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Making St John's great again

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25 August, 2024Pastor John Strelan

“I will make America great again”. That was the promise of a certain US president. What an attractive thing to promise a people hoping for a better future. Simple. Straightforward. Easy to understand. It’s the kind of thing we want to hear from our leaders.

Jesus came to a nation hoping for a better future. The crowds flocked to his rallies. He had them eating out of the palm of his hand. He was the one, they were sure. All he had to do was say the word and they’d be right behind him. All he had to do was make that simple, straightforward promise: “I will make you great again”. Instead, Jesus spoke in riddles about eating his flesh and drinking his blood.

What was he thinking?!   

 

John 6:56-69

56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 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. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live for ever.’ 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’ 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, ‘Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.’ 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 ‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.’

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