I wait quietly before God,
….for my victory comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
….my fortress where I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2 NLT
John 6:41-59 (<<click here to read the passage)
About six years ago, Karen and I traveled to Texas to spend some travel time with Massey. One of the many places we visited was The Alamo in San Antonio.
Here is Wikipedia’s short synopsis of what legend says brought it into infamy.
In the waning days of the Battle of the Alamo (somewhere during March 3–5, 1836), with Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna having the Alamo completely surrounded, Santa Anna sent a messenger to Colonel William Travis, commander of the Alamo defense forces, demanding surrender, or else everyone in the compound would be killed. According to legend, Travis called the Alamo defenders together, explained that defeat was almost certain, and read the letter of surrender; Travis then (having chosen to die instead of surrender) reportedly pulled his battle sword, used it to draw a line in the ground of the Alamo, and asked for volunteers to cross over the line and join him, understanding their decision would be irreversible. Legend states that all but one of the defenders (including Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett) joined Travis on his side of the line.
The meaning of the idiom “line in the sand” is that of a point beyond which, once the decision to go beyond it is made, the decision and its resulting consequences are permanently decided and irreversible.
Many see this discourse of Jesus from the synagogue in Capernaum (v59) to be a “line in the sand” moment. Jesus in essence drew His line in the sand asking for volunteers to cross over the line and join Him. Verse 66 gives the response He received, “At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.” NLT
We have to understand that Jesus was saying some things that were very hard for the average Israelite to just accept. Words of eating His flesh and drinking His blood went against what they had been taught. It was repugnant to them. Just reading it myself, if I took it literally, it is difficult to comprehend. Honestly, that was one of the early labels that followers of Jesus bore, that they were cannibals.
But we must also understand that eating His flesh and drinking His blood means accepting Christ into our lives and becoming united with him. We are united with Christ in two ways: (1) by believing in his death (the sacrifice of his flesh) and resurrection and (2) by devoting ourselves to living as he requires, depending on his teaching for guidance and trusting in the Holy Spirit for power. *
The literal was tough. But in reality, what Jesus is truly saying is just as tough. Yielding ourselves to belief and devotion – basically stepping out of the position of control in our lives and allowing Him to take that responsibility – is not a decision to be lightly made. But…it is one that once made, once that line is crossed, is more rewarding and fulfilling than any decision we could ever make! Believe you me…it is worth it!
*Life Application Bible New Living Translation
June 6th, 2021, Sun, 7:58 pm
