THE CHALLENGE OF DISCIPLESHIP
"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no rnore with Him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will you also go away? Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou are that Christ, the Son of the living God." --John 6:66-69
The great feast of the loaves and fishes has ended. The holiday spirit and sense of sensationalism has subsided. The Lord has concluded His great sermon on the meaning of the eternal bread of life. He has told the assembled thousands His Kingdom is not of flesh and blood. He has warned them about being overly concerned about the physical dimension of life and strongly asserted He's not about to setup a Kingdom on earth. He's denied any plan to implement a permanent programme to prevent poverty. He has discouraged any delusion that he will perpetually place peas in every man's pot. He has denied any intent of rebellion against the powerful, painful and punitive Roman oppressor.
The sign and sensation seekers now see He will not keep on multiplying physical miracles ad infinitum. Now, the great admiring throngs have turned aside He had touched the most sensitive spot relative to committal. It's often not as important what, a person does, as why he does it. Motivation is always important, but especially so in obeying and serving the Lord.
Obviously, this was a multitude with mixed motives. Some were evidently moved by no nobler a notion than a free meal ticket. Some seemed to have come along out of crass curiosity; curious but not converted. Others probably perceived His power as being primarily political in purpose and were ready to join in rebellion. But these with mixed motives had one thing in common. A lack of real committal. These people of the periphery were listeners but not learners. When the signs gave way to the sermon, the attraction to the application and the miracles gave way to the Master's main message of meaningful dedication, they went away and followed Him no more.
The Master knew all this. His omniscience gave Him supernatural insight into their motives and murmurings. (Verse 61) Yet He goes on and challenges them about discipleship. At his first recorded miracle it was made crystal clear that He primarily performed His miracles, signs and wonders in order to validate, authenticate and irrefutably confirm His Messiahship to unbelieving Jews. (John 2:11) It is now time to get down to the nitty gritty; the brass tacks of being a committed disciple or follower of the Lord. Jesus Christ. If they follow Him they may risk all that people of the world hold so dear.
He had nothing of worldly worth. As He said, the foxes had their dens, the birds their nests but He, the Son of Man, had not even a pillow upon which to rest His weary head. Those who would follow Him could expect their path to be narrow and thorny, rather than wide and rosy. The going is going to get tougher all along the way. As the saying goes, the men are about to be separated from the boys. His followers will be persecuted and some will even be killed for their faith. So at this crucial moment of impending crisis many of the would be disciples who are willing to slide into heaven on the coat tails of those who are prepared to pay the price, decide it is just all too much. They turn back.
Evidently their possession doesn't measure up to their profession. Until now they had been called disciples or followers. They had put on a good show until the testing time came. They had constructed an impressive facade, even to the point of being outwardly indistinguishable from genuine disciples. They were of the same sort John spoke of later in his first letter when he said, “They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would not doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." (I John 2:19) They were of the same caliber and character Jesus spoke of on another occasion when He said, "No man having placed his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the king- dom of God." (Luke 9:62) They were of the sort often called, "On again, off again, Fenigan types." Gipsy Smith once asked such a man in an after-meeting, "Are you a Christian?" "Yes," the man replied, "For twenty-eight years, on and off." "More off than on, I guess," replied the evangelist.
God is not always the God of the crowd or the majority. If you recall, a call for a democratic decision from the crowd attending Jesus' trial resulted in a unanimous vote for His crucifixion. God, as in the case of Gideon's band, is more often than not interested in the dedicated two or three. He looks on the inward man. He's a heart reader, not a head counter. Success achieved at the cost of compromise is no success at all. Conscripts can scarcely be classed as converts nor draftees as devotees, no matter how many may swell the ranks of popular religion. When the pressure is applied by Satan, they too will turn back in the day of battle. Surely when the Master preached this, one of the very greatest of His great mes- sages, He was acutely aware of the inevitable result; a diminishing of His followers and an overall decrease in his congregation.
Is it any wonder He once said, 'Woe be unto you when all men speak well of you."? Numbers are not always a correct crite- rion for claims of spiritual success or a perfect gauge of powerful preaching. While the dust of their departure is still settling, Christ turns and asks of the twelve, "Will you also go away?” The poignancy and pathos of the moment is overwhelming. He poses this perennial proposition, not only to the twelve, but to all in the future who might consider the possibility of true discipleship. And so the question echoes down to us today, "Will you also go away?"
Simon Peter's bold response, clear and con- cise, is the only answer possible for those whose hearts are attuned to the will of God. "To whom shall we go? Thou has the words of eternal life."
