Difficulty in choosing a title (John 6:60-71)
Contents
Seollal 1043 Difficulty of Choice 10.10.24 (22 weeks after Pentecost)
John 6:60-71
After Jesus said, “I am the bread of life that came down from heaven,” followed by, “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day,” and many people left him.
Then Jesus asked, “Are you going to go to the twelve?”
Then Peter answered, "You have the word of eternal life; to whom shall we go?"
The twelve disciples said they would remain and chose Jesus.
Choosing Jesus like this is not difficult at all. Nevertheless, all people must solve this problem because they must choose Jesus. Let's take a look at why choosing Jesus is so difficult and learn the solution.
I. It is difficult to choose Jesus because you have to make a decision when you do not know everything about Jesus.
But people want to make a decision after they know it all.
Then you have to stay until you know enough to make a decision, but people don't have patience and leave.
And people take this kind of attitude for granted.
But the Lord regrets their departure.
It is because of the thought of not being able to endure it even though you do not have to leave, and the mind of why you should not leave, but why should you leave. ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ;
Here we must know the will of the Lord not to leave.
1. You must know that no one can know everything about Jesus.
So, it is futile to say that you know and believe everything about Jesus.
In the end, you end up tying yourself up to unbelievable reasons.
Therefore, you should know that not knowing everything is not a big problem.
2. You must know that you can make a decision with the words you know or hear now.
In most cases, you have to believe that what you know now is enough knowledge to choose Jesus.
3. We should know that our knowledge will be enriched by a gradual method.
If you do not leave Jesus and hear more of His words, you will come to know what you did not know at first, and what you knew vaguely will become clearer over time.
So even if you can't make a decision now, don't leave.
Ⅱ. Choosing Jesus is difficult because many people have to make a decision when they leave.
Verse 66 says, “From that time on, many of his disciples departed and walked no more with him.”
In verse 67, Jesus asked the twelve, “Are you also going?”
By asking this question, it means making a decision.
1. We are influenced by others.
Those who leave do not leave quietly. They tell why they have no choice but to leave.
Who wouldn't want to be there? But it's appealing to emotions, saying that you can't unconditionally cover the reason for leaving.
So other people's minds are also affected. heart will be shaken
2. We tend to follow the side of many people unconditionally.
It is considered advantageous to be on the side of many people.
Because they believe that it is common sense to be on the side of many people.
Because they believe that taking the side of many people can avoid harm. Because I believe there is a safeguard that at least I am not harmed.
3. Because if I am in the midst of many people, there will be no difficulty in taking responsibility on my own.
That's why people try to stand on the side of a lot of people unless they're sure.
Ⅲ. Choosing Jesus is difficult because you have to make a decision now.
Jesus never told anyone to think deeply and then make a decision.
He didn't say he would give me any endings.
He didn't ask me to come back later.
The Lord did not let us procrastinate in order to prompt a decision.
Then why would the Lord make a decision right away?
1. What keeps us from procrastinating in faith is that we will not be given another chance.
In China, a naval admiral attended a revival meeting with friends in Charon and was moved to sign a resolution card with the words “I accept Christ as my personal Savior”. Then a colleague who was with me said:
“What are you in such a hurry for? Take a little more time and think deeply.”
So the Admiral put it on hold.
When the rally was over and they went outside, a soldier hiding outside opened fire on the admiral. The Admiral had no further chance.
2. The reason why we are not allowed to procrastinate in faith is because there is nothing to improve even if we procrastinate.
Procrastination doesn't change the situation much.
3. The reason we do not procrastinate in our faith is because the present is the best opportunity to show our faith.
1). Because immediate obedience is the best faith.
2), because the present belief is the most certain.
Because the beliefs of the past have already passed, and the beliefs of the future cannot be guaranteed.
Jesus said in Luke 18:8, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith in the world?”
People are optimistic about their beliefs about the future, but history speaks negatively.
Western society is gradually losing its character as a Christian state. The Christian capital is also dying.
Therefore, we must give importance to our present beliefs.
Lessons learned and application
What lessons should we keep in mind when choosing Jesus?
1. We must not forget the root of our faith.
When Jesus asked, “Are you going too?” Peter clearly stated the reason for his faith, saying, “You have the word of eternal life, to whom shall we go?”
Jesus said in Matthew 11:6, “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble because of me.”
A ship was drifting in a storm and was wrecked in front of an uninhabited island. All the sailors climbed to the island and survived, but there was no way out immediately.
Fortunately, there was food on board for several months and grain seeds were being carried on board.
The island was fertile, so it could be cultivated, so when they dug up the land to sow seeds, yellow gold came out of the ground. They were all busy digging for gold. All the thoughts of farming were thrown aside. Meanwhile, the food to eat gradually decreased and eventually ran out. Only then did people start planting grain seeds, but it was too late. In the end, they all died in a nugget of gold.
They had forgotten the fundamental problem because of the gold.
In this way, we must not forget the fundamentals of faith with the affairs of the world.
2. We must not forget the general principles of faith.
Verse 69 says, “We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
You should take note of the phrase “believe and know” in these verses.
This means that you have to believe to know.
This also means that we must have both believing and knowing.
This means that believing is more important than knowing.
Therefore, we need to know the principle that places more emphasis on faith.
3. The choice of faith is that the Lord first chose us.
Verse 70, "Jesus answered, Have I not chosen you twelve?"
Before we can choose the Lord, we must first believe that the Lord chooses us.
It is important to know that trusting and choosing Jesus is not simply a matter of our own thinking.
We must believe that our choice of the Lord is a response to the grace of the Lord who has chosen us, and is therefore more steadfast.