Getting Real with God

Read John 6:60-7:9

"You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God" John 6:67-69

In this passage we find the ministry of Jesus at a low point. Notice the discouraging tone: “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”… “Aware that his disciples were grumbling” “Does this offend you?” “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” The narrative sadly records, “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him”. Jesus himself must have felt discouraged.

Have you had a low point in your faith journey? There are times when we lose sight of who Jesus is and the road seems too hard. Should we just walk away?

Even the great John the Baptist, announcer of the messiah, wavered. Imprisoned and about to be beheaded, he sent a desperate message to Jesus and asked, “Are you the one? Or should we look for another?”.

Thomas Cranmer, having wrestled the reformation to England after many run-ins with Henry the VIII, lost his nerve under Bloody Mary at the threat of being burned as a heretic at the stake. Cranmer recanted his faith. Later, finding his perspective and courage again, he re-affirmed his faith and went willingly to the stake to be burned rather than deny Christ. He even then thrust his right hand into the fire first because that hand he’d originally signed his false confession to Queen Mary.

In v67 Jesus now asks the question of the hour, “Do you want to leave too?” Can you imagine the tension? All eyes are to the ground. Was the fellowship over? Simon Peter then looks Jesus in the eye and says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” No other Christian in history could’ve put it better.

Yes there can be discouraging times when you feel like giving up. But the reason you first began following Jesus will be the reason you stay with him. If the reason was that has words of eternal life, then nothing has changed. To whom else can you go?

If you are going through a hard time, don’t despair. Gather some Christian friends around you to remind you of the truth of Jesus. Sing the hymns, read the psalms.

RevGeoff