Can we go to the world of religion for real reconciliation with our redeemer or to receive the gift of immortality? Will ritual and religion lend reality to man's quest for God? Paul characterized religion as a vain hope when he said, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own right- eousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." (Romans 10:1-3) An analysis of Paul's statement makes it obvious he is bemoaning the lifelessness and deadliness of the most highly developed religion of all history. He asserts religion is a hindrance rather than a help in man coming to God and receiving, His righteousness and eternal life. All those religions, sects and cults advocating trust in man, his ability, his work, his liturgy, his ritual and his religion, preclude by their very nature the necessity of man placing his absolutely faith and trust in Christ and Christ alone for salvation.
It is said that when one of the most noted English physicians was succumbing to a fatal decease, he went from one medical facility to another until he had reached the most prestigious clinic on the continent of Europe. Telling the consultant his trouble, he received the reply, "The only man who can save you is an English physician, Dr. Darwin of Derby." Sad was the reply, "I am Dr. Darwin of Derby." He was the best, but he could not save himself. Even the best and most religious cannot save themselves. They must go to Jesus Christ, the eternal Saviour, for eternal salvation.
Can we go to the world of intelligentsia, academe or science to find a permanent answer to man's perennial and paradoxical questions of, "Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?" Can we find in science a laboratory, apparatus, or technique for analyzing life or death or discovering the fate of a soul without God'? Can we find in philosophy a satisfying definition of things eternal? The philosopher is free to speculate, formulate, postulate and advance theories about the possibilities of spiritual reality, but in the end finds his hypotheses unproven. For philosophy has no reliable means of testing his theories or conclusions. Is the professor with his test tubes and much vaunted electronic analytical technology any closer to a satisfying solution of man's sinful situation than the ancient alchemist in his perpetual quest for an elixir of eternal life?
Many helpful and hopeful discoveries may emanate from the modern laboratory, but will we ever see a solution compounded that will wash the sin stains from a heavy heart or a solvent that will wipe away the tears from the eyes of a brokenhearted man? Space vehicles may probe the farthermost reaches of our own immediate stellar systems, but will that bring man one millimeter closer to God? Can such sophisticated travel transport a man to that city whose builder and maker is God?
t is said that Robert Ingersoll, the atheist, once visited the great preacher Henry Ward Beecher, who took him into his study and showed him all of his theological books. In Beecher's study there was also a magnificent contour globe of the world with the mountains and valleys all painted in as a beautiful and creative work of art. Ingersoll who was a very bright man, very highly educated, looked at the globe and said, "Pastor Beecher, that is a beautiful work of art. Who made it for you?" Challenging Ingersoll's denial of God and His creation, Beecher, replied, "Oh, no- body, it just happened!"
The world of the intelligentsia still faces the same challenge today. No true and satisfactory answer to man's origin or destiny will ever issue from man's test tubes or laboratories. To Whom can we go today? Can we go to a world promising popularity and prosperity? Jesus made it amply clear that the faithful could not necessarily expect the plaudits of this world. He said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) He also said, "Woe unto you when all men speak well of you!" (Luke 6:26) James spoke of friendship (or popularity) with the world placing us squarely in opposition to God.
We should not ignore these admonitions in our day of brash boastings that big is best. Many today use massiveness as the primary means to measure progress. We should never mistake quantity for quality or size for success. If our Saviour saw his congregation shrink to the faithful few because He dared to stand boldly for truth alone, why should pastors today be obsessed with the ideas of seeker sensitive services, worldly music and methodologies in order to build massive mixed multitudes? Neither must we confuse physical prosperity with success and happiness. A wise grandfather once asked his grandson when a man was rich enough. The grandson replied, "When he has a million dollars!" "No" "Two million?" "No." Ten million?" "No"; "A hundred million?" "No" And on and on the little boy raised the ante. When he finally gave up the old gentleman gravely said, "When he has a little more than he has, and that is never!"
The Bible clearly expands upon the error of the principle of pursuing popularity and prosperity as our primary purpose in life. In the Old Testament God chose the small, despised nation of Israel for his special people and special channel of blessing to the world. He then chose the small town of Bethlehem and a manger as the cradle for His Incarnation. In the New Testament He chose what some would see as a motley collection of common folk as the first witnesses of His glorious gospel. And then a diminutive disciple named Paul was chosen to be the powerful and peerless preacher of His gospel to the gentile world. The same Paul who would say, "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty; and base things of the world, and the things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are." (I Cor. 1:27-28)
Our everyday world has many illustrations of this principle. One may fill a crucible with sand and certain trace elements and create a large piece of glass that on the surface appears to far exceed the size and beauty of a genuine jewel. But the skilled jeweller can easily assess the qualitative value of the genuine gem. At the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ, the great Judge of this universe will truly judge the genuine gold, silver and precious stone comprising the life of true discipleship.
