最初听到耶稣赐给我们赦免、拯救、和新生命的应许时，我们或许很容易便会跟随衪，我们自然便会抓住耶稣所说的鼓励和保证的话。
然而，耶稣不是一个从神而来的啦啦队队员，衪乃是为我们牺牲性命的救主。在今天的经文中，耶稣指出衪将会得胜，衪又解释说，惟有藉着衪的“肉和血，”我们才能得救。可惜我们很难接受这个信息，我们的本性是要尝试自救，而不想倚赖耶稣赐的生命之粮，这粮是衪藉着舍弃自己的生命－就是衪自己的肉和血－为“世人之生命”赐下的。
耶稣要求我们完全降服在衪的权柄和衪所赐的救恩之下，这救恩是我们无法靠自己赚取的。耶稣的升天，清楚表明衪有这权柄，也显明祂真的是神，衪从这掌权之地，差遣圣灵临到凡相信衪的人。
作为跟随耶稣的人，我们不是单单聆听容易入耳的话，我们也同样聆听衪挑战我们去服从的话。我们不是倚靠自己得救，我们乃是倚靠耶稣的肉和血，这肉和血是我们在天上的主付上重价、甘愿赐给我们的。
耶稣呼召我们为祂甘愿献上自己，你能否接受这挑战呢？
父啊，求你帮助我们相信！圣灵啊，求你加力给我们，去过顺服的生活！主耶稣啊，求你以你的权柄向我们说话，好叫我们能接受和跟随你。阿们！
约翰福音 6:45-51, 60-65
45在先知书上写着说：‘他们都要蒙神的教训。’凡听见父之教训又学习的，就到我这里来。
46这不是说有人看见过父，唯独从神来的，他看见过父。
47我实实在在地告诉你们：信的人有永生。
48我就是生命的粮。
49你们的祖宗在旷野吃过吗哪，还是死了；
50这是从天上降下来的粮，叫人吃了就不死。
51我是从天上降下来生命的粮，人若吃这粮，就必永远活着。我所要赐的粮就是我的肉，为世人之生命所赐的。”
60他的门徒中有好些人听见了，就说：“这话甚难，谁能听呢？”
61耶稣心里知道门徒为这话议论，就对他们说：“这话是叫你们厌弃吗？
62倘或你们看见人子升到他原来所在之处，怎么样呢？
63叫人活着的乃是灵，肉体是无益的。我对你们所说的话就是灵，就是生命。
64只是你们中间有不信的人。”耶稣从起头就知道谁不信他，谁要卖他。
65耶稣又说：“所以我对你们说过，若不是蒙我父的恩赐，没有人能到我这里来。”
“What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!” - John 6:62
It may seem easy, at first, to follow Jesus when we hear his promise of forgiveness, salvation, and new life for us. We naturally latch onto Jesus’ words of encouragement and reassurance.
But Jesus is not some sort of a divine cheerleader. He is the Savior who gave his life for our sake. In our Bible reading for today, Jesus has pointed out the victory he would win, explaining that salvation comes only through his “flesh and blood.” But that is not a message that sits easily with us. We have a natural desire to try to save ourselves rather than to rely on the bread of life that Jesus gives “for the life of the world”—by laying down his own life, his own flesh and blood.
Jesus demands total surrender to his authority and to the gift of the salvation we cannot earn for ourselves. The ascension makes clear that Jesus has this authority. It shows that he is truly God, and it is from that place of authority that he sends the Spirit to all who believe.
As followers of Jesus, we listen not only to his words that are easy to hear; we listen also to his words that call for a challenging obedience. We put our trust for salvation not in ourselves but in Jesus’ flesh and blood, given willingly by our heavenly Lord at great cost.
Jesus calls us to give of ourselves willingly for his sake. Can we accept that?
Father, help us to believe! Holy Spirit, strengthen us for obedient living! Lord Jesus, speak your words of authority to us, that we may accept and follow you. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
