MAY 5

John 6:61-66
Memorise John 6:61,66
"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."

ARE YOU AFRAID TO SPEAK THE HARD TRUTH?

During this time, a great multitude followed Jesus not because they believed in Him as their Messianic Lord and Saviour, but because they desired free food and health care. So Jesus said unto them, "…Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you...", "…I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:26-27, 35).

Jesus then further explained, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you" (John 6:53). This was a hard truth, and the multitude found it difficult to accept. The truths Jesus gave them were not spoken to please the itching ears of the many hearers. It was spoken as it was absolutely needful, even though it offended many. The multitude at this point of time could only think of physical flesh and blood, thinking they literally had to eat and drink Jesus, and failed to see the spiritual truths in the doctrine that He was illustrating. Jesus then even implied that He would physically ascend into heaven and His body would no longer be on earth. But this was a hard truth which they did not believe. If only they could realise that they could not live by bread alone, but it is this Living Bread (the Lord Jesus Christ) that is able to quicken (make alive) and give them life eternal.

Jesus knew that these men would not believe. He knew the responses of all men: that they would be blind to the truth except for the grace of God, which through the Holy Spirit, would open their spiritual eyes. Yet Jesus told the hard truths to the multitudes who were only interested in earthly and not spiritual things, for he knew that they needed to know these things, for there is nothing more important than for every soul to know the truth to everlasting life! As a result, many "went back, and walked no more with him" (John 6:66). Likewise for us, even if we may think that the hard truth may offend or we fear the response of unbelief that our friends or loved ones may have, let us not be afraid to preach the hard truths of the gospel to tell sinful men of their depravity and their need for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We must speak up against sin, to warn of the judgments of hell, and also share about the wonderful blood of Jesus that can wash away all sins. Will we have the courage to do so?

Thought: Am I afraid to lose a friend or a loved one temporarily or eternally?
Prayer: O Lord, help me speak the hard truth that leads to eternal life.