Jesus Killed His Own Megachurch

I preached a messaged that many candidly shared with me left them uneasy. I’ll be the first to admit it. The theatrical sermon illustration of the “flesh” stirred unease in many spirits, even mine. To make sense of it, I’ll venture into a sermon Jesus preached in a synagogue, where He, too, tackled the challenging concept “I am the bread of life” and used a sermon illustration turning bread into “flesh” that caused many to become uneasy, doubt his teaching, and leave him.

The depth and intensity of Jesus’ words in the latter part of John 6 were such that it led many to walk away. Faced with this exodus, even His most devout followers were left grappling, and all Peter could muster was the question, “To whom else shall we go?” (Jn 6:68)

Together, we’ll dive deep into what provoked so many to turn their backs on Jesus and left Peter pondering, “To whom else shall we go?”

To whom else shall we go: Thousands Follow Jesus

The popular conception of Jesus’ ministry often paints a humble picture: a quiet, reserved man traversing the dusty paths of ancient Palestine with a handful of followers. But a close examination of the Gospels tells a different story. Jesus wasn’t merely a local preacher in a small Jewish town. Instead, Jesus was a massive revolution in his lifetime, He created ripples across the region, the royals knew his name, and thousands of ordinary folk flocked to hear his words.

From the very outset, His presence was pronounced. Declarations that He was God incarnate echoed among those who encountered Him. He wasn’t just another rabbi; He was someone who could turn water into wine at a wedding – undoubtedly ensuring Every guest present would remember him.

His call to discipleship was magnetic. He was a bold leader and approached potential followers with the audacious invitation: “Follow me.” And they did. Fishermen, tax collectors, zealots – individuals from diverse backgrounds were drawn to Him, leaving their professions and families behind.  Jesus was a magnetic mega-church pastor.

Jesus didn’t just challenge the status quo; He confronted it head-on; he expelled merchants from the temple, condemning their profiteering. His reputation as a teacher reached such heights that notable figures like Nicodemus, sought Him out under the cover of night, eager to understand His teachings. The baptism He preached became so popular that it started drawing “transfer growth” from other prophetic movements, sinners, and even some of the pious! Jesus was the “it” movement.  All the TikTok videos were clips of Jesus ministry!

Then…. ENTER IN THE MIRACLES….. They weren’t conducted in secrecy but were public displays of divine power. Whether it was healing the child of a royal official or restoring the health of the paralyzed, news of these miracles spread like wildfire, making Jesus, in his day, a household name among thousands.

No mega-church pastor is a stranger to controversy; neither was Jesus. By healing on the Sabbath, He showcased His compassion and highlighted the rigidity and legalism of the religious elite. It wasn’t just about breaking rules; it was about redefining EVERYTHING!  Jesus was the new buzzword!

When Jesus had a proper Baptist Potluck…….He had to feed five thousand (John 6:10), no problem for the miracle-working preacher!  Jesus was a giant in his own day, an electrifying preacher with illustrations, miracles, and new ways of saying old things; he was a spiritual leader drawing crowds in their thousands.

Jesus was so famous that they wanted this desert prophet to become the King of the entire nation!  (Jn 6:15) Jesus’ ministry exploded on the scene, it seemed like nothing could stop it, nothing except his message, The Gospel, that Jesus Christ died as a sacrifice for our sin, that is the message that killed Jesus’ ministry.  If he were in a modern pastoral training session, they’d probably tell him to wrap it up a little neater or make it a little easier to hear, but this was not His way; Jesus’ teachings are the very thing that killed the numerical success of his ministry.

To whom else shall we go: Thousands Leave Jesus

In one sermon, Jesus loses most of his followers.  When Jesus proclaims, “I am the bread of life,” he employs a powerful sermon illustration. (Jn 6:35) This is not just a mere metaphor but a profound biblical truth that reinforces the core message of the Gospel of John: “But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name” (Jn 20:31). Through this sermon, Jesus clarifies what one must believe about Him as the “Christ” or “Messiah.” He emphasizes that Christ is the bread, a sustenance that one must partake in to achieve not just any life but “eternal life” in the divine embrace of heaven with Jesus.

