Mind Over Body
In John 6:60-63 Jesus has just told his followers that in order to live forever they must eat his flesh and drink his blood. The disciples grumbled and were having a hard time understanding, saying in verse 60 “...“This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”
Recognizing that his closest friends were struggling with this, Jesus responds saying that “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (v. 63 ESV) In order to accept difficult truths and, by extension, difficult situations, we have to have Christ’s spirit--his mind. What a beautiful mind it is. Jesus has amazing mental strength that far outpaced his body. When he was tempted by Satan in the wilderness to give up the hard road God had laid out for him and simply bow to the enemy, it was his mental toughness that enabled him to withstand that temptation. Think of it. Forty days in the desert without food or water. Jesus was weak, thirsty, probably having hallucinations of food and water at his body’s weakest point, and along comes Satan saying he can have everything he wants with just one word. After resisting using the Scriptures, Jesus was physically spent, and angels had to come minister to him to build him back up (see Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus’ mind was a fortress of Scripture and strength.
41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. Luke 2:41-43
Again we see the struggle of Christ’s mind over his body. Like we noticed before, Jesus is not gaming the system here. The struggle is real. His mind and desire to obey win out, and yet again his body is strengthened supernaturally. We get the benefit of the mind of Christ thanks to his obedience. Now, we have the Spirit to help us.
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7)
7For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2Timothy 1:7 (NLT) or For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (NKLV)
The Holy Spirit was given to unite, comfort, encourage and empower us to overcome. He is to be the source of a new mind; a sound mind; the mind of Christ. He is there to cause us to be bound together with cords that cannot be broken. He is our direct telephone line to Jesus Himself, the means for Jesus to teach us everything He knows. And to gradually blend His mind with ours, until we think like Him, act like Him, and unite into a bride worthy of Him, one that meets all of His expectations.