March 8th, 2023
by Sarah Turner
by Sarah Turner

Day 15
Wednesday, March 8th
John 6:60-71
60 Many of his disciples who heard this said, “This message is harsh. Who can hear it?” 61 Jesus knew that the disciples were grumbling about this and he said to them, “Does this offend you?
62 What if you were to see the Human One going up where he was before? 63 The Spirit is the one who gives life and the flesh doesn’t help at all. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 Yet some of you don’t believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning who wouldn’t believe and the one who would betray him. 65 He said, “For this reason I said to you that none can come to me unless the Father enables them to do so.” 66 At this, many of his disciples turned away and no longer accompanied him. 67 Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”
68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, where would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are God’s holy one.” 70 Jesus replied, “Didn’t I choose you twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He was speaking of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.
Reflection
Welcome to day 15 of our Lenten Devotional journey The beginning of the scripture section we’re focusing on today starts off with the line, “Many of his disciples who heard this said, ‘This message is harsh. Who can hear it?’”
The message they’re referring to at the beginning of this passage is the one Jesus
had laid on them in the previous verses. Jesus had just said HE is the bread of life. That
all who eat and drink from him will live because of it. So the disciples are right, this is a
harsh message. It’s pretty metal. Christ is saying, take my body, eat. Take my blood,
drink. Um. Yikes. In the years of the early church, after Christ had died and ascended,
non-Christians heard this language repeated by Christ followers and even thought we
were cannibals. I mean... I can see how they got from point A to point B.
But what Christ is saying, while harsh, is not cannibalism. It’s symbolism-ish.
The reason I say “ish” is because, while it is symbolism, it’s also something more
than symbolism. If you find yourself muttering to yourself, “Pastor Sarah.. what are you
talking about?” Let me explain. These passages in John are where we get a lot of our
language around communion. Communion is when we encounter Christ and God’s grace
through the elements of bread and cup. These things become “an outward and visible
sign of an inward and invisible grace.” (this quote is attributed to St. Augustine not
Sarah Rugenstone). Jesus hints at being a way of receiving that grace, by saying “the
Spirit is the one who gives life and the flesh doesn’t help at all. The words I have spoken
to you are spirit and life.”
It’s also funny, because in the previous verses the disciples were grumbling, and
right after where we jump in, in verse 61, they’re still grumbling. So Jesus gets heated. He says, “Does this offend you?” He goes on to say that the words he speaks are spirit and life – friends, that’s the controversy here. Jesus suggested that if we learn and follow him, we will be given the
words of eternal life. That’s why people were in disagreement. Who is this guy who says
HE can save us?? Who does he think he is?
Jesus of Nazareth, God with us, Son of the virgin Mary, God incarnate, God’s holy
one. That’s who that is.
To their credit though, the remaining twelve, they knew. Jesus turns to them after
this controversial message, and just asks them point blank, “Do you also want to leave?”
Simon Peter says, “Lord, where would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We
believe and know that you are God’s holy one.” They knew who Christ was, they knew
the transformation that could happen through Christ in this world and in their lives.
As we wrap up this devotional, I ask the same question Simon Peter asked:
Without Christ, where is left to go? Where would you be without the bread and cup? Our
walk with Christ is a journey, one we constantly are invited to take part in. We are
constantly being invited to interact with the spirit and life. We are invited to that every
Sunday at the table. We encounter Christ again and again in the ordinary, and that’s
where it becomes extraordinary. Do you know Christ to be God’s holy one? What
transformation can happen in our world and life when we know that to be true?
By Pastor Sarah Rugestone
Wednesday, March 8th
John 6:60-71
60 Many of his disciples who heard this said, “This message is harsh. Who can hear it?” 61 Jesus knew that the disciples were grumbling about this and he said to them, “Does this offend you?
62 What if you were to see the Human One going up where he was before? 63 The Spirit is the one who gives life and the flesh doesn’t help at all. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 Yet some of you don’t believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning who wouldn’t believe and the one who would betray him. 65 He said, “For this reason I said to you that none can come to me unless the Father enables them to do so.” 66 At this, many of his disciples turned away and no longer accompanied him. 67 Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”
68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, where would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are God’s holy one.” 70 Jesus replied, “Didn’t I choose you twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He was speaking of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.
Reflection
Welcome to day 15 of our Lenten Devotional journey The beginning of the scripture section we’re focusing on today starts off with the line, “Many of his disciples who heard this said, ‘This message is harsh. Who can hear it?’”
The message they’re referring to at the beginning of this passage is the one Jesus
had laid on them in the previous verses. Jesus had just said HE is the bread of life. That
all who eat and drink from him will live because of it. So the disciples are right, this is a
harsh message. It’s pretty metal. Christ is saying, take my body, eat. Take my blood,
drink. Um. Yikes. In the years of the early church, after Christ had died and ascended,
non-Christians heard this language repeated by Christ followers and even thought we
were cannibals. I mean... I can see how they got from point A to point B.
