November 17, 2023 -- John 6:60-66 -- Faith that seeks to understand

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus! 

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
John 6:60-66 ESV

What is your threshold for disbelief? Perhaps you are happy to celebrate Christmas, but you don’t quite believe Jesus was born of a virgin. Maybe it is the fact that you haven’t really examined your faith and the particulars of the Bible, so a sermon on Luke 1:34-35 would throw you into considerable turmoil. Maybe you are okay with God’s right to rule over all of your life, but when the Bible teaches homosexuality and transgenderism, as well as adultery and sexual relations outside of marriage, are sinful, that is the point where you are prepared to part company with God.

As in the time of the disciples, so it is today, the world is constantly exerting its influence on you. The message of the world is radically opposed to the teaching of God. The world cannot understand God. The teachers of each age and generation are spiritually blind and unable to perceive what Truth is.

Many people who seemed to be followers of Jesus, yes, even disciples, publicly turned away from Him. They never did belong to Him. Their own intellect, their confidence in the world, rather that in Jesus, was finally, fully exposed. It remains so today. It is not that way for Spirit-led believers in Jesus. Whenever believers encounter a hard saying of Jesus, it is the glory of believers to search it out. Pray about it. Ask a friend whose walk with God you admire. Research what solid bible commentators teach about such passages. Acknowledge, in humility before God, you are not the standard of all wisdom. There is so much do you not yet know or comprehend, so keep digging and seeking to know more of God and His Word.

Our Father in heaven magnificent and splendid are You beyond all human comprehension. Great are Your ways. Yet, in love and mercy You have simplified for human understanding Your plan of salvation and the works of Your glory so that the dullest person can come to know you and keep on growing in learning of You. You have such riches of wondrous mysteries that those of keen mind and restless, probing intellect can spend their lives searching for more knowledge only to find they are still on the barest edges of understanding. Blessed and glorious are You LORD Who lives in unapproachable light. We do believe in You, help us overcome our unbelief and dig ever deeper into the realms of faith-filled obedience to You. Amen.

https://youtu.be/pdwjZ_BObyE?si=HrQDMLV8W1SZHMWW Selah “Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me”

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