Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
Notes
Transcript
Good morning Piney Grove! It is so good to see you.
Couple of things...
We are making plans to gather again as soon and safe as possible.
Drive-In Church Partcipation Rules...
HONK = AMEN/YES
FLASHING LIGHTS = THAT’S FUNNY
TWO HONKS = WRAP IT UP (You only get one of those per Sunday)
Let’s test these.
[PRAY]
ME
Illus.: Have you ever been a party, especially a party you didn’t really want to go to, and wondered when is it acceptable to leave?
Talk about serving as a summer missionary in Detroit, MI afree my freshman year in college and being invited by one of the local interns to go to a family picnic. Here’s the deal. That intern didn’t know the folks where we were going either. He only knew the person who invited him.
So, we get to this party, and they are still cooking the food. The folks who are hosting the party are looking at as like - WHY ARE YOU HERE? We hang out and try to get to meet folks, but it is awkward. After we eat, I keep looking at the other youth intern giving him the look wondering if it is okay to leave. Finally, he nods and I say to the student who invited us - THANK YOU SO MUCH.
That was an awkward situation. We didn’t when it was okay to leave.
WE
We’ve all had at least one moment like that...
AT A PARTY
AT AN INTRODUCTION TO SOMEONE
AT CHURCH
We’ve all wondered if we should stay or go in moments like that.
GOD
As we turn our attention to John 6, we see Jesus had just given a thought teaching. He told folks that if they were going to be his followers they would have to drink his blood and eat his flesh. Many were confused by this, especially the Jewish religious leaders who were listening in.
At this moment Jesus has some folks who called themselves disciples decide to leave. In the infamous John 6:66 we read that “many of his disciples turned back.”
Why? Why did they leave?
This is relevant to where we are today.
Illus.: One of the discussion that I have been having with pasto friends is about the length of time we have been out of church and the concern that some folks will not come back. Some pastor friends have shared their concern that many have gotten out of the habit and won’t return.
So, as we look at this encounter from the life and ministry of Jesus, I want as to answer two simple questions...
(1) Why Do People Leave Jesus?
(2) Why Do People Follow Jesus?
Let’s start with the first one...
Why Do People Leave Jesus?
Why Do People Leave Jesus?
(1) They aren’t willing to do what Jesus asks of them.
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”
Jesus didn’t ask these folks to literally eat his flesh and drink his blood. He called them to believe in Him. He was calling them to stop following the teachings of the Pharisees and follow the God of Scripture.
The problem these folks had was dropping their tradition for Jesus.
Illus.: Talk about how over the last few weeks, we’ve had to drop a lot of traditions and how we’ve done things for the safety of others. It has been inconvenient and challenging, but for those who know Jesus it has stopped us from knowing Him. We still read His Word and seek Him in prayer.
I want to ask you. What tradition is Jesus calling you to put down that has hindered you from following Him.
(2) They are offended at what Jesus says to them.
But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?
Notice, who is grumbling. It is not the Pharisees this time. It is folks who identify themselves as followers of Jesus. They wer grumbling because they were offended at what Jesus said.
Folks, Jesus said and calls us to do some stuff that offends our modern American sensibilities.
Sell all you have and give it to the poor.
Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.
If you want to be my disciple, you must hate father, mother and brother.
Jesus offends because he demands first place. We get offended because we don’t want to give him first place.
What is Jesus asking you to do that has offended you?
Watching a service online.
Not having your normal routine.
Sharing his love with a hard to get along with person.
Will you stay offended or will surrender to what God is asking?
(3) Bottom line - They don’t believe that Jesus is the way to eternal life.
Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
Notice, that Jesus knew those who were with him that weren’t really with him.
Don’t you wish you had that ability?
Illus.: Talk about experiecing betrayal in ministry and life over the years and wishing I had seen something.
Jesus knew.
The problem wasn’t what Jesus said. The problem was that they didn’t believe.
Illus.: Go back to convo with preacher friends. Folks, don’t be discouraged if folks walk away. They are not rejecting you. They are rejecting Jesus. They are simply revealing what they believe about him.
Why Do People Follow Jesus?
Why Do People Follow Jesus?
Check out what Peter said in response to Jesus question about the rest of them leaving...
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
Peter said that the reason that they have not left and will not leave Jesus is because they “believe” and “know” something about him.
This indicates something very different about those who follow Jesus. They stay because they have moved from questioning and uncertainty to actual “believing” and “knowing.”
There is difference between hearing and believing.
What’s the difference?
KNOWING.
Illus.: Talk about the day I told Julie I loved her. She said it back. I thought she loved me, but after that day through so much more I know she loves me.
Church. Do you know that you know that Jesus loves you and died for you?
What did they believe and know about Jesus that made them want to stay?
(1) Jesus has the words of eternal life.
What Peter said here gets me fired up. It fires me up because it’s the most true thing anyone has ever said. Jesus is the way and his words point us to eternal life.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Do you believe that Jesus has the words of eternal life?
(2) Jesus is the Holy One of God.
This statement was that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah. The promised deliverer from God.
Peter acknowledged that Jesus was that guy. The one his soul longed for.
This is what Christians / followers of Jesus acknowledge.
They acknowledge that Jesus is the one their soul longs for.
Illus.: Talk about talking this week with the boys of remembeing the day they were born like it was yesterday. I said that there are four days I will never forget. The day they were born, the day I married their mom and the day Jesus saved my soul for eternity.
Have you found that Jesus is the one your soul longs for?
YOU
So, what do we do with what we just discovered today?
(1) We need to check our motivation for following Jesus.
Is it to socialize?
Is it to get something?
Is it to feel better about sin in your life?
(2) If our motivation is for any other reason than believing and knowing that Jesus is the way to eternal life and the Holy One of God, then we need to make that step today.
GOSPEL