Two Old Men

Two old men had been friends since childhood. They had watch each other play baseball and graduate from school. They each had been there when the other got married. They each celebrated the birth of the other’s children. They each attended the funeral of the other’s spouse. For almost 75 years they had been friends and had shared so much. But even now, in their old age, there was one thing that one had not shared with the other. This one thing had not been uttered and the old man thought his friend never knew about it, but his friend did know about it. His friend knew that for years the other had been stealing from a local charity where he volunteered. Upon discovering this fact about his friend, an old man had to make a decision. He knew the stealing was wrong and wanted to say something to his friend, not to condemn or to hurt his friend, but to free his friend from a crime that had become a habit. But if he confronts his friend with the truth, will his friend go away or change his life? He must choose between staying silent and killing his conscience or saying something and possibly killing their friendship. Killing the friendship would break his heart and break the heart of his friend. But could he be a true friend if he did not share the truth? Truth that could help his friend gain freedom from a destructive pattern.
There was a time when Jesus performed a miracle and made a picnic for 5,000 people out of two loaves and five fish. This sensational event drew large crowds and they chased after him where ever he went. How many pastors and churches wish they had that effect on the general public? But Jesus turned to the crowds and said a truth that he knew many of them would not put up with. He knew that many in the crowd were there for the hype, sensation and the free lunch. But he wanted more for them. He wanted them to have the greater reality that the miracles were pointing them to. So, he shares with them that lunch only sustains them today, but he was the bread of life, bread that would sustain them forever. He said, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves.” (John 6) This is a strange way of saying it, but he knew that many in the crowd were thinking with their stomachs and not their minds and hearts. He knew that he could give them truth that would free them from destructive patterns in their lives, but they would have to think with their minds and hearts and not with their stomachs and emotions. He knew that some would walk away when he said it and I believe that broke his heart. He was not spouting off truth just to rub it in their faces. He was sharing truth that would transform their lives. He was speaking in metaphors, but they were too stuck in their physical realm to see the larger scale of reality. I believe his heart broke when so many walked away because he knew each and every person there better than they knew themselves. He knew them better than two old friends could ever know each other. But had he not shared the truth, no one would be changed. How could he say he loved anyone if he were not willing to share the truth that he knew would change their lives for the better? It was a truth that he not only shared with his words, but he shared it with his body. He shared it when he died on a cross for our sins and it broke his body, the bread, and spilt his blood, the drink. Whoever believes this truth will be changed forever. Whoever lives by this truth will not starve their soul any longer, but will have true life. This is the truth of love and not dogmatic traditions. This is the truth that brings freedom and not legalistic barriers. It is a truth that will cause division because in a fallen world where sin is present, people will either choose to separate from the truth or separate from sin. But His heart aches over those who separate from the truth.