Doubt: Don't Stop There
From that time, many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. John 6:66 (NKJV)
When I read this passage, I pictured Jesus walking the earth during my adolescent and young adult years, and wondered if I would have been one of the followers who left. I had seen God working many times in our family's life and in the lives of friends and other believers. But when faced with public scrutiny, would I believe and follow, or would I doubt and leave?
The disciples who followed Jesus knew he was the son of Joseph and Mary and was a carpenter. When Jesus began his ministry, many people were intrigued and joined the crowd who followed Him. I am sure, just like it would be in our culture, you were popular and people listened to you if you said you heard Jesus' teachings, saw the miracles, and were friends with Him.
As the Jewish leaders began to question who Jesus said He was, it became apparent that it may not be so comfortable for you if were associated with Jesus, and the disciples began to doubt who Jesus said He was. Earlier in the chapter, verse 53, Jesus told them, Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. They knew how God fed their forefathers with manna, physical bread, but their flesh died. Jesus tried to tell them this true Bread will not let man die. He explains this bread as His flesh and that His death will provide life for the world. Then Jesus complicates the conversation more by saying they had to drink His blood; they were forbidden to drink blood. Maybe for a moment they forgot the teaching in Leviticus 17:11 that says, For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your soul; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. As food and drink are offered to meet physical needs, so the flesh and blood of Christ are offered to meet spiritual needs.
Faith enters here. These disciples, followers, were offended by the thought of eating Christ's flesh and drinking His blood because it was a hard saying. In order for them to have life beyond their physical existence they had to accept Jesus' words in verse 65, No one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father. Jesus was asking them to take their relationship with Him to the next level.
Easter is a season of reflection. We don't always know or understand what God is doing in our lives or why He allows trials, but in faith we can trust that He has given us His flesh and His blood to have an eternal relationship with Him. Do you feel Him drawing you to Himself? If you are struggling with doubt and disbelief, or thinking about turning your back on Jesus, remember Thomas. Jesus did not reject Thomas when he asked to touch the print of the nails on His hands and put his hand in Jesus' side. Jesus said in John 20:27, Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. Jesus understands our doubts. He knows if we are searching for answers to strengthen our faith, or if we are being stubborn and immovable. When you doubt, don't stop there. Let your doubt deepen your faith as you continue to search for the answer. Let your faith take you to the next level in your relationship with Christ.
Lord, when we have doubts, thank you for understanding and offering your love and forgiveness. Help us to search for Your answers in our lives and trust you with all our hearts.
Janet Stutzman
When I read this passage, I pictured Jesus walking the earth during my adolescent and young adult years, and wondered if I would have been one of the followers who left. I had seen God working many times in our family's life and in the lives of friends and other believers. But when faced with public scrutiny, would I believe and follow, or would I doubt and leave?
The disciples who followed Jesus knew he was the son of Joseph and Mary and was a carpenter. When Jesus began his ministry, many people were intrigued and joined the crowd who followed Him. I am sure, just like it would be in our culture, you were popular and people listened to you if you said you heard Jesus' teachings, saw the miracles, and were friends with Him.
As the Jewish leaders began to question who Jesus said He was, it became apparent that it may not be so comfortable for you if were associated with Jesus, and the disciples began to doubt who Jesus said He was. Earlier in the chapter, verse 53, Jesus told them, Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. They knew how God fed their forefathers with manna, physical bread, but their flesh died. Jesus tried to tell them this true Bread will not let man die. He explains this bread as His flesh and that His death will provide life for the world. Then Jesus complicates the conversation more by saying they had to drink His blood; they were forbidden to drink blood. Maybe for a moment they forgot the teaching in Leviticus 17:11 that says, For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your soul; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. As food and drink are offered to meet physical needs, so the flesh and blood of Christ are offered to meet spiritual needs.
Faith enters here. These disciples, followers, were offended by the thought of eating Christ's flesh and drinking His blood because it was a hard saying. In order for them to have life beyond their physical existence they had to accept Jesus' words in verse 65, No one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father. Jesus was asking them to take their relationship with Him to the next level.
Easter is a season of reflection. We don't always know or understand what God is doing in our lives or why He allows trials, but in faith we can trust that He has given us His flesh and His blood to have an eternal relationship with Him. Do you feel Him drawing you to Himself? If you are struggling with doubt and disbelief, or thinking about turning your back on Jesus, remember Thomas. Jesus did not reject Thomas when he asked to touch the print of the nails on His hands and put his hand in Jesus' side. Jesus said in John 20:27, Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. Jesus understands our doubts. He knows if we are searching for answers to strengthen our faith, or if we are being stubborn and immovable. When you doubt, don't stop there. Let your doubt deepen your faith as you continue to search for the answer. Let your faith take you to the next level in your relationship with Christ.
Lord, when we have doubts, thank you for understanding and offering your love and forgiveness. Help us to search for Your answers in our lives and trust you with all our hearts.
Janet Stutzman
Labels: Janet Stutzman
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12:01 AM
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