We can only go to the only One who can fulfill our basic spiritual needs. Jesus' focus in His message had been man's need for more than the mere physical necessities and pleasures of this world. He effectively used the analogy of physical necessity of bread to illustrate the eternal nature of spiritual bread. He used the fact of the necessity of physical water to assuage physical thirst and maintain physical life to illustrate the essentiality of the spiritual water of life.
omeone has said there is a God-shaped void in every human heart. If we are honest with ourselves and God we must admit that none of us live very long without discovering this great truth. There are so many things in life that are utterly beyond us and our human strength. We face so many questions that utterly bewilder us. We are called to bear so many burdens that so completely crush us. In our human frailty we are so often filled with frustration and futility. Everywhere we experience a sense of emptiness and a consciousness of evil all around us.
It does not take long for the realistic person to discover and admit how weak, ignorant and frail he really us. Man slips to the end of his rope of human ability, ties a knot in it, and hangs on in desperation with his fingertips. Only when he lets go and lets God does he discover that man's extremity is God's opportunity and that He is the only one to whom we can go to fulfil our spiritual needs.
To Whom shall we go? We must go to the one who has the true answers to life's eternal questions. Jesus later left no doubt as to the truth and wisdom of Peter's response when He asserted emphatically and unambiguously, in answer to Thomas' question on that auspicious evening before His crucifixion, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me." (John 14:6) This simple assertion surely satisfies the seeking of man when he says, "Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?" We must go to the one Who is the only way to God and His dwelling place. Thomas' question had been prompted by Jesus' earlier words of comfort when He had said, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. 1 go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, I will come again, and receive you unto myself.- that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:6) Man's eternal quest for immortality begins and ends with Jesus Christ. (Rev. 1:8, 18)
In chemistry and biology, man's powerful electronic microscopes can probe the minute mysteries of matter and life in ever smaller microscopic detail. In physics, he can devise apparatus and methodology to split the atom into ever smaller increments. In astronomy, he can array radio telescopes over ever expending terrain in order to probe deeper and deeper into the furthermost reaches and recesses of distant galaxies. But in the end, such a quest will never find a true way to God or His dwelling place.
Earlier Christ had made no bones about His uniqueness as the Way when He said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:13-14) Later Peter himself would drive home his renewed committal to the proposition of Jesus being the only Way when he would say after Pentecost, "Neither is there salvation in any other; for !here is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) The truth of man's understanding of the matter was illustrated in a Gallup poll taken once in America. Ninety-four percent believed God existed, seventy-seven percent thought their chances of going to heaven were good or excellent, fifty-eight percent believed in hell, but only six percent thought they had a chance of going there. All of which confirms that very few understand God's way of salvation and that "everybody talking about heaven ain't a going there."
To whom shall we go? We must go to the One Who not only has the truth, but is the Truth. Man's search for truth in his eternal quest for immortality has lead him down many false avenues. Although some of these have bordered upon the ridicu- lous, this has only served to illustrate the seriousness of his search. In our enlight- ened age we can scarcely stifle a chuckle when we think of wise and learned men of old sincerely seeking an elixir of eternal life or real fountain of youth. But was their quest any more queer and questionable than that of the intelligentsia today who seem to seek a sane solution to matters of spiritual truth in the inanities and insanities of the New Age movement? When all along the indisputable Record of real Truth living among men and dying on a cross for His sins has been freely available for some two thousand years? And that Record has all along contained the record of the one Who is the truth asserting that anyone can know Him? (John 8:32,36)
To whom shall we go? We must go to the One who is the life. Not only is the fountain of eternal life, but is the provider and sustainer of the abundant life. (John 10:10) His whole discourse in John 6 relates to the absolute essentiality of man turning to Him for all that is life. The life that is more than food and flesh and bones. In our age of materialism and acquisition for the sake of acquisition, the disciple should look again and take seriously His statements about the futility and falsity of our contemporary temporal view of life. (Sec John 6:27,33-35,47-51, Matt. 6:19-34)
Real meaning and purpose for life can only be found in the one Who gives life and is Life. A college professor was being rowed across a stream. He said to the boatman, "Do you understand philosophy?" "No, never heard of it." "Then one-quarter of your life is gone." Do you understand astronomy?" "No" "Then three-quarters of your life is gone." Just then the boat tipped over and spilled both into the river. "Can you swim cried the boatman?" "No!" "Then your whole life is gone." Jesus said, "What will a man gain if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul (life)?"
