The IF in LIFE

Jesus was getting down to the close of his wonderful sermon on John 6. Most were choking on the meat by now. They are called "his disciples." They are not doing well in school. They are actually failing, and ready to drop out. Instead of walking across the stage to receive their paper and move the tassel, they are tripping over everything in sight. It is not a pretty sight. The entrance to eternal life is right before them. They are so close and yet so far away. The finish line is in sight and they can't manage to stay on their feet. They are choking on His words. So Jesus challenges them as he always does. "If you can't handle what I am telling you, what are you going to do when you witness my departure back to heaven?" We undervalue the ascension of Jesus. It stands in the shadows of the death, burial and resurrection. But, imagine Jesus proving that he actually did come down from heaven, sent by the Father. Watching him blast off into space would be pretty convincing. We think a Cape Canaveral launching is pretty spectacular, imagine watching a person with no jet propulsion rising up through clouds and disappear from sight! We are spiritual wimps. We can't handle the words of Jesus. God help us when he actually comes back again in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who know not God and do not obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thess.1:8)

Jesus is watching people respond to his words. He so wants them to "get it" and to seize the great opportunity they have been given to pass from death to life. He has labored to teach them about true food and drink, about the difference between this present life (soma and psuche, body and soul) and eternal life (zoe), and to make it clear that He is the source of life. But they are so stuck in this world with its attractions and distractions that they are missing their turn off which will take them over the bridge to an entirely new life. They are rolling up on the stumbling blocks and crashing. They think he is crazy or worse, demon-possessed. They feel so justified in rejecting the Son of God. They feel so wise(1 Cor.1). They think they have it all together when the only one who has it all together is standing right in front of them. His words are spirit and life. Only His words are spirit and life. This is a sad scene. So many could have been spared. So many that day could have had life. Look at LIFE and you will see right smack dab in the middle of it a big fat IF. That is what many of them will be saying one day. IF only I had listened.