All In

John 6:56-69 

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.” Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

“Have you been saved?”  When I’m asked that I say “YES”... because I am... and, well... because I like to mess with people who ask that question.  Then, when I’m inevitably asked next, WHEN was I saved?  I say “On the first Easter, about 2000 years ago!”  Now, I know THAT'S not the answer they’re looking for, but it’s TRUE... and I like to mess with people.     

You see, God’s done all the saving in Christ’s life, death and resurrection.  Like the hymn says, “The strife is O’er, the Battle Won!”  On that first Easter, God made the salvation decision for all of creation and God’s decision was, “You’re ALL IN!”  Our tradition is pretty good at remembering that, but sometimes we forget there actually are SOME decisions that ARE for us to make... NOT decisions that make or break salvation... but decisions about how we choose to live in RESPONSE to that gift we’ve been given.  

It’s like the decision Joshua asked the people of Israel to make.  The people were IN the Promised Land.  They were there, so their decision would not determine if they got there or not…'cause...they were there!  Their decision was how they would now RESPOND.  The crowds in the Gospel lesson faced a similar decision.  How would they RESPOND to the gift which God had given them in Jesus?  Jesus was there.  The gift was given.  A decision to not follow Jesus wouldn’t cause God to vacuum Jesus back up to heaven and take salvation away!  But the crowds and the disciples DID have a decision to make.  Would they drink in the Jesus life... a life where they wouldn’t be in complete control... a life filled with mystery and an uncertain future... a life that led them to do what was in the other’s best interest instead of a life focused on what’s in it for me and what makes ME feel good, OR... would they go a different way?    

In today’s Gospel, a huge number of people chose to go a different way.  The mystery of the flesh and blood was just too much.  The lack of control was too much.  So they decided to take a different path.  To stop following the Jesus Way of living.  After they left, Jesus turned to the disciples and asked them to decide as well.  Would they continue to follow or not?  You see, neither Joshua nor Jesus wanted the people to “PLAY” at their faith any longer.  Both challenged the people... to EITHER go ALL IN and BE God’s people ALL THE WAY or don’t.  A wishy washy fence sitting faith, wasn’t an option any more. 

I think that’s where we are in the church these days.  These days we wring our hands about declining church membership and some look fondly back to the days when our culture and grandma successfully guilted folks into church membership.  But I think this new world we live in might just be a gift because… well… you’re here!  And you’re here not because it makes you look like a good American to your neighbors and not because it makes grandma happy and not because you need a church membership to advance in your career.  You’re here... at least I hope you’re here... because you have come to the decision that Jesus REALLY DOES have the words of eternal life.  You’re here because you’ve decided that drinking in the Jesus life... a life filled with generosity, compassion, radical inclusion, love and grace... brings your life and this world a tiny bit closer to the Kingdom of God every day…  Because living the Jesus Way leads you bit by bit toward a life overflowing with meaning, purpose, direction and joy!  You’re here because you’d rather be part of a smaller group of dedicated, passionate, authentic, self declared saints and sinners, than part of a huge group of fake, plastic, superficial people trying to satisfy their deepest longings with things like power, wealth and fame which, God knows, will never come close to filling anybody up.  

The people answered Joshua, saying “We have decided to follow the LORD, for he is our God.”  Simon Peter answered for the group, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.”  You and I have the same decision to make... but it’s really not just one decision.  It's about a million little decisions… those tiny decisions we make in every moment of every day of our lives.  In each of those particular moments, will we choose to live that moment the Jesus Way, OR the world’s way?  Will we welcome the stranger or send them away?  Will we feed the hungry or demonize them?  Will we stop to heal the sick or walk down the other side of the road?  Will we calm the storm or stir the pot?  Will we tell the truth or tell a lie?  Will we forgive the thief or seek revenge?  Will we make a friend or create an enemy?  Will we admit our faults or double down on them? Will we celebrate diversity or try to homogenize it?  Will we say words that build up or words that tear down?  Will we crucify others to get our way or will we raise others up to new life? 

We all have a million decisions just like that to make every day, in every seemingly insignificant interaction with every person we meet.  The Good News is that no matter if we choose the Jesus Way in one particular moment, OR fall short of the Glory of God and make a choice out of our fearfulness and brokeness, God’s decision FOR US… God’s love for us... remains unshakable and true.  

This next week, may God give each of us the power and the courage in each moment of our lives to choose to live our faith “ALL IN”... to fully drink in the Way, the Truth and the Life which God has given us freely in Christ.  May we drink in that Holy, that Eternal, that Transformed Life we have been given, and may we courageously choose in each of those moments to respond to the gift we’ve been given in the Jesus Way.  Amen.