AN OUTWARD ACT OF AN INWARD FACT
28 Sept 17
Communion, bible reading, meditation & obedience
These are key essentials to a successful Christian Lifestyle. If Christ is truly our root then an evidence of our fruit should be our adherence to these tenants, just as He commanded us.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood,
dwelleth in me, and I in him. -John 6:56
This verse caused many of Christ's followers to walk away from Him because they didn't understand what He was actually saying. Had they known what He really meant they would have continued to follow Him and loved Him even more.
Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this,
said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? -John 6:60
Christ made no attempt to explain or demystify His words. He simply let the sift and separate the wheat from the chaff with little apparent concern for the outcome.
From that time many of his disciples went back,
and walked no more with him. -John 6:66
A few stayed, who were they? It was those that the Spirit of God had already done a deep work in them. They didn't follow Him for free bread and sensationalism. With or without understanding at the "seemingly" abominable things Yeshua was saying, they determined that they were not going anywhere, they were not going to leave Him.
It must have been quite an event though, to see the stunning impact of Christ's words and then for Him to make no attempt to justify or explain it. As if He knew full well that the outcome would be i.e. mass confusion, with the design that none but the true followers would stay by His side? With just a few sentences He was able to thin the crowd down to a handful and divide the sheep from goats.
Was Christ at all distressed at this sudden falling away? Were His words falling on deaf ears because He never explained His words well enough? Was this loss of followers a set back to His reaching the entire world that God His Father So loved?
Christ's following word's to this incomprehensible teaching expose that was not concerned at all. Maybe even a little relieved to shed ulterior motive baggage?
However, he did begin to explain to those few that stayed to as to what just happened and why He made no attempt to stop the exodus. He touched on divine election, that those that were meant to hear and stay would, whether they understood His words or not. That His mission was not to make as many followers as possible. He didn't come for those that merely expressed an interest in Him because of the miracles. He had come for those that Father had "Predestined" and was drawing to Himself already. He had come for His sheep not the goats. He had already made mention of this before He began to confuse & offend with references to eating His flesh. The sword of His word was separating flesh from Spirit.
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him
that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. -John 6:37
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent
me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. -John 6:44
It was actually in His interests to thin the crowd and their ulterior motives.
Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because
ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. -John 6:26
He knew well that His words appeared divisive and would narrow the ranks of followers which is precisely why He made no attempt at a crowd recovery.
He was secure enough to ask His chosen twelve their own decision on the matter whilst still not explaining what He meant by eating His flesh & drinking His blood.
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? -John 6:67
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go?
thou hast the words of eternal life. -John 6:68
What held them?
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. -John 6:63
The disciples had heard the same words that the exodus had but they "by the Spirit of God" ... and that is the difference stayed. Why? Although they couldn't yet fully comprehend this "flesh & blood eating" analogy they at least knew His words were Spirit and life. They were convinced who this man was and that what He was saying was true. Despite their absence of understanding. Peter speaking on behalf of them all said.
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ,
the Son of the living God. -John 6:69
Here's what Christ was saying was a condition to being His follower. A life of
Communion, bible reading, meditation & obedience
Outward acts demonstrating inward facts. Are you a true follower of Christ or is the discipline of devotion too much for you. What do your outward acts say about your hearts direction?
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. -Matthew 6:2
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