25 August 2024 Pentecost 14

1 Kings 8:22-30: 41-43    Psalm 84    Ephesians 6:10-20    John 6:56-69

Jesus continues today in telling us that he is ‘bread from heaven’, ‘true food’, ‘bread of life’, ‘living bread’, ‘real food’.  And in a mysterious paradox that has left people confused and baffled for centuries, Jesus tells us that we discover this spiritual bread in his physical body.

In the same way as Jesus compares himself to ‘living water’ that quenches our parched souls, he calls himself ‘living bread’ that satisfies our deepest hungers.  The Hebrews who ate manna from heaven in the wilderness, still died, the five thousand who were fed were left with an abundance of left-overs, nevertheless were hungry the next day, but Jesus says he is the ‘living bread that came down from heaven’ and if you eat this bread, you will live forever.  And he continues by saying ‘this bread is my flesh, which I give for the life of the world’.

And all this sounds wonderful, doesn’t it.  But those following were not ‘buying it’.  Now, when we look at John’s words, it is not the crowd who are complaining about Jesus’ words, it is the disciples.  Those who have ‘left family’, those who have walked away from their previous lives to follow this man in whom they saw something that they couldn’t find anywhere else.  But this message about living bread, and eating his flesh, was one step too far, or maybe even many steps too far.  And so they left.

Now Jesus is aware of the complaining, he is aware that his devoted followers are struggling with what he is telling them.  But importantly he does not ‘water his words down’,  he does not ‘modify the message’ so as not to offend.  He needs it to offend, he needs it to ‘hit home’ and be remembered.  And he needs it to be a message that you either agree with or not, there are no ‘halfway points’.

And when some of the disciples start to leave, Jesus asks those closest to him the question, ‘do you also want to leave’.  And Peter replies with what has to be the deepest and most meaningful response – ‘to whom would we go, we know you have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and know you are the Holy One of God’.

Peter made his choice.  The deserters made their choice.  And we are asked to make our choice too.  And the choice we have to make is whether we will live into who we already are.  And this choice is something we don’t make once and are then done with it.  This is not a ‘I’ve given my life to Jesus’ once and for all decision, this is an every day, every hour, choice of ‘will I live into being who I already am’.  And the choice holds in tension two amazing and paradoxical truths.  Firstly, God has already chosen me.  And secondly, I am therefore invited to choose (or not choose) God in return, not just once, but over and over and over again.

And this choice is not an easy one, it does not come without difficulties.  Remember, Jesus allowed those who were walking away to keep walking, he did not make excuses when they complained about his teachings being ‘too hard’.  He allowed them to walk because his teaching is difficult, but it is also glorious, it is life-giving, it is blessed, and it is hard.  So what does it mean to choose God?  According to Jesus it means ‘eating’ his very essence, it means taking the Incarnation so deeply into our bodies and souls that we exude the flavour of Christ to the world.  It means living as Jesus lived, it means turning the other cheek; it means loving even our enemies; it means losing our lives so that we gain them; and it means seeking God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness; denying ourselves; it means the cross.

Let’s face it, with a wrap like that it is stunning that Jesus had anyone who stayed with him.  There is something poignant in this question Jesus asks – do you also want to go away.  He knows very well what he is asking of his followers, he wants them to know that his love is a freeing love.  He wants them know they are free to leave.  And at varying levels, that question is one which is difficult to answer, because sometimes maybe I do want to leave.  Maybe I do wish I could find a simpler, less demanding version of the Gospel.  But that version doesn’t exist.  As Peter rightly tells Jesus, ‘to whom would we go, you have the words of eternal life’.

I wonder how hard it was for Peter to say that.  Because his response contains a deep, searching question.  ‘what are the alternatives, your teachings are hard, but they have life in them.  If you truly are who you say you are, why would we choose death when life is here for the taking, in your words, in your body, in the food you ask us to eat.  You are Life itself.  To whom else would we go.’

So what does it mean to choose God.  What has it meant in the past, and what does it mean now, today.  These are questions we need to keep asking ourselves, because the choice never goes away.  Choose today.  And the day after, and the day after that.  Keep choosing, because God has chosen.  God always and already chooses us.  Now it is our turn.