MONDAY, MARCH 6
John 6:53-69
John 15:5-6

"… He that abideth in me, and I in him,
… bringeth forth much fruit…"

WEIRD INTERPRETATIONS OF JESUS’ TEACHINGS

The people tried to understand spiritual things in a carnal way. It was hard to conceive how they could imagine that Christ spoke of giving His flesh for them to eat, as men eat the flesh of oxen or sheep. Jesus gave them the litmus test of why they kept on following Him: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you" (John 6:53). Jesus delivered His message in a manner which drove away what modern churches call "seekers."

The disciples were offended by the words of Jesus when He revealed to them that "there are some of you that believe not" (John 6:64). Many were leaving, and their departure proclaimed their lack of genuine faith. The late Rev Timothy Tow declared, "It is only the elect, the chosen of God, who will stick on." In a few short hours, from the heights of popularity when the people greatly pressed upon Him by force, Jesus was reduced to the loyalty of a few men who must have watched the exodus of the other followers with puzzled seriousness. The offence of the cross was beginning to operate. Jesus whittled a crowd of 5,000 down to twelve.

The question Jesus has for you is, "Will ye also go away?" (John 6:67). What is your answer? Will your answer be like Peter’s? "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 6:68-69). Do you have a genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you have a zeal for Him to serve in whatever opportunity He has given you? Do you love Him enough to follow wherever He wants you to go in His harvest fields? Do not forsake Him for only in Him can we spend our lives with greater profit and advantage on this earth. Only in Him can we secure our lives with a glorious future and jubilation in heaven with God.

THOUGHT: Do I understand the Words of Jesus correctly?
PRAYER: "Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name" (Ps 80:17-18).