Sunday Rewind 8.27.06

Scripture Lesson: John 6:56-71.

John 6 includes some of Jesus' tough teaching. In it we see that Jesus didn't come to fit our model, he came to give us access to God (vv. 1-21). We see that Jesus didn't come to satisfy our agenda, he came to satisfy our soul (vv. 24-35). We see that Jesus didn't come to validate our plan, he came to draw us into relationship (v. 41-51). And we see that Jesus didn't come to be a band-aid, he came to provide eternal life.

In this final portion (pericope), John shows us that among Jesus' disciples there were three kinds of people: the go-awayers, the stayers, and the betrayer.

For most, Jesus' teaching was too hard to accept. These are the go-awayers. They wanted their plan, their agenda, their Messiah. And when they discovered Jesus wasn't who they wanted, the walked away.

Then there are the 12. These are the stayers. They had placed their faith in the truth that Jesus is the Holy One of God. In him they had found the words of eternal life. So there's nowhere else to turn. That doesn't mean Jesus' teaching isn't tough. Nor does it mean they grasp it all. It just means they have decided, by faith, to stay.

Well, actually there were only 11 stayers. The 12th, Judas, was a betrayer. He hadn't given up his agenda, his plan, his goals. But he didn't leave either. Instead, he lurked in the background, serving as treasurer, waiting for his opportunity to have his way. Although he fooled Peter, he didn't fool Jesus.

It would be easy to shake our heads at the betrayer and the go-awayers. But the truth is that these three audiences still exist in the church.

We still have go-awayers...people who don't want to hear God's truth. They want to hear what they like. But when you confront them with messages they don't want to hear, they just go away.

We still have the betrayers...people who have decided that the purpose of the church is to serve them. They lurk in the background, maybe even serving as an officer, looking for their chance to assert their authority and have their way. And in so doing, they betray the purpose of Jesus' Church.

We still have the stayers...people who may not understand it all, but have placed their faith in Jesus as the Holy One of God. For them, there is nowhere else to turn, because they have found the words of eternal life.

And that leaves us with a tough question...Which are you?