Final Confrontation (24 page)

“There they come,” said Judas. “Just as I said”

The men scanned the lake and could see sails headed into Capernaum. Many had already arrived from Tiberias and elsewhere, having enjoyed Jesus’ miraculous tour in their region. Jesus joined the men and saw the growing numbers of people. He led them to the synagogue. One of the men, a leader in the Tiberias community approached Jesus.

“Rabbi, when did You get here?” he asked.

Jesus looked at the man, all decked out in his official garb and answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for Me, because I have fed so many people with the loaves—that’s all you are interested in.”

He raised His voice so those around could hear.

“Do not work for food that spoils and only satisfies for a short time, but work for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

And so they all began to seat themselves in an open area in front of the synagogue. The disciples, as usual, seated themselves near their Master. Simon the Zealot, ever on guard, stationed himself on a bit of high ground to watch for any possible attempts on Jesus’ life.

When they had settled down, the people began to ask him questions, as was the custom by now. “What work does God ask us to do?”

“That is a very important question,” Jesus said. “The work of God is this: you must believe in the One He has sent.” And then with great passion, “You must believe.”

One of the men from Capernaum, who had been prompted by a local Pharisee, stood and asked, “But what miraculous sign will You give that we may see it and believe You? What will You do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from Heaven to eat.’”

“Listen to me! It is not Moses who has given you the bread from Heaven. It was the Lord. But more importantly, My Father gives you the true bread from Heaven. This is the bread of God who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Several Pharisees who were listening began to talk among themselves heatedly. The disciples near them kept an eye on them in case they might have any design on Jesus. Then another man came and asked Jesus: “Sir, from now on give us this bread.”

“That what I am telling you! I am the Bread of Life,” Jesus said. “He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe.”

Clouds of holy angels had begun to arrive in large numbers around Capernaum—something important was stirring. Berenius and many unholy angels also were there to witness this critical moment.

“He is rather harsh today, isn’t He?” Berenius remarked to his aide.

“Not really,” said the aide. “He is always rebuking the people for their disbelief.”

“Something different is happening today,” said Berenius, surmising the gathering of the Host. “Something is stirring. Something out of the ordinary. We’d best keep our mind on the game—and on the disciples.”

“All those the Father gives Me will come to Me,” Jesus continued. “And whoever comes to Me I will never drive away—they shall be accepted.” He stood and began pacing as He spoke. “Do you think I have come down from Heaven to speak My own words and to do My own will? No! I have come down from Heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all He has given me, but raise them up at the last day. Listen to Me—My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

The Jews in the crowd could be heard decrying this teaching. They began to call out to the people, “Is this not Jesus, the Son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He now say, ‘I came down from Heaven.’ He is deluded!”

Jesus walked over to where the Jews had gathered. They stood with defiant stances, proud in the robes of their office.

“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus said. “I assure you no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. Again I tell you all—I am the Bread of Life!”

He turned from the Jews and back to the crowd.

“Your forefathers ate manna in the desert, as the man mentioned a moment ago. Yet they died and were buried in the desert. But here is the bread that comes down from Heaven, which a man may eat and not die. Moses’ bread was temporary. But I am the Living Bread that came down from Heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

“What?” cried one of the Pharisees. “How can You dare to say such a thing?”

Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat? This is an abomination!”

“I’ll tell you something more,” continued Jesus, looking directly at the pharisees. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink.”

Many in the crowd looked at each other in confusion. Even some of the disciples were alarmed. One person from somewhere in the back shouted he was hungry right now. A few began to leave, deciding to come back later when He was ready to give them some real food. The Jews encouraged the departures.

“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him,” Jesus continued. “Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.”

He turned back to the Jewish teachers and priests, who were still grouped near Him refuting Him even as He spoke: “This is the bread that came down from Heaven.” He said to them. “Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Later that evening, after the crowds had dispersed, the twelve disciples, as well as others who had decided to follow, had a moment to themselves. Still reeling from the day’s teaching, they asked themselves exactly what it was Jesus was saying. Judas seemed particularly hard hit by it all. He was beginning to think perhaps Jesus was deluded. How could such a Man lead a Kingdom?

Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Here is an even harder teaching.”

He stood and indicated the place where they were.

“This world, this flesh—it counts for nothing. Human kingdoms and power—it is all nothing. It is the Spirit that gives life. And the words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life…”

He looked at the group.

“And still there are some of you who do not believe.”

The men looked about, surprised at such a declaration. Those who knew they believed were particularly astonished. Those who had been doubtful were uneasy. Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him. “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has enabled him,” He said.

As He spoke these words, several men stood to leave. Some left apologetically; others left defiantly; still others simply walked away. Many of His newer followers turned back and no longer followed Him. Jesus looked at the twelve who remained.

“Are you going to leave Me as well?” He asked the twelve.

The men were silent—ashamed at their thoughts. Then Peter spoke up and said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe that You are the Holy One of God.”

Jesus looked at the men.

“I chose all twelve of you,” He said. “And all of you have remained with Me and did not depart with the others.” Not looking at any one in particular He added, “And yet one of you is a devil!”

From a distance, Berenius had been listening. He turned to his aide. “An interesting choice of words,” he said. “Quite revealing.” He thought about it for a moment.

“One of the twelve is a devil. Send word to Lucifer. I will soon name the betrayer!”

“Who do men say that I am?” asked Jesus.

The question seemed to come out of nowhere as the disciples were following along on the road in Caesarea-Philippi. It hardly seemed to make a difference who other people thought Jesus was. And yet, this was the first time He had asked the disciples such a pointed question concerning Himself.

“My Lord?” asked Peter.

“I asked who people say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

The disciples looked at each other, not really knowing how to answer. Some people obviously scorned Jesus and thought He was a devil. Others were not sure. But this was not the answer for which Jesus searched. He was looking for something deeper—something inside the hearts and minds of the disciples.

“Well, some say You are perhaps John the Baptist, back from the dead,” said one disciple.

“Others claim You are Elijah, the prophet,” said another.

Jesus smiled lovingly at them—men with whom He had shared meals and ministry over the past two years.

“But what about all of you?” He pressed. “Who do you say I am?”

Nobody wanted to answer the question. It brought on a measure of discomfort—almost as if by answering the question truthfully one might expose one’s weakness in faith. Then a voice came from the group.