Imagine this vivid scene: Jesus stands in a synagogue in Capernaum (Jn 6:59), surrounded by thousands. Among the audience are devout churchgoers, individuals who recite the daily prayer, the Shema. Many have experienced healing through the miracles performed by this prophet. Such is their faith in Jesus that they wish for Him to become their King, restoring Yahweh’s Kingdom in Israel (Jn 6:15). These aren’t mere casual listeners; their commitment is evident. So deep was their dedication that they took to boats, crossing a sea just to hear Him (Jn 6:24). This wasn’t a quick 15-minute car drive to church like we know today; it was a strenuous two-hour rowing journey.

The committed church leaders would have been in full regalia. Dressed meticulously, they donned up to 18 different garments. Driven by a mix of self-righteousness and superstition, they attached a case filled with scripture to their left arm and, on occasion, bound one to their forehead. Furthermore, the Pharisees, the church leaders, took the directive from the Law to wear fringes on their garments a step further. They elongated these fringes to make them more noticeable, a display of their piety.

There, amidst the vast crowd ranging from the most impoverished to the deeply devout, everyone waited with bated breath for Jesus to deliver His sermon.  And so, Jesus begins his sermon…

Jesus begins His sermon by drawing on a cherished tale to captivate the vast assembly. He evokes the story of Exodus, recounting how God generously provided the “manna” in the wilderness. This bread from heaven sustained His people through their most challenging trials and tribulations. It’s a fitting start, given that many in the crowd were primarily present in hopes of more bread (Jn 6:26). But Jesus doesn’t stop there; He dives straight into His central message, delivering it with a boldness that might be considered confrontational. He proclaims, “It was not Moses who gave you the bread, but my Father.” These words instantly grip the crowd. Overwhelmed by His revelation, they respond in unison with a fervent “AMEN,” exclaiming, “GIVE US THIS BREAD ALWAYS” (Jn 6:32-34).

Following that impassioned “AMEN,” a palpable stillness envelopes the room. Every ear strains, every heartbeat with anticipation, every eye is locked onto Jesus, waiting for the promised bread. And then, in the thick of that silence, Jesus speaks, revealing a truth so profound it would forever change the trajectory of faith.

He declares in Jn 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The weight of His words hang in the air, challenging, beckoning, demanding reflection. Before they can fully digest this revelation, He continues, deepening the mystery in Jn 6:53-54, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

The gravity of His message is unmistakable. This wasn’t just about physical bread or momentary hunger. Jesus was introducing a spiritual truth, a call to a deeper, eternal communion with Him.

In this stark and visceral sermon illustration, Jesus doesn’t shy away from challenging conventional thought and understanding. He draws a profound parallel between the sacred bread of the covenant, the showbread of the temple, and something utterly unexpected: His own flesh. He isn’t speaking of simple sustenance or religious rituals; He’s pointing directly to the ultimate sacrifice, the culmination of prophecies and promises. Jesus identifies Himself with the very lamb prophesied in Isaiah, the one destined to be slaughtered for the sins of the world. This isn’t a mere metaphor to Him; it’s a poignant declaration of His mission and destiny.

To truly understand what it means to consume the flesh and blood of the lamb, we need to journey back to the Old Testament practices. In Leviticus, there’s a poignant ritual wherein the priest would lay their hands upon the sacrifice designated to be burned or slaughtered. This act was symbolic, signifying the transference of sins from the people to the animal. As the sins enveloped the creature, it was then offered to God, who accepted this animal as a sin sacrifice.

Fast forward to the New Testament, where this ancient ritual finds its ultimate fulfillment. Scripture declares in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus, the immaculate lamb, bore the weight of humanity’s transgressions. As believers put their faith in Him, there’s a spiritual transference. Our sins are passed on to Jesus, who, in His unfathomable love and grace, willingly becomes consumed by them.

In essence, our sins engulf Jesus in the same way one consumes bread. He becomes the very embodiment of our transgressions, yet through His sacrifice, offers redemption and restoration. As it is written in 1 Peter 1:18-19, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” The lamb slain becomes the ultimate reparation, bridging the chasm of sin between humanity and the God.

As Jesus is preaching, the atmosphere in the room became palpable. An intense silence enveloped the crowd. They begin quietly grumbling.  What was initially received with enthusiasm quickly turned into shock and disbelief. The words of Jesus, so raw and confronting, sounded to many like tales of cannibalism, a blood cult, or human sacrifice. This was not the message they had journeyed hours to hear. The same throngs that eagerly anticipated Jesus’s teachings, those that had once clamored for His every word, now found themselves grappling with a truth too unsettling to bear.

