A Question to Remember
I really encourage you to read John 6 to put this post in context. I will set the scene, but reading the passage for yourself in your chosen translation may help.
Jesus has just finished feeding the multitude with 5 barley loaves and 2 fishes.
The people had been excited over the miracle and wanted to make Jesus king. They had their stomachs full and were happy. But read further in the chapter and one sees that it really wasn't Jesus the people wanted but what they could get out of Him. They wanted the physical bread, but they didn't want Jesus the Bread of Life.
When Jesus taught a very tough lesson about following Him, we are told many turned their backs on Him and never followed Him again.
One of the saddest words (to me) ever spoken were from Jesus at this point, he turns to his 12 and said, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” WOW! Can you hear the sadness in the voice of the Master? He had just performed a miracle, the crowd was happy, but when He showed them what it meant to truly follow Him, the crowd left. He was wondering if His 12 wanted to go with them.
We look at this story and say how sad. How could those people turn away from Jesus? After what He had done for them.
People are the same today. They become enthused in religious excitement, and want all the benefits that religion can give, but they don't really care for Jesus. Oh they love the part about Jesus being a Savior, but they aren’t real sure about His demand to be their Master.
They want to experience the emotional thrill of “church”, but when it comes down to doing what God requires of them, well, that stuff is too hard. I mean isn’t that what we pay the preacher for?
They want to be entertained with exciting stories and upbeat music, but when it comes to the preaching of the Word of God, they don't really want to hear it. They want to hear only a positive love talk. I mean we can’t possibly talk about things like sin or hell. Those topics might offend someone. We don’t want to hear about blood and crosses, that might cause someone to be ill. But without the blood and the cross, you are lost in your sin and are bound for hell. So how can we NOT talk about those important topics? If my preaching on sin and hell offend you, that is on you, not me.
As a result, many who call themselves Christian turn away from God because they can't handle the demand of repentance, holiness, and Lordship.
I wish we could all have the attitude of Peter when the 12 was asked if they wanted to leave Jesus as well. I know Peter would later make a huge mistake and disappoint Jesus, but in this instance, Peter shined. He said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
There truly is nowhere else to go. You can try find life in your money, possessions, friends, social status, career, but you will never be satisfied. True life, the only true life, comes from following Jesus not only as your Savior, but as you LORD, your Master.
When life as a Christian gets tough, and it will, imagine Jesus looking at you and asking, “You do not want to leave too, do you?”
Jesus has just finished feeding the multitude with 5 barley loaves and 2 fishes.
The people had been excited over the miracle and wanted to make Jesus king. They had their stomachs full and were happy. But read further in the chapter and one sees that it really wasn't Jesus the people wanted but what they could get out of Him. They wanted the physical bread, but they didn't want Jesus the Bread of Life.
When Jesus taught a very tough lesson about following Him, we are told many turned their backs on Him and never followed Him again.
One of the saddest words (to me) ever spoken were from Jesus at this point, he turns to his 12 and said, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” WOW! Can you hear the sadness in the voice of the Master? He had just performed a miracle, the crowd was happy, but when He showed them what it meant to truly follow Him, the crowd left. He was wondering if His 12 wanted to go with them.
We look at this story and say how sad. How could those people turn away from Jesus? After what He had done for them.
People are the same today. They become enthused in religious excitement, and want all the benefits that religion can give, but they don't really care for Jesus. Oh they love the part about Jesus being a Savior, but they aren’t real sure about His demand to be their Master.
They want to experience the emotional thrill of “church”, but when it comes down to doing what God requires of them, well, that stuff is too hard. I mean isn’t that what we pay the preacher for?
They want to be entertained with exciting stories and upbeat music, but when it comes to the preaching of the Word of God, they don't really want to hear it. They want to hear only a positive love talk. I mean we can’t possibly talk about things like sin or hell. Those topics might offend someone. We don’t want to hear about blood and crosses, that might cause someone to be ill. But without the blood and the cross, you are lost in your sin and are bound for hell. So how can we NOT talk about those important topics? If my preaching on sin and hell offend you, that is on you, not me.
As a result, many who call themselves Christian turn away from God because they can't handle the demand of repentance, holiness, and Lordship.
I wish we could all have the attitude of Peter when the 12 was asked if they wanted to leave Jesus as well. I know Peter would later make a huge mistake and disappoint Jesus, but in this instance, Peter shined. He said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
There truly is nowhere else to go. You can try find life in your money, possessions, friends, social status, career, but you will never be satisfied. True life, the only true life, comes from following Jesus not only as your Savior, but as you LORD, your Master.
When life as a Christian gets tough, and it will, imagine Jesus looking at you and asking, “You do not want to leave too, do you?”
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