21-24, Jesus is asked why He reveals so much to His disciples instead of to the world, and He replies that only those who love Him will understand and obey Him, and those who do not love Him and His ways will not obey His commands.
So what is the LORD’s lesson for His disciples? That dependency on the wealth of earth is a certain guarantee that life will come to an end, and that there will be no other options available. Those who think that they can determine, plan, and execute their own salvation will, one day, discover that it was all one big mistake, and that they, like the rich young man, will know great sorrow for what they no longer have.
The lesson that they will have missed is summed up in these last two verses, that humanity can never create a way to eternal life, and all their efforts to redesign God’s plan will leave them far short of the goal. Eternal life is God’s gift, and will be granted to only those who accept His invitation to live in faith and obedience to Jesus Christ.
Read Matthew 16:28-30
The question “Who, then can be saved?” gives Jesus the opportunity to open their hearts to the day of His glorious return. He reinforces His previous teaching, that those who have followed His way will know eternal life, and those who reject the honors and rewards and wealth of earth will be rewarded beyond their greatest imagination. But the arrogant, the conceited, the judgmental ones of earth will quickly discover that they have lost everything, including the very hope that they had always thought was theirs. And the ones they had oppressed and denied and ridiculed and persecuted will receive the glory that only the followers of Jesus can ever inherit.
It will be a day of “renewal” – a day of putting all things right. The old will be gone, and only the new will exist (Revelation21:1-5). It will be a day of great rejoicing – not over what the faithful have received, but that God’s victory will be complete, and His enemies will no longer have any say.
On the day of Christ’s return, life will be made new, and will be granted only to those who have followed the way of Jesus Christ, to those who claimed His truth by faith, to those who hoped for resurrection and renewal solely in the life of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus.
His way and His truth are the only ways to His life, and that will never change.
Amen.