To whom can we go for help and healing in time of trouble and tribulation? If man has ever lived in such a time, now is that time. We are assailed on every hand. Insoluble problems plague nations and individuals. National debts multiply at speeds approaching the speed of light. No politician or potentate presents a trustworthy proposal to place international budgets back into balance. The fabric of the very souls of nations is being torn to shreds by economic, social and political upheaval. Child molestation and sexual perversion threaten to destroy a whole generation. The traditional. Christian family seems to stand on the very verge of extinction. The terrible threat of Islamic extremism seems to grow exponentially daily. Where is the politician or leader who can truly call men and those nations that were once called Christian to repentance and back to their Christian heritage? Where is the philosophy or the philosopher that can bring help and healing to men and nations? To whom can we go for a solution? There is only one who has the answer. Who is the answer. The one who said, '1 am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by rne. " (John 14:6) The one who also said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.. .If the Son, therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:33...36) The one about whom Peter said, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
Do we have personal trials and troubles? Do we have any rivers that seem uncrossable? Do we have any walls that seem unbreachable? Do we have any lions whose mouths seem unstoppable? Do we have any hurts that seem unhealable? Do we have any problems that seem insoluble? Did David express the feeling and need of many of us when he poured out his heart to God and said, "Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had the wings like a dove! For then I would fly away and be at rest." (Psalm 55:5-6)
To whom can we go in times of such frustration and despair? Is our Saviour able today? Just how great is He? Was John exaggerating later when he concluded that, "..greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world." (I John 4:4) Was Paul deluded when he said, "I can do all things through Christ which stengtheneth me."? (Phill. 4:13) Were our antecedents in the faith merely engaging in meaningless superlatives when they spoke of the great God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Or can we go to Him today with all our troubles, trials and tribulations? Surely lie calls to us today as He called to those who would follow I him in that day, "Come unto the, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for 1 am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30)
Someone has likened the tender, loving compassion and care of God for His children to the ancient king sitting on his throne, surrounded by his council of wise and important men, deliberating on high affairs of state involving the destiny of na- tions. Suddenly he hears the sorrowful cry of his little child who has fallen down and been hurt. He rises and runs to his relief, soothes his pain and relieves his fears. Is this out of character with his high and kingly estate? Is it an unnatural and unkingly act? Not in the least.
Our King of Kings and Lord of Lords numbers the hairs on the head of his little children. He engraves their name in His hand. He cares, oh yes, He cares. His heart is touched with our grief! We can go to the One who gives us the freedom to chose or reject Him. These were given such a free choice. This was not the first time God had offered such a clear- cut choice of true discipleship. Moses figuratively drew a line in the dust of the sin cursed earth in the day of Israel's great transgression when he said, "Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come unto me." (Exodus 32:26) God said to Israel as they stood on the threshold of the promised land, "See, I have set before thee this day life and good, death and evil." (Duet. 30:15) Joshua later said to the same people, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve.." (Joshua 24:15) Later in the history of Israel a great prophet stood on Mount Carmel and cried out to the prophets and the people of God, "If God be God, serve Him.." (I Kings 18:21) Jesus Himself would place the proposition in these terms, "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matt. 6:24)
A poetic verse expresses it something like this, "Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide, in the strife 'twixt truth and falsehood, for the good or evil side." In our day and in our time it is our turn to decide. True loyalty to Christ only comes as a result of free choice. Each has the freedom to follow or to flee. Someone has said, "Although God created man without man's help, He will not save man with- out man's consent and obedience."
Christ knocks at the door of the human heart, but He never knocks it down. An unbeliever once ridiculed the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by saying, "If Jesus Christ is able to save to the uttermost, why is it there are so many unbeliev- ers?" The Christian to whom he was speaking stopped a very dirty little boy who was passing by and turning to the unbeliever said, "Can you blame soap and water for the filth of this boy?" It is available to all, but only those who accept it experi- ence its regenerating power. When the question is put, "Will you also go away?", we must, as Peter, reply of our own volition and conviction. Just as Pilate asked the crowd on that fateful night, "What will you do with Jesus?"
So an innocent Christ crucified on a cross for our sins asks of each one a personal response. We either crucify or crown Him, receive or reject Him or follow or flee from Him. What will your response be today? . Page 9 of 9
