When Something Is Hard (2)
“Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can understand it?’” John 6:60
So, what do we do when things Jesus says or requires are hard? Maybe they are hard to understand. Maybe they are hard to apply. Maybe we even think for some reason they are harder for us than for others. So, what do we do? Many of disciples in John 6 “…went back and walked with Him no more” (6:66). Is that what we do? That’s not what we want to do, so how can we not quit?
We have to not want to quit following Jesus. But that begs the question because why should we not want to quit following Jesus? Peter was there in John 6 when many other disciples left Jesus. Peter didn’t leave Jesus. Why? I don’t think Peter stayed because it was easy for him to understand what Jesus said (and what the others said was hard). So, why would someone stay if they didn’t fully understand? Why should we stay?
Jesus asked the twelve apostles, “Do you also want to go away?” (Jn 6:67). There it is! What do you WANT to do? Peter answered in two parts:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (6:68) and “Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (6:69)
First, we don’t go away because Jesus has something we can’t get anywhere else: “the words of eternal life”. He alone can tell us how to get from earth to heaven. He alone can tell us how to live forever. Do you know anyone else who can tell us that? It may be hard at times to understand or apply, but it is the only way!
Second, we don’t go away because of who Jesus is: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. There has never been nor will there ever be anyone else like Him. God has chosen Him (the Christ) and so we choose Him. He is God’s Son and is the only one Who can tell us about God and take us to the Father (our Father). It may be hard at time to understand or apply what Jesus says, but what He brings us is extraordinary and easily worth it!
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” – Romans 8:18
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