What's In It for Me?

I was thinking about the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John. The entire chapter is a fast-paced adventure that moves from scene to scene with light-speed.

Several thoughts occurred to me about the Lord's sermon concerning the bread that came down from Heaven. Just one of the many things I love about the Holy Scriptures: you can read it for years and you'll still discover something new.

Okay, Christ fed the five thousand and then preached a sermon about Heavenly Bread.  The news of the bread spread, (sorry,) and people came from miles around to get their fair share. When they found His boat missing, the one His apostles had used, they went so far as to track Him down on the other side of the lake. They even followed Him to a synagogue where He was teaching.

He told them that they weren't following Him for the miracles; they were only following Him because He gave them a full belly.

Being the rabbit hunters that they were, they made a couple of sad attempts to bait Him into the discussions about works and signs. Really? Everything they'd seen Him do and they wanted to talk about works and signs? Sheesh!

So, he continued trying to explain to them, in essence, if they didn't eat His body, they could have nothing to do with Him. Moreover, He told a bunch of Kosher Jews that they also must drink blood...His blood! He continued further that Moses gave the Israelites manna and they died, but the Bread He offered granted eternal life. He told that them that He is the Bread that came down from Heaven.

I am that bread of life. John 6:48

I can just imagine them cutting their eyes in astonishment and disbelief at the words of the Galilean. Some even whispering to one another their doubts about not only His words, but His sanity. The only response they could muster was that what He was saying was "hard."

They had witnessed many of His miracles. They had even been fed by them. Yeah, the five loaves and two fishes routine. For sure, they had seen much to encourage them to believe He was who He was. Shucks! They had even wanted to make Him King!

Verse 66, (interestingly) says, after that time, many of His disciples no longer followed Him. They, pardon the pun, had their bellies full of Him.

Then, to my mind, one of the most dramatic moments in the Holy Bible occurs. Jesus, after watching the crowds whom He had shown so much love walk away, turned to His disciples and asked what was, perhaps, the most poignant question He ever asked. He looked into their eyes and asked, "Are you going to leave me too?"

Just for a moment consider the thought. (Yes, a favorite thought of mine to which I keep returning.) Our Lord, our Savior was a man. Albeit, a  lonely man. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He knew what it was to lose and He knew what it was to be left alone. He, the One holding the keys to life and death, had lost loved ones through sickness, age and injury and He certainly knew what it was like to be abandoned by many whom He had loved and, one would have thought, loved Him.

So, here he stood, once again, abandoned by so many to whom He had given so much. It wasn't a new thing for Him, but it, obviously, never lessened the pain it caused Him. Furthermore, He knew total abandonment was not so very far away. He knew a time was coming when even His own Father would abandon Him. Yes, the man knew pain on a scale that we can't even begin to imagine.

His disciples had just seen Him feed five thousand with a little  bit of fish and bread. As if that wasn't enough, they saw Him walk on water. No small thing, but when He then climbed into their boat, they were suddenly transported through time and space to their destination on the other shore.

Oh, yes, they had witnessed so much. They had seen and heard things that so many others had not. And now, Jesus was asking them if He could depend on them. Would they stay or would they go?
A thousand things must've rambled through their minds: the miracles, the lessons, the "hard" words. They saw so many who had followed the Lord so far simply walk away dazed and confused. They had left so much behind and had invested so much time and energy in the man. Were they now beginning to understand a little about what would ultimately be required of them? Now, He wanted them to answer, likely, the toughest question He had ever put to them.

People come to religion for a myriad of reasons. They often seek peace, fellowship, support, help, an anchor, escape and even, sometimes, Heaven. Many seek a full heart. (Whatever that means.)

I've seen many men, young and old, inquire about joining the Lodge. Most don't really know what they're seeking. They come because of our reputation, factual or otherwise, or because of kinsmen or friends. I've seen far too many receive bad information about the purpose of Masonry. They are erroneously told that the best thing about it is the fellowship. While, yes, it is something special and rare, but if that is what a Brother sees as the number one thing Masonry offers, well, he hasn't been listening during the degree work.

Many come to America, not for the miracle of liberty that she is, but because they can get a full belly here. Granted, many have crossed the oceans for economic opportunity in our fair land and that is no sin. Still, they grew to love her. If you don't love her for more than just what she gives you, you will never be willing to die to sustain her. Freedom is not without responsibility. Otherwise, it is only anarchy.

Those who want to take and take and never be a part of us will never love her. They will treat her like a woman to be used and cast aside before the sun rises the next morning. Sadly, these include not only illegal immigrants and "anchor babies," but fourth and fifth generation Americans and more. Those who are so enthralled with themselves that no one and nothing else matters.
So, here stands our Lord, His eyes moistened, (I've no doubt,) with the earnest desire to hear their response. At the same time, He was both cursed and blessed by the knowledge of what their answer would be.

Now, good old Peter, who's heart was gold, but, like the rest of us, was too often swayed by his humors like a cat by it's tale, answered with the answer of all answers. Being the good little Jewish boy he was, he answered our Lord's question with a question.

"Where else can we go?"

He, of course, continued with the declaration that only Jesus had the Word's of Life and that He was truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Peter, whether it was walking on water or fighting a host of temple guards, if he didn't take time to think about his response, seemed to usually have pretty good
instincts.

Finally, Jesus, without actually acknowledging Peter's response reminded them that, although he had chosen them all, one of them would betray Him. He understood that there would always be those who would never...get it! No matter how much food or how many miracles and no matter how much love He showed, there would always be those who, like the others who abandoned Him, who could never see past their own desires and urges...and their own bellies.