But what Christ is saying, while harsh, is not cannibalism. It’s symbolism-ish.
The reason I say “ish” is because, while it is symbolism, it’s also something more
than symbolism. If you find yourself muttering to yourself, “Pastor Sarah.. what are you
talking about?” Let me explain. These passages in John are where we get a lot of our
language around communion. Communion is when we encounter Christ and God’s grace
through the elements of bread and cup. These things become “an outward and visible
sign of an inward and invisible grace.” (this quote is attributed to St. Augustine not
Sarah Rugenstone). Jesus hints at being a way of receiving that grace, by saying “the
Spirit is the one who gives life and the flesh doesn’t help at all. The words I have spoken
to you are spirit and life.”
It’s also funny, because in the previous verses the disciples were grumbling, and
right after where we jump in, in verse 61, they’re still grumbling. So Jesus gets heated. He says, “Does this offend you?” He goes on to say that the words he speaks are spirit and life – friends, that’s the controversy here. Jesus suggested that if we learn and follow him, we will be given the
words of eternal life. That’s why people were in disagreement. Who is this guy who says
HE can save us?? Who does he think he is?
Jesus of Nazareth, God with us, Son of the virgin Mary, God incarnate, God’s holy
one. That’s who that is.
To their credit though, the remaining twelve, they knew. Jesus turns to them after
this controversial message, and just asks them point blank, “Do you also want to leave?”
Simon Peter says, “Lord, where would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We
believe and know that you are God’s holy one.” They knew who Christ was, they knew
the transformation that could happen through Christ in this world and in their lives.
As we wrap up this devotional, I ask the same question Simon Peter asked:
Without Christ, where is left to go? Where would you be without the bread and cup? Our
walk with Christ is a journey, one we constantly are invited to take part in. We are
constantly being invited to interact with the spirit and life. We are invited to that every
Sunday at the table. We encounter Christ again and again in the ordinary, and that’s
where it becomes extraordinary. Do you know Christ to be God’s holy one? What
transformation can happen in our world and life when we know that to be true?
By Pastor Sarah Rugestone
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Archive
2025
January
Happy New Year // M-Note 1.4.2025Cancel the Noise // M-Note 1.11.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 1The Beloved Community // M-Note 01.18.2025Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 2What A Coincidence // M-Note 1.25.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 3Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 4The Original Influencer // M-Note 2.1.25
February
The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 1Exploring New Sites…And You’re Invited // M-Note 2.8.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 2Uncovering Implicit Bias // M-Note 2.15.2025A "Flurry" of Activity // M-Note 2.22.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 3The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 4
March
Beloved Community Action Steps // M-Note 3.1.25Vulnerability & Wilderness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 1Trusting the Spirit's Lead | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 2Courageous Connection | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 3What's Your Emotional IQ? // M-Note 3.8.25The Spaces Between Us | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 4Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 1Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9The Void of Grief | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 10Sending Forth // M-Note 3.15.25Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 2Journey Not Alone | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 11Friends Along the Way | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 12The Loneliness of Fear | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 13Not Through With You Yet | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 14Clinging to Hope | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 15Bring It To The King | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 16Pray When Unsteady | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 17Courage to Stand for Faith | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 18Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 3A Holy Rage | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 19Focus on What is Holy | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 20Fast for Justice and Kindness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 21The World is Harsh and Beautiful | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 22I Feel Sorry for Jesus | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 23Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 4i flipped a table once | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 24Ain’t Got Nothin’ | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 25Spring Forward in Faith // M-Note 3.29.25Visio Divina | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 26Everlasting Joy Sealed in Your Heart | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 27
April
Sometimes Joy is Simply Doing Your Best | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 28An Unexpected Gift of Spring | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 29When Joy Flows Freely | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 30Easter Challenge // M-Note 4.5.25Joy Even When It Rains | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 31Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 5Joy Entwined with Loss | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 32When Betrayal is Part of the Plan | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 33Healing From Disappointment | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 34Betraying Others is Betraying Yourself | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 35A Sarcastic Jesus | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 36Have Compassion for Yourself | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 37Another Easter Challenge // M-Note 4.12.25A Disappointing Disciple | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 38When We Disappoint Others | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 39Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 6The Belief of Jesus | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 40The Value of Praise | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 41Through the Eyes of Those Who Knew Him | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 42Feeling Called Out | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 43Where Was Judas? | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Maundy ThursdayEaster Discussion GuideEasterSTL @The Factory Pro-Tips // M-Note 4.18.25Today is Not the End of the Story | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Good Friday
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5
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