Many turned their backs, their faith shaken, their expectations dashed. The vast multitude that once followed Jesus dwindled dramatically. From being revered as a popular leader with throngs hanging on His every word, in that singular moment, He was reduced in the eyes of many to a controversial figure, a so-called false prophet with teachings too radical to embrace.

Yet, in the midst of this mass exodus, a select few remained steadfast. Among the thousands, only a few disheartened disciples stood by Him, a testament to their unwavering faith and the depth of their understanding. They recognized the profound spiritual significance behind His words, even when others faltered.

To Whom Shall We Go

Amid the echoing silence, as many turned their backs and walked away, Jesus, perhaps with a hint of sorrow in His eyes, turned to His loyal disciples and posed a heart-wrenching question: “Do you want to go away as well?” (Jn 6:66-67) The weight of that inquiry bore down on the room, an unspoken challenge to their faith and devotion. It was always Peter, always quick to speak, often impulsive but undeniably passionate, who broke the silence. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,” he declared. One can only imagine the swirl of emotions and thoughts that coursed through the disciples’ minds. They had once been at the epicenter of an unstoppable movement, the inner circle of a spiritual revolution. Now, they seemed to stand amidst its ruins. Yet, in that moment of despair, Peter’s response was poignant, encapsulating the profound truth of their journey: where else was there to turn?

Today, I echo Peter’s sentiment and challenge for each one of you to consider his profound question. “to whom else can you go” Jesus presented Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for sin, not diminishing its gravity or redefining its essence but offering a remedy for its dire consequences. He came as the bread from heaven, bearing the weight of our transgressions upon His flesh, ensuring that sin was addressed with the utmost justice. But if not Him, then where? What other philosophies, doctrines, or religious figures offer a comparable solution? Let us delve into Peter’s inquiry. The more we explore, the clearer it becomes: in a world brimming with theories and teachings, the stark truth is that none other possesses the words of life. None but Jesus.

Peter, faced with a decision, had a myriad of paths he could have ventured down:

He could have leaned into atheism, where the universe’s creation is often attributed to inexplicable events or processes. Here, the idea of sin is not anchored in a higher power’s moral code but is rather a product of natural forces, a survival game. “In Atheism: Sin is a Nonsensical Tragedy”. The atheistic perspective might suggest that what we term as ‘sin’ is merely the outcome of evolution’s ruthlessness, where the mighty thrive and the weak perish. There’s no overarching narrative of justice or redemption — just the raw, unfiltered mechanics of existence.

Peter might have turned to Hinduism, a religion rich in scriptures and diverse in practices. “In Hinduism: Sin is Ignorance”. Hindu beliefs pivot on the idea that our missteps stem not from inherent evil but from ignorance. This ignorance manifests in various ways, like mistaking the temporal for the eternal or misidentifying the self. Yet, Hinduism doesn’t offer a clear-cut answer to the world’s evident suffering and injustice due to sin.  Sin has no answer in Hinduism, no real life, free of sin, no justice for sin.

Peter could have turned to Buddhism, founded by Buddha, which also offers insights into the nature of wrongdoing. “In Buddhism: Sin is the Ignorance of Karma”. Like Hinduism, Buddhism views sin as a result of ignorance — specifically, ignorance about the nature of karma. Karma, a consequence of our past actions, keeps us locked in a cycle of rebirth. Buddha’s solution is self-enlightenment, achieved through questioning everything and introspection. “what is truth” is the echo of both Buddha and palate. In Buddhism, there is no answer to the cruel injustice of the world, it’s just redefined as ignorance bound by karma.

The modern movement of Progressive Christianity could have beckoned Peter. This interpretation of faith often combines Jesus’ teachings with various world religions to create a mosaic of beliefs. Half of self-professed Christians hold to the doctrines of Progressive Christianity.  “For Progressive Christianity: Sin is Ignorance”. Here, sin becomes a hurdle that one can leap over by drawing wisdom from diverse religious teachings, uniting oneself with the Divine.  There is no answer to sin for a progressive Christian or unitarian. In fact, they call what I teach, what Jesus taught, cosmic child abuse.  There is no justice or restitution for evil.

