| Where Do We Go? |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, August 16 2010 00:00 |
|
John chapter six records the defection of a great many of Jesus’ disciples. We are not told just why, except that what they heard from him sounded offensive. Perhaps they objected to what he said about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, which we would understand to be analogous to Jesus’ becoming a part of their very being. But then, the last thing that he said to them before their departure was that the flesh profits nothing, and he repeats what he told them earlier, that no one can come to him (Christ) unless the Father enables him (the one coming). It is almost as though verse 44 and verse 65 serve as parentheses, and the whole Bread of Life sermon is an illustration of the fact that man cannot save himself, that from the initial drawing to Christ to the final raising up at the last day, salvation is entirely a matter of grace. Jesus’ words do cause reactions from people, in fact, they go somewhere. Sometimes they go away. Sometimes they come in faith and repentance, if divinely drawn. Pilate once asked the crowd, “What shall I do with Jesus?” People have been deciding ever since. Perhaps human pride is just too great to admit our complete spiritual bankruptcy! A few years ago I met a man at a theological conference. He and I shared a common denominational background. He told me of attending a Christian school and being forced to deal with the words of Jesus. He and his best friend in college discussed the fact that the position they occupied was untenable. They were trying to hold on to salvation by grace and works at the same time, and they both realized that logically that was impossible; one would have to go. Perhaps that is where Jesus put his disciples with his sermon in John six. They had either to affirm that they were completely helpless, or else go it alone. In the case of the two college friends, one decided to pursue works-righteousness. He thought the answer was in scrupulous obedience to God’s commands by his own will and effort. As he went deeper and deeper into legalism, his life became increasingly frustrated and miserable. The other friend, the man with whom I talked, decided to go toward grace. He has found truth, joy, peace, and hope. When he realized that the path diverged, and he had to follow one direction or the other, he has no doubt that he was led to the correct choice. Everyone who encounters Jesus’ teaching on sovereign grace (whether in John six or in a myriad other places in the Bible) must decide where he will go. Choose carefully! |
Join our Devo Mailing List
We'd be honored to send you our devotionals via email. To be included on our list please visit our Contact page and write us a request.