To Whom Shall You Listen
To whom shall we go? To whom shall we listen?
After Jesus gives a teaching concerning what He was soon to establish in what we call "The Lord's Supper" or "Holy Communion", we find that many disciples turned aside from following Him. Many of Jesus' disciples did not understand His teaching and because of that, they turned aside and went their own way. These disciples had not yet learned fully to trust Jesus, trust that even though they did not understand the teaching, they would eventually come to understand His deep truths concerning what He was saying.
In the Gospel of John chapter 6 verses 66 through 68, we read "From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." As it turns out, the twelve did not understand the teaching any more than the rest of Jesus' disciples; however, they had come to the place of trusting Jesus that even though they didn't understand now...they would trust that Jesus had a spiritual knowledge that would lead them towards the Kingdom of God, for which they longed. Peter declared that he knew that Jesus had the words of eternal life; therefore, although he didn't understand everything Jesus said and did, he would follow Him.
Many people today have the same attitude as the disciples that left Jesus because they do not understand a hard teaching that He brought forth. Many today throw off any sense of honour towards a spiritual teacher because what they want is someone who will not only speak to them in a way that is comforting but, also, they do not want to hear the spiritual direction that God is releasing to them through God's servant.
In The Bible, we read about a man by the name of John the Baptist, who challenged the ruling authority of the day. Herod had taken, his brother Philip's wife for his own...and John the Baptist spoke against this saying, "It is not lawful for you to have her." This got John thrown into prison and eventually killed for taking such a stand. Herod refused to listen to the man God had sent to warn him.
In the Gospel of Luke, we read that Jesus was taken to Herod and Herod was exceedingly glad to see Him because he hoped to see Jesus perform a miracle. In Luke 23:9, we read "Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing." Jesus refused to speak with Herod. What was the reason that kept Jesus quiet while being questioned by Herod? Could it be that since Herod would not listen to the one that God had sent to rebuke him, (that being John the Baptist), God Himself (Jesus) would not speak with him. Jesus once said to His disciples "He who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." In other words, Jesus taught that if we reject someone sent by God, it is the same as rejecting God. Do we reject those whom God brings into our paths to speak to us about spiritual matters because we don't like what they have to say? In order to expose the pride of our hearts, God will send others to speak that which we want to hear directly from Him.
To whom do you go? To whom do you listen
After Jesus gives a teaching concerning what He was soon to establish in what we call "The Lord's Supper" or "Holy Communion", we find that many disciples turned aside from following Him. Many of Jesus' disciples did not understand His teaching and because of that, they turned aside and went their own way. These disciples had not yet learned fully to trust Jesus, trust that even though they did not understand the teaching, they would eventually come to understand His deep truths concerning what He was saying.
In the Gospel of John chapter 6 verses 66 through 68, we read "From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." As it turns out, the twelve did not understand the teaching any more than the rest of Jesus' disciples; however, they had come to the place of trusting Jesus that even though they didn't understand now...they would trust that Jesus had a spiritual knowledge that would lead them towards the Kingdom of God, for which they longed. Peter declared that he knew that Jesus had the words of eternal life; therefore, although he didn't understand everything Jesus said and did, he would follow Him.
Many people today have the same attitude as the disciples that left Jesus because they do not understand a hard teaching that He brought forth. Many today throw off any sense of honour towards a spiritual teacher because what they want is someone who will not only speak to them in a way that is comforting but, also, they do not want to hear the spiritual direction that God is releasing to them through God's servant.
In The Bible, we read about a man by the name of John the Baptist, who challenged the ruling authority of the day. Herod had taken, his brother Philip's wife for his own...and John the Baptist spoke against this saying, "It is not lawful for you to have her." This got John thrown into prison and eventually killed for taking such a stand. Herod refused to listen to the man God had sent to warn him.
In the Gospel of Luke, we read that Jesus was taken to Herod and Herod was exceedingly glad to see Him because he hoped to see Jesus perform a miracle. In Luke 23:9, we read "Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing." Jesus refused to speak with Herod. What was the reason that kept Jesus quiet while being questioned by Herod? Could it be that since Herod would not listen to the one that God had sent to rebuke him, (that being John the Baptist), God Himself (Jesus) would not speak with him. Jesus once said to His disciples "He who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." In other words, Jesus taught that if we reject someone sent by God, it is the same as rejecting God. Do we reject those whom God brings into our paths to speak to us about spiritual matters because we don't like what they have to say? In order to expose the pride of our hearts, God will send others to speak that which we want to hear directly from Him.
To whom do you go? To whom do you listen
