Friday after Laetare
Posted on March 19, 2021 by under
Scripture: St. John 6:60-65 (NKJV)
6:60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
Devotion
When Jesus began His ministry, all was well. A nice teaching here, an impressive miracle there, and the multitudes formed. As with any crowd, their levels of allegiance spanned a wide array. But now came the time for allegiance to be tested. Jesus’ words became bolder and sharper, and a natural sifting was taking place. Many found the listening “hard.” This didn’t mean it was difficult to understand, but it was hard for them to believe. Jesus’ words were plain enough, but the hardened heart found no place for them. Those with superficial faith fell away, while those with rooted faith stayed fast. It was the parable of the Sower in action. The true disciples were being separated from the false. Jesus’ words would eventually be vindicated, as the same One who came down from heaven would rise to return to His heavenly place.
We face the same challenge today. We are daily confronted with Jesus’ question, “And who do you say that I am?” There is always a response when Jesus does the calling. His mere presence, whether in flesh in the first century or by inspired Word in the 21st century, always forces the issue. We may try to straddle the fence, but in the end the edge is too narrow. Every encounter with Jesus is truly a force to be reckoned with. We have the information before our eyes, let us pray that it makes a transformation in our hearts. Let us say with St. Peter, “I say You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
Prayer: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of Thy grace may mercifully be relieved, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
