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| One Way courtesy photobucket.com |
Pastor Jerry was reading from John 6 where Jesus was speaking about his flesh and blood being given for our eternal life, and I share gleanings from his sermon.
There was much speculation and misunderstanding. The things Jesus was saying sounded creepy and cannibalistic; to eat his flesh and drink his blood. Yes, it would seem sinister and disturbing to a first timer who had no understanding of what Jesus was teaching. If those who left so quickly had stuck around, they would have picked up on the truth.
Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can hear it?“ From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
The multitude had been following Jesus, thinking “He gave us bread, now what more can we get from him?”
Some people come to church only to see what they can get personally or perhaps to receive some help financially. They did not come to worship the giver of eternal life.
Jesus was making things difficult, as there are no simple answers. Jesus was the answer, but he wasn’t making it easy to become his follower.
After a Bible study, did you ever leave with more questions than you came with? Why do the innocent suffer is the perennial question that never goes away.
Was Jesus actually offensive, or was He trying to gain their attention? Hard as the words of Jesus are, can we accept them and follow Him?
Why do some quickly accept the Gospel, while others just as intelligent find it difficult to realize the symbolic means that Jesus taught? We must allow his teaching to leach and soak into our soul. Let the river of life flood our being.
Words alone do not always get our attention. Often we need a visual illustration. Jesus gave us one to remember - - a view of the cross, and a vision of the empty tomb and his promise that He will return again.
Jesus asked, “Will you also leave? Peter (and we also) answered, Where shall we go, for we know you are the Holy one, the Son of the living God? !!
This post is Linked up today with Michelle’s Hear it on Sunday Use it on Monday
4 comments:
It's one of those beautiful mysteries, isn't it?
That's a tough subject, especially for new or seeking Christians. The world has been blinded by the teaching of men; humanism...
There was a guy who walked out on Sunday after he raised his hand saying that he had kept everyone of the Ten Commandments and the pastor started getting into his lesson on the wrath of God. It really was a mild sermon, the lost guy just didn't get to hear it...
Yes the guy was self-righteous, and proud. Too bad he did not want to listen to the truth of the Gospel.
I totally agree we can be too quick to dismiss something we don't like or understand. It's so true that if we'd just stick around to hear it all our opinion might change.
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