February 2
JOHN 6
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
– John 6:66-71
JOHN 6 MANY DISCIPLES ABANDON JESUS
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When Jesus declares truth and the cost of being a disciple
Many of his followers cringed at the required commitment
When Peter was asked if he also wanted to leave
But Peter replied that only Jesus can he have eternal life.
In this account, we witness how many of Jesus’ disciples turned their backs on him. Why would these people who were so obsessed to follow Jesus come to a point when they gave up and left? Could it be that they weren’t really following Jesus to glorify him? Could it be that those who left Jesus were only after some things that Jesus didn’t offer?
Not all believers take seriously the cost of being a follower of Jesus. In Luke 9:23, Jesus’ requirement for being a disciple was “to deny oneself and take up his cross daily and to follow him. These requirements are totally opposed to the world system where everything is focused on self-gratification, comfort and pleasure seeking. To deny oneself would mean to suffer and give up the cravings of the flesh. To take up one’s cross means that we do not grumble but endure all kinds of sufferings and trials. To follow Jesus would mean to give up pride, control and the desire to be looked up to. It means to live a life of humility, obedience, trust and commitment to Jesus. To be a disciple is to give up even the most beloved people or things in our lives because Christ should come first. If we love them more than God, we cannot be a true follower of Jesus.
REFLECTION
• What hinders us from totally committing to live for Christ?
