“Hard to Hear… But Still True”
📖 John 6:41–71
🔹 Scripture Summary:
Jesus continues teaching after declaring, “I am the Bread of Life.” The Jewish crowd grumbles because they knew Jesus as Joseph’s son — a man, not someone sent from Heaven. Jesus doubles down, saying no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them, and that His flesh is true food and His blood is true drink (vv.53–56).
This shocks many of His disciples, and by the end of the chapter, many walk away. But Peter speaks up for the Twelve:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (v.68)
✝️ Devotional Reflection:
Jesus didn’t chase approval.
He didn’t water it down to avoid losing followers.
He taught truth, even when it offended.
This passage reveals something uncomfortable but necessary: sometimes truth doesn’t land softly. It confronts pride, offends logic, and demands faith. The crowd wanted a Messiah who fed them, not one who called them to eat His flesh and drink His blood. (Note: Jesus wasn’t referring to cannibalism—He was pointing to the spiritual, sacrificial reality of what He would accomplish through the cross and communion.)
📌 Key Point:
Jesus wasn’t looking to go viral.
He was looking for the few who would follow when the message got hard.
Peter didn’t say he understood it all.
He said something better:
“To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
🪨 Modern Application:
There will be teachings in Scripture that:
Confront your mindset
Stretch your faith
Make your flesh uncomfortable
But will you walk away…
Or will you stay and trust the One who holds eternity in His voice?
📝 Journal Prompts:
Have I ever walked away from truth because it was hard to receive?
Do I follow Jesus only when His words are comforting… or even when they’re convicting?
What does it mean to truly “feed” on Jesus daily?
🔥 Closing Prayer: Hard to Hear... But Still True
Father God,
Your Word is a sword — it cuts deep, not to wound, but to heal. Thank You for loving me enough to correct me. Even when it's hard to hear, Your truth is still good. It wakes me up, calls me higher, and reminds me who I am in You.
Forgive me for the times I’ve chosen comfort over conviction, silence over righteousness, or my own way over Yours. Strip away anything that blinds me from Your truth — pride, fear, or the need for approval. Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me.
Help me not to run from hard truths, but to receive them with humility. Make me teachable. Make me bold. Make me holy. Because I don’t just want to feel good — I want to be made whole.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
