At the Table | Not Going to Sugarcoat It

51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

52 Then the Jews debated among themselves, asking, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 Jesus said to them, “I assure you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

John 6:51-53 (Common English Bible)

Let's be honest, sometimes following Jesus doesn't sound very appealing. When Jesus talks about taking up our cross daily, denying ourselves, or losing our lives to find them, it can feel about as appetizing as a recipe that combines grape juice, vinegar, mustard, and mayonnaise all in one glass.

The crowd listening to Jesus in John 6 felt the same way. When Jesus started talking about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, their first reaction was probably "Eww, gross." They had no idea what communion was because it hadn't been invented yet. All they heard was something that sounded disgusting and impossible.

But here's what they were missing, and what we sometimes miss too: Jesus wasn't trying to gross them out or make following him sound unappealing. He was trying to prepare them for what real discipleship looks like. He was being honest about the cost.

Following Jesus does require sacrifice. It means saying no to our selfish desires sometimes. It means putting God's way ahead of our way, even when our way seems easier. It means loving people who are hard to love, forgiving people who don't deserve it, and serving others when we'd rather be served.

So, I'm not going to sugarcoat it, following Jesus can feel hard to swallow. But Jesus doesn't try to sugarcoat it either because he knows that real change – the kind of transformation we desperately need – often requires us to do things that feel uncomfortable at first.

Think about anything worthwhile in your life. Learning to play an instrument, getting in shape, building a strong marriage, raising good kids – none of it comes easy. The things that change us most are often the things that challenge us most.

Personal Application: What aspects of following Jesus feel "hard to swallow" to you right now? Instead of seeing these as obstacles, what if they're invitations to grow into the person God wants you to become?

Prayer: Jesus, following you isn't always easy or comfortable. Sometimes your way feels harder than mine. But help me trust that you know what's best for me, even when it feels difficult. Give me courage to say yes to your way of living, knowing that you're transforming me into someone who can love like you do. Amen.