This week we will be concluding our series on; The questions Jesus asked.
The Jesus question we will be looking at this week is… “Do you also wish to go away?”
The scripture where this question is found is in John chapter 6…
John 6:56-69 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which the ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” 59 He said these things while he was teaching in a synagogue at Capernaum.
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” 61 But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who were the ones who did not believe and who was the one who would betray him. 65 And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”
66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
What do we make of this interchange?
While our family was on vacation last week, we watched some movies. I watched more movies last week than I have ever watched in a seven-day period. I must confess, I am not a big movie watcher. One of the main reasons I don’t watch many movies is because it is a challenge to find a movie that the entire family can enjoy. I was reminded this past week that I don’t understand movie ratings very well. I thought a movie rated PG-13 would be appropriate for our family since everyone in our family is over the age of 13. I was incorrect.
I mentioned all this to say, this teaching we are looking at this week would be rated Bible-MA… mature audience. I would give it this rating not because it is inappropriate but because this teaching is really hard.
The sixth chapter of John records Jesus doing some remarkable things, feeding the 5,000, Jesus walks on water, and the crowds are around to see what Jesus will do next. Jesus offers the people eternal life. But this causes the people to question who Jesus is. The people began to grumble and complain and Jesus being Jesus knew that. So, Jesus asked the 12 disciples; “Do you want to leave too?”
What is our response when life gets hard? Does it draw us closer to Jesus or cause us to turn away? What if Jesus’ teachings make our life difficult? Do we embrace the difficult teaching to see how to apply it to our life or do we look for a way to dismiss that teaching as non-applicable for our life?
What do we make of this question from Jesus?
Let’s talk about it on Sunday.
~ Pastor Dustin