Islam, the religion preached by the Prophet Muhammad, offers yet another perspective. “In Islam: Sin is predestined as an obstacle for the faithful to overcome”. The Qur’an makes it clear that sins exist as challenges for believers, challenges they’re meant to surmount through good deeds. For a devout Muslim, life is a balancing act between good actions and sins, with the hope that righteousness will prevail. Allah is a starting for sin, as he uses to test the righteousness of a believer. In Islam, the sin of Jihad can be used to bring a world order that supposedly reflects the holiness of God, there is an answer to sin in Islam, but it is a cruel and wicked answer.

Lastly, Peter could have adhered to his Jewish roots. “In Judaism: Sin defeats God’s People”. From ancient scriptures to modern interpretations, Judaism has grappled with sin and redemption. The religion calls for personal responsibility, urging individuals to rise above their wrongdoings through genuine repentance and community service. For the Jews, sin can be overcome with a blood atonement, but only until one sins again; in Judaism (without Jesus), there is no restitution for the sin of the present; the blood of an animal is not enough.

So what does Peter do? What’s going on inside according to John 6, Sprit and Life is what’s going on inside.  Jesus says his words to Peter are not mere words, they are Spirit and Life…..something SUPERNATURAL is happening in Peter, God the Father is drawing Peter, and He’s hearing the words of Christ as truth.

As Peter stood there, the gravity of Jesus’ teachings weighed on him. Each path offered its perspective, yet none seemed to capture the profound redemption and sacrifice that Jesus spoke of. In their depth and challenge, Christ’s words were unparalleled: a love so vast it would bridge the chasm of sin between humanity and God, correcting every wrongdoing, and making mankind, who believed, righteous in the eyes of Yahweh.

Standing amidst the remnants of a once-vast crowd, Peter might have felt the weight of history and prophecy pressing upon his heart. The disciples, as Jews, were well-versed in the stories of their ancestors and the prophecies that foretold both judgment and grace. The Hebrew prophets had long proclaimed a message of justice and the need for repentance. They warned of the consequences of unrepented sin, but they also carried with them the promise of God’s grace for those who are “poor in spirit”.

Perhaps Peter’s mind wandered to the words of the prophet Jeremiah, a mouthpiece of divine justice who repeatedly warned the people of Judah of impending doom if they did not amend their ways. One of Jeremiah’s exhortations captures this sentiment:

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it and find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.'” Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV)

The refusal to heed this warning led to the devastating fall of Judah. The nation crumbled, consumed by the very sin they refused to renounce. Yet, even in the midst of despair and desolation, Jeremiah found a glimmer of hope. As he lamented over the fall of his beloved city his faith found solace in the unchanging nature of God:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,

‘therefore I will hope in him.'”

Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV)

Could Jesus be the embodiment of Jeremiah’s Lament? This message of hope, grounded in God’s steadfast love and mercy, might have echoed in Peter’s heart as he stood with Jesus, reminding him that God has promised to make a way when there is no way and that his mercies never end…Peter looks to Jesus, being drawn by the Father in heaven, as some of you are drawn now….he looks to Jesus, with the Father stirring his heart, because those the Father gives son will hear his voice…… hear his voice, and He calls them out by name.  that’s what happens here with PETER…HE BELIEVES.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6:68-69)

Indeed, Jesus is the promised one the prophet Jeremiah and all the prophets spoke about.

Jesus is the Holy One of God. Jesus stands in stark contrast to every other person, leader, philosophy, and religion. He doesn’t merely offer a path of divinity to which one might aspire; He doesn’t suggest that individuals can overcome their sin through their own good deeds. Jesus alone declares, “I am the Bread, I am the Lamb that was slain, I am God, I am the Son of God, I am salvation.” He is not merely an ideology or another religion; He is the fullness of God. He doesn’t call sin by another name, like ignorance or an obstacle to overcome.  He alone identifies sin for what it truly is: sick, dreadful, disgusting, cruel, and wicked; sin must be punished.   And He ALONE takes the sin of the world upon Himself, and He became sin so you could become righteousness. He endured the worst kind of death so that you could have life. He is the truth. He is God. He is the only way.

When you and I get to heaven, we will erupt in Gospel praises of the slain flesh of the lamb as these pictures permeate the Holy Dwelling place of God in heaven.  The culmination of human history indeed points towards the praise of God, with scriptures testifying to the worthiness of the Lamb.

John’s Revelation of Jesus Proclaims

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain”

“I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain”

These verses capture the essence of Jesus’ sacrifice and the eternal praise He receives in the heavenly realms.

Do